The Graveyard of Empires

NY Times Editorial: The Way Out (of Afghanistan)

The hurdles in training even a minimally effective Afghan force are daunting. There has been some progress. New initiatives like pay raises and mandatory literacy training should begin to improve professionalism and competency. None of these efforts have a chance if there are not enough NATO trainers to teach the Afghans how to defend their country.

Let me get this straight. The little country that has been the graveyard for empires all down through history - this little country that Alexander the Great, Ceasar's army, the British Empire, Napoleon, not to mention the USSR could not defeat(never mind the USA - {psst we're loosing ground by the day}). This little country needs 5200 trainers so that NATO can teach them how to defend their country. And we cannot leave there until somehow NATO satisfies itself that they have an Afghan army properly trained.

I seem to remember that we've been training their army now for about six or seven years, and we have very little to show for it.

These Middle East OIL wars are bankrupting us (the state of California would be in the black right now if not for the 30 some odd $$Billion$$ that they've contributed to the war effort).

IMHO it's about 7 1/2 years past time to get the heck outa there.