You know this kind of report makes me question anew WHY we are in Afghanistan? OK, the theory is to route out Al Queda, with the Taliban being secondary but an intimate part of the Al Queda equation.
There are a small number of Al Queda in that region, just over a 100 or so it is estimated. They train in the "region", Afghan AND Pakistan. Theory is we shut them down so they can't hurt us. OK we shut down THAT region, they move to the Phillipines, Africa and any number of other locales. The Muslim population is HUGE and covers the WORLD. I'm thinking were trying to put out "spot fires" that WILL keep breaking out here and there and in the end there is little we can do about it.
Look at the numbers again. 100 Al Queda, 50,000 US troops, still can't get-r-done. I'm not saying we should pull out all together, but I sure as hell wonder if were just gonna spin our wheels there until we move to the next place and start over! Nuke and Pave? OK, we'll need more bombs, LOT'S more bombs, the basturds are everywhere. Like a ant nest.
Protect our borders, circle the wagons, in the end, may be the only real solution left.