Gen. Jack Keane, one of the architects of the surge in Iraq, is always a font of good sense when it comes to America’s wars. Thus, it is worth listening—and acting on his advice—when he suggests that our drone strikes in Pakistan be expanded beyond al-Qaeda targets to focus on the Taliban and related insurgent groups. The Washington Times quotes him as follows: “If we don’t start targeting the Taliban leadership now … the risk is much too high in terms of our ability to sustain the successes that we’ve had. We cannot let that Afghan Taliban leadership that lives in Pakistan continue to preside over this war and recruit and provide resources.”
He is absolutely right, and it is imperative to follow his advice even at the risk of further blowback from Pakistan, because there is no other way to achieve any degree of success in Afghanistan while pulling back as quickly as the Obama administration wants to do—namely a switch from combat to advising in 2013 and a complete pull-out in 2014. Even with stepped up drone strikes, the Obama timeline is probably a prescription for disaster and defeat. But if we at least do more to target the insurgent leadership which enjoys safe havens in Pakistan, our forces can somewhat increase their odds of success notwithstanding the rapid collapse of political will in the White House to prosecute this war to a successful conclusion.
Mr. Boot, please, please tell me that you wrote your post tongue-in-cheek, so to speak. n nYou don't seriously believe that Afghanistan stands any chance of surviving with U.S. forces purely in an advisory role do you? Is there any, credible military person who has long-term and broad experience in A-stan that thinks that the "Obama Withdrawal" is anything other than a cut and run policy with some fig leaves to cover his rear end? n nStriking at Taliban leaders in Pakistan??? It is far, far too late for that as you, yourself seem to admit in your post. n nThe national denial on Afghanistan is simply astounding. That 2 presidents over 10 years and how many different commanding generals could screw it up so badly is not a good sign for America in the 21st century. I know you are a big fan of David Petraeus. So am I, actually. But even the Petraeus Magnus could not pull off a miracle with the crap sandwich he was handed in A-stan by Obama. Obama used Petraeus as political cover to give the appearance that he cared about success in A-stan while simultaneously denying Petraeus the critical latitude and resources needed. Frankly, I am surprised that Petraeus did not at least threaten to resign when he finally realized that we were just running out the clock rather than trying to win.