The Taliban don't have to beat NATO to win. All they have to do is stay in the game, which is what they are doing.
But for NATO, a military victory requires much more. It requires that the insurgency be crushed. For a variety of reasons including the fact that to many in Afghanistan's south, the Taliban are the home team that is not happening. This is the fearful asymmetry of guerrilla warfare.
We might be able to succeed militarily if we stayed in Afghanistan indefinitely and were willing to accept hundreds of additional Canadian casualties. But we are not. Every death, every televised commemoration ceremony, further erodes public support for a war that was never widely popular.
This is the second reason why this war cannot be sustained. Support at home is limited and dwindling.
In principle, Canadians like the idea of helping Afghans rebuild their country. As long as some progress is being made, a good many are willing to see their fellow Canadians die in the effort particularly if those who die are enthusiastic volunteers.
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/202978
Note: http://www.thestar.com/...
Is It Time To Go?
Posted on Saturday, April 14 at 15:19 by 4CanadaContributed By
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The Sharp Wolf
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again, y'all
War, huh, good God
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me
Ohhh, war, I despise
Because it means destruction
Of innocent lives
War means tears
To thousands of mothers eyes
When their sons go to fight
And lose their lives
I said, war, huh
Good God, y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again
War, whoa, Lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me
War, it ain't nothing
But a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
Ooooh, war
It's an enemy to all mankind
The point of war blows my mind
War has caused unrest
Within the younger generation
Induction then destruction
Who wants to die
Aaaaah, war-huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it, say it, say it
War, huh
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again y'all
War, huh, good God
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me
War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War, it's got one friend
That's the undertaker
Ooooh, war, has shattered
Many a young mans dreams
Made him disabled, bitter and mean
Life is much to short and precious
To spend fighting wars these days
War can't give life
It can only take it away
Ooooh, war, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again
War, whoa, Lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me
War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
Peace, love and understanding
Tell me, is there no place for them today
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But Lord knows there's got to be a better way
Ooooooh, war, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
You tell me
Say it, say it, say it, say it
War, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Stand up and shout it
Nothing
---
"And God said: 'Let there be Satan, so people don't blame everything on me. And let there be lawyers, so people don't blame everything on Satan."
* George Bu
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Exactly the song that popped into my head when my daughters asked me at different times during the morning "Why do we even have War?", was their reaction after spotting the page one repatriation newspaper pic, I had left on the table. Their tone and looks of reproach (ages ten and four)held a deep sense of disbelief that there was any reason good enough to be killed for even as they asked. Of the little I do know for sure, I know that I won't dull their native wisdom with useless rhetoric.