And in other gloomy observations

[jhetley]

I note that we are, as a nation and military establishment, doing the same bang-up job in training the Taliban and allowing them to develop their capabilities as we did for the NVA/VC and the Iraqi insurgents.  It takes years to develop a good guerrilla force and infrastructure.

Comments

[wcg.livejournal.com]

A-yup. I guess we didn't want the British to hold all the prizes in that department.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

Hell of it is, history says we're _supposed_ to prepare for the last war, rather than the next one.

[edschweppe.livejournal.com]

Hell of it is, history says we're _supposed_ to prepare for the last war
Yah, but the "last war" prior to Afghanistan was kicking Saddam out of Kuwait. Plenty of opportunities to forget about COIN.

As well as "never get involved in a land war in Asia".

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

Well, probably Fearless Leader thought two were half as bad as one. Never was good at math.