http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8356771.stm

This article discusses the options facing Obama about more troops to Afghanistan.
They range from McCrystal's 40000 which is to balance the ratio between soldiers to people instead of territory . This is based on military theory of the Malaya campaign against Chinese insurgents nearly 60 years ago in jungles.

30000 option favoured by Gates but this they expect another 10000 from Nato under section 5 self defense section.

20000 option for specific missions etc

10000 option to push Karzai into sorting out corruption and structure of his govt etc. However another article On another site questions the sense and sensibility of a western style democracy in a tribal based culture....look at the messes in places like PNG and Africa.
Give that none of us are experts what do you think anyway?

Troll title much?

If the problem's coming from the neighbours it doesn't matter how many troops you put in there. The problem won't go away.

The Afghans have never lost a war and never been conquered. Looks like they are keeping their record intact.
When will people learn?

Actually mikk they've lost wars and got conquered almost every time- including this time.
It's just that they gradually launch a successful rebellion and fought off the invaders/occupiers successfully later on.

I heard a Background Briefing (ABC Radio National) on the history of Afghanistan the other day. It wasn't just that no-one have ever held the country for any length of time. It was if you look at how things panned out in for previous conquerors we are going down the same road.

It turned out even the Soviets did a better job than we have so far. They at least installed a stable government that was favourable to them. It was a military dictatorship of course. It worked because that style of government seems to suite the Afghans. It appears democracy doesn't, and so we are chasing an impossible dream.

Chasing impossibly dreams only ends up in disappointment and disaster.

The military planers are planing to be in Afghanistan in ten years time.

What's in Afghanistan?
HEROIN !
Before the US led invasion the Taliban eliminated some 90% of popy fields in areas under their control.
Since the occupation, the heroin production has more than doubled, to some 7 thousand tons per year,which represent 90% of the total world production.
To grow enough poppies to produce that amount, you need some 500 000 hectares of land.
You could see those bright purple flowers from the moon if you look the right direction, so how come that all the US spy satellites and drone planes cant find them?
During the whole of the “war” not a single missile hit the heroin labs, where the heroin is being refined.
These labs need vast amounts of “catalyst” which is being shipped in by tanker after tanker from abroad.
There's no dual purpose for this chemical, so how come the US military is allowing the importation of it?
Not even a mouse gets in or out of Afghanistan without someone from US military let it, so how come some 300 truckloads of heroin a year is getting out.
This heroin would be worth billions of dollars, who is getting all the money?
All this information being so easily available on the UN website how come our leaders are ignorant about it?
How come that we as a nation don't have a massive debate about our involvement in this scam.
Obama has his job cut out trying to get out of Afghanistan, because whoever is making billions out of heroin trade must be high ranking oficial, whatever position he (they) is in.
Can Obama wipe out coruption ?