Such A Waste Of Fine Infantry

U.S. Marines conduct a security patrol through the Nawa district in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Oct. 18, 2009. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Artur Shvartsberg

From Antiwar.com:

So this platoon comes back to an Afghan village it hasn’t visited in three months. One of the village elders tells the platoon commander, "We ask you not to come here. It is better for us, and better for you." As the platoon leaves the village, the Taliban attack it and a four-hour firefight ensues.

This compelling story, told by a Knight Ridder/Tribune correspondent, perfectly illustrates the futility of the foreign policy course we are pursuing, especially in Afghanistan.

Read more ....

My Comment: I rarely post anything from Antiwar.com (about once a month there is something that catches my attention) , but this post by Jeff Huber hits all the bases on why our mission in Afghanistan is dissolving into confusion and contradiction.

I know that we will be staying in Afghanistan for a very long time .... Al Qaeda is a threat, and many elements in the Taliban would love to emulate them .... but as the above commentary on what happened in this firefight reveals .... our presence actually inflames the situation, and worse .... we do not have ther resources (nor political will) to change the military balance in Afghanistan. Hence .... we go into a village .... we leave a village .... firefight ensues .... people get killed or wounded .... start again at the next village.