TROOPS LISTEN - U.S. troops on Bagram Air Base listen to remarks by President George W. Bush shortly after his arrival in Afghanistan, Dec. 15, 2008. White House photo by Eric DraperBid To Split Taliban, Al Qaeda -- Christian Science Monitor
In Afghanistan, US and NATO reassess their strategy amid concerns that their efforts are failing.
Kabul, Afghanistan - The Afghan government and its allies are reconciling with moderates and isolating hard-liners in a bid to split the insurgency, Western and Afghan officials say.
The idea of wooing moderates has gained traction as violence in Afghanistan has reached record levels this year. The United States and NATO are reassessing their strategy amid a growing chorus of Western officials who say that the international effort here is failing.
"Some ministries have started a program to try to separate Al Qaeda and the Taliban," says Ursala Rahmani, a former Taliban official who has been involved in talks with the government. Mr. Rahmani says that the Interior and Defense ministries are involved in the effort.
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My Comment:The biggest challenge in Afghanistan is the following .... to change the culture of the country from what it is today to some semblance of 20th century (not 21rst century) thinking .... we are talking about an occupation that will last for decades, and the expenditure of monies that would run in the tens of billions if not more.
I doubt that anyone in Nato or in the U.S. Congress are relishing that idea right now.