12:08AM
McChrystal hinting at a more realistic timeline
Monday, June 14, 2010 at 12:08AM 
AP story by way of Our Man in Kabul that reminds us that two timelines are out of synch:
The commander of NATO and U.S. forces stressed Sunday that progress toward real stability in Afghanistan will be slow as international troops painstakingly try to win over a population that includes its enemies and has little trust in the government.
The NATO push in Afghanistan has long been running on two timelines: one in which officials call for years of patience to establish peace in the war-wracked nation, and one in which President Barack Obama promises to begin drawing down troops in July 2011.
McChrystal hinting at the truth: "Progress will be measured in months, rather than days."
Reader Comments (2)
Binny, Big Z and Omar have gone deep
underground, taking most of the top leadership
with them. Reason fear of assassination.
Spies are rampant. They hate the drones.
And they have a new toolbox. The Anthro
arm and surveys, Human Terrain system's have
a newly identified benefit is the ability to project
intentions and desires with a survey team.
Setting up fast track core connection system.
And a huge vast Pahstoon spy system covering Paki and
Afghan. The only loyalty the Taliban get is bought or
from fear, privately the Taliban are HATED by the
indigenous peoples in Afpak.
The drones are targeting primarily upper and mid
level Taliban and Al Qaeda leaders, the US has pulled
back on wholesale slaughter of the Taliban rank and
file although they have the capability. Terrorist field
troops are only engaged if they attack.
For the first time the US may have the tools to
win the Peace, besides win the war. If successful
these paradigms combine to form the most powerful
force in the world, to kill "the Enemy" and actually win
hearts and minds of civilians.
They need time to work the learning curve and
test responses.
G
The attack in New York failed. What would have happened if it has succeeded? Would our strategy have been changed overnight? Would the American press and media, in effect, be sitting at the planning table?
If we have a plan, a goal, we must stick with it. We certainly can't let ourselves be goaded into changing the theatre of operations every time some terrorist action is traced to another host country. Some of our allies have large Muslim populations and there is always the chance that an attack on the United States will be traced to a cell operating in a friendly country.
The Brits had to battle the IRA knowing full well that most of it's funding came from the Irish American community of New York and Boston. We are in a very different conflict than any we have experienced before. We find ourselves fighting a war while trying to figure out how to fight it. Add in this...the next Presidential election campaign is on the horizon.