AFGHANISTAN - SOME UNINFORMED COMMENTS

Although I have no particular expertise or knowledge about Afghanistan, I do have a suggestion for our new strategy. It seems that indefinite occupation never works in this country and that a democratic central government is an elusive goal. So lets save lives and money by reducing our goal to containing or eliminating Al Qaeda.

Even if the Taliban returns to power there, we may have to limit ourselves to trying to ameliorate its excesses rather than continue a fruitless occupation.

I gather that Afghanistan has a lot of regional chiefs or warlords. It is also a violent and somewhat lawless country. I suggest that in large part we limit our efforts to reconstruction and related security. As for Al Qaeda, let's make deals, or use bribes, to get these warlords, or the local mafia, to assassinate or otherwise dispose of enough of them, there or in Pakistan, render them ineffective as a terrorist group.