Quote:
Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler
When you are dealing with well-armed tribes of savages who not only hate you but each other, how many troops would you actually need to subdue them and impose a stable order? And how much time would you need? Not being a dick - just wondering what the resources required are.
Also, doesn't it depend on your goal? If you are trying to impose a "western democracy", I don't think you can, but if your goal is merely stability under an Afghan version of Saddam, that might be doable...
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And thats the problem.
But the idea of adding more troops or surging like they're working to now could work if they follow the Canadian model of housing troops in the villages with the villagers instead of having them patrol from major bases.
First and foremost this would help stem the intimidation tactics of the taliban who operate at night and often go to villages after the Western forces leave and intimidate and recruit.
I talked to a friend of mine who has done multiples in Afghanistan and he basically stated that there's not an overwhelming hatred of the Western troops by average Joe Afghanistan, he stated that conversly there is an overwhelming hatred of the Taliban, but there is also an overwhelming intimidation by the Taliban because Joe Afghanistan believes that at the end of the day when the Western powers leave the Taliban will enact revenge.
I thiink that putting a democratic system in place is probably a good call. But I think the more important calling is modernization of infastructure. If you can help the Afghanistan people with food, water, and most importantly education, then the igorance of the Taliban will be their undoing. If the we can get a generation of really educated and literal kids through school, they will be the force that eventually makes the Taliban fade.
Going back to militarily a surge is good only if they secure their gains. and start pushing a stable precence into the wild lands.