Good thought went into your "My two cents" summary, YS 1.

I always felt that no country -- Russia, the U.S., no one -- would be able to fight and conquer a mountainous and rugged country like Afghanistan where tribes and clans will forever rule the terrain. No local politics set up by any conqueror could ever hope to overcome the centuries of fierce tribal and clan loyalties in the region.

Afghanistan turned into a meatgrinder for the Russians and I'd hate to see Afghanistan become the same for the U.S military.

The Chinese plan is at least something. A place to start. I think the U.S. should give it a hard look and imput where we feel it's needed.

Of course if one is honest, they will admit the end prize, and the real reason we are there, is the oil pipeline from the Caspian -- a part of which runs through Afghanistan. I'm a realist so I don't care if we are there to maintain control over who gets the oil and in which direction it will flow. We need oil and better the U.S. controlling the regions through which the pipeline runs than China or another one of our potential enemies in the future.

Still, if the U.S. can manage to gain and maintain control of the region and do it without bloodshed on all sides, then it goes without saying that's the best for all concerned.

That oil was supposed to be MINE! MINE I tell ya!! Grrrrr!! Snarl!! Maybe we did focus on the wrong war. Shit

Damn,CaChris,Well written.

Still, if the U.S. can manage to gain and maintain control of the region and do it without bloodshed on all sides

Not happening.

Thanks Califchris. Its up to you guys in the US now; you guys have to take a decision whether to double up or draw down. Its all U.S.A rite now. My guess on your intention might be just that you wanted to feel better after 9/11, get revenge (ask Tosser to explain the Pathan and Pakistani concept of badla) and getting a nice geopolitical place from where to get a good stab at dominating Central Asia. Central Asia is virgin territory for US entry. I (and a section of Pakistan andRussia) thought you guys wanted to de-flower it ;-)

"Not happening."

I am embarrassed that any American even considers such an idea seriously. It is beyond ridiculous.

Diablo the Christian Fundo ... LOL... very worked up today aren't we?

I say we convince India to stir-fry Pakistan with some piping hot nukes

First lets see you convince Osama to come out of his hole.

I say we convince India to stir-fry Pakistan with some piping hot nukes.

Does India have nukes? Seems they're all duds. LOL

A Hindu pakistan is in the near future.