An open discussion thread about the Afghanistan War

This is an open discussion thread, of the kind that work so well at other sites (e.g., “A New Sea Ice Thread” at Climate Audit).

Please keep your comments reasonably brief, not essays.  You can ask questions, which I — and readers — will attempt to answer.  Per the FM site’s Comment Policy, please make them civil and relevant to the topic.

Below the fold are links to posts on this site about the war.

To read other articles about our wars, see these FM reference page (listed on the right side menu bar):

• About America’s national defence strategy and machinery
• About Iraq & Sub-continent Wars – my articles
• About Iraq & Sub-continent Wars – studies & reports

Posts about the War in Afghanistan:

1. Scorecard #2: How well are we doing in Iraq? Afghanistan?, 31 October 2003
2. Quote of the day: this is America’s geopolitical strategy in action, 26 February 2008 — George Friedman of Statfor on the Afghanistan War.
3. Another perspective on Afghanistan, a reply to George Friedman, 27 February 2008
4. How long will all American Presidents be War Presidents?, 21 March 2008
5. Why are we are fighting in Afghanistan?, 9 April 2008 — A debate with Joshua Foust.
6. We are withdrawing from Afghanistan, too (eventually), 21 April 2008
7. Roads in Afghanistan, a new weapon to win 4GW’s?, 26 April 2008
8. A powerful weapon, at the sight of which we should tremble and our enemies rejoice, 2 June 2008
9. Brilliant, insightful articles about the Afghanistan War, 8 June 2008
10. The good news about COIN in Afghanistan is really bad news, 20 August 2008
11. Stratfor says that our war in Pakistan grows hotter; Palin seems OK with that, 12 September 2008
12. Pakistan warns America about their borders, and their sovereignty, 14 September 2008
13. Weekend reading about … foreign affairs, 19 October 2008
14. “Strategic Divergence: The War Against the Taliban and the War Against Al Qaeda” by George Friedman, 31 January 2009
15. America sends forth its privateers to pillage, bold corsairs stealing from you and I, 9 February 2009
16. “The Great Afghan Bailout” by Tom Engelhardt, 14 April 2009
17. Stratfor: “The Strategic Debate Over Afghanistan”, 13 May 2009
18. A joust between two schools of American military theory, 19 May 2009
19. Can we answer SecDef Gates’ question about NATO and the Af-Pak War?, 19 May 2009
20. Troops without proper equipment in 2004, troops without proper equipment in 2009 – where’s the outrage?, 20 May 2009
21. New bases in Afghanistan – more outposts of America’s Empire, 21 May 2009
22. The simple, fool-proof plan for victory in Afghanistan , 1 June 2009
23. Advice about our long war – “It’s the tribes, stupid”, 9 June 2009