Cordesman is a senior defense expert who has been skeptical about Iraq. He is now more sanguine but warns of the consequences of the Democrats’ plans to cut and run. He has also produced a frightening report on a possible war between Iran and Israel. His estimates include 600,000 Israeli dead, 30 million Iranian dead and the end of the “Petroleum Age” as the middle east goes up in smoke. Of course, Obama will solve the problem with talk.
I like Cordesman. Policy makers should pay more attention to him.
>>>>…the Taliban is sharply expanding its support areas as well as its political and economic influence
What does the Taliban have that we don’t have, raised to the tenth power? It looks like Western bureaucrats can’t spare enough effort from their usual goldbricking to craft some success here. Europe seems to be getting more worthless every day.
Waziristan is the refuge that allows them to resist our efforts plus, of course, the Saudis are funding all the madrassas that turn out Wahabbi youth ready to partake in jihad.