Petraeus: U.S. still needed in Afghanistan - USATODAY.com

Petraeus: U.S. still needed in Afghanistan - USATODAY.com

In this article Petraeus makes the stunning admission that after nearly 10 years of war, al qaeda is still in Iraq and Afghanistan, in East Africa and other places. I think we could reasonably state that 10 years of war have not brought us the results we need. It at least raises the question, has the counter insurgency strategy that Gen Petraeus has pursued been the best strategy? Could it be that we should have been pursuing mostly a counter terrorist strategy, albeit in a much more lethal manner than we have been. Over 6000 dead, over 20000 wounded, nearly 10 years and over a trillion dollars and we are still fighting these guys. I support fighting the islamists, but there must be a more effective way to do it. This does not for one second imply that I do not both honor and respect Gen Petraeus and all our military; we forever owe then our gratitude and respect, but something is wrong when in 10 years we cannot kill enough of these bastard islamists to put them on run and in hiding for at least 20 years. Personally, I dont think we have been lethal enough in our attacks. The rules of engagement place too much emphasis on avoiding civilian casualties and not offending folks, when in the end being over there for 10 years and keeping the war going for 10 years probably killed and offended more civilians than if we had been more brutal earlier.