That's what we tried in the 2000's, thinking we could do better than we did in the '80's (Charlie Wilson's War).

The lesson learned is that the people must be so defeated that they totally abandon all hope of survival (Japan, Germany) to embrace any option other than a continuance of misery and ultimate annihilation. If given hope for an alternative other than the path selected by the victor, a large proportion will embrace it, no matter what it is.

Time to leave.

Bot is correct as well, you can't do nation building without first the utter destruction of the old nation, with a stone aged society that's fairly challenging.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

We may leave in 2014. We will be back in 17 or 18.

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

Doubt it. Look at history, no one wants to go back to Afghanistan, besides the British and maybe some old hippie that did the Afghanistan thing in the seventies.

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

ding, ding, ding (again) well said

In a word: YES

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Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

It's only fair.

What's the saying? "You can't buy an Afghani, you can only lease them."

Who amongst us is to say what is in the play book and what purpose is served by challenging Afghanistan with withdrawal?

Looks to me that in recent years the various factions around the world do a pretty good job of taking themselves and each other out, perhaps even better, when we don't have 'classical' boots on the ground. Food for thought.

2014 is about 10 years too late. So many lives wasted for nothing.

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words