Flagging NATO ally

Evidently there is another NATO ally who is beginning to adopt a worsening view of the likelihood of rapid triumphant success in Afgahnistan.

In fact, according to this Newsweek story one retired US general says ""This standoff could go on for 40 or 50 years... (but)... it's not going to be a takeover by the Taliban as long as NATO is there. Instead this is going to be like the triborder region of South America, or like Kashmir, a long, drawn-out stalemate where everyone carves out spheres of influence."

He's disagreed with of course, as he must be at risk of his job, by Bush's top commander in the field, Army Lt. Gen. Karl Eikenberry. The disagreement however is a mere quibble about the "decades". Rumsfeld could still fire the man for insufficiently vehement denial of reality, which soon will be considered a firing squad offence in the Pentagon.

Followed shortly thereafter by the Canadian DND taking the same step, all in the name of "improving morale", "troops supporting the troops", no doubt.

Not only have no lessons been retained from Vietnam but apparently none from World War 1 either.