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West faces a losing battle for Afghan "human terrain"

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unhappycamper Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Sep-01-10 05:55 AM
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West faces a losing battle for Afghan "human terrain"
West faces a losing battle for Afghan "human terrain"
By Sayed Salahuddin and Paul Tait

KABUL, Aug 30 (Reuters) - As the conflict in Afghanistan deepens, with more foreign troops fighting and casualty tolls rising against a bolder Taliban-led enemy, a parallel battle is being fought to win the hearts and minds of Afghans.

Despite vast, sophisticated resources at their disposal, it is a battle some analysts fear NATO and U.S. forces can't win.

"In my opinion NATO is making a monumental mistake," said Kabul-based political analyst Haroun Mir.

"No matter what policy NATO might adopt, they are losing the trust and respect of the Afghan population because Afghans consider the Taliban the winners of this war," he told Reuters.

That view was supported by a July poll by the Kabul-based International Council on Security and Development that showed the NATO force was failing to win hearts and minds and that most Afghans in Taliban heartlands viewed foreign troops negatively.




unhappycamper comment: I continue to be amazed that some people in the 21st Century believe that Afghanistan can be conquered, tamed or successfully occupied. Can't be done.
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