Winning in Afghanistan may hinge on power of persuasion

[unhappycamper]

Winning in Afghanistan may hinge on power of persuasion
By Dion Nissenbaum | McClatchy Newspapers
Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2010

BABUR, Afghanistan — The American Army had arrived. Taliban fighters had been pushed on the defensive with surprising ease. With U.S. attack helicopters zipping by overhead, Babur elders gathered alongside swaths of red grapes drying in the southern Afghanistan dirt to hear from the new village rulers.

"You must make two decisions," Lt. Col. David Flynn told two dozen men who ventured out last week amid sporadic fighting to take part in the first town gathering under American military control. "Who will lead your village? And do you want to live under the Taliban or the government?"

The elders stroked their beards and fingered prayer beads as U.S. and Afghan soldiers waited for a response.

"We are not strong enough," one of the village elders finally said.

"If you allow us into your village, we will stand with you side by side," Flynn assured the men, who appeared unpersuaded.



unhappycamper comment: The only way to 'win' in Afghanistan is to leave.