Somewhat OT: Harriers and Helicopters

[Adm.Lee]

Originally Posted by Raellus

I'm teaching my juniors about the Vietnam War this week and the parallels I see to the current war in Afghanistan are staggering.

I think you left out: a host country whose government seems too weak/corrupt/inept to win over the population.

[Webstral]

Originally Posted by Adm.Lee

I think you left out: a host country whose government seems too weak/corrupt/inept to win over the population.

That's a good addition. We could discuss at length the dynamics of the RVN governments and the Kabul government vis-a-vis the NLF and the Taliban, respectively. However, in neither case could our allies draw on sufficient goodwill or sheer brutality to line up the citizenry behind them.

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by Adm.Lee

I think you left out: a host country whose government seems too weak/corrupt/inept to win over the population.

I knew I'd forgotten something. My list didn't look quite long enough. I get pretty frustrated with Mr. Karzai sometimes.

[Targan]

Originally Posted by Raellus

I get pretty frustrated with Mr. Karzai sometimes.

Ah yes, the "Mayor of Kabul". Not a good look when the Head of State's close family members are high-level drug producers and traffickers.

[pmulcahy11b]

Ah yes, the Hon. Mr. Karzai. He's milking us for everything he can get. If we were to suddenly teleport out of A-Stan, he'd be found the next morning hanging by a noose from a lightpole.