Myths About the Afghan War and the Way Forward (by David Rohde)

A columnist for Reuters, David Rohde, provides us his analysis of the way ahead in Afghanistan. First he debunks five myths about the Afghan War:

- the strategic unimportance of Afghanistan
- all Afghans want us to leave
- with an American withdrawal peace will come
- the Taliban won't compromise
- a faster withdrawal is better for Obama in an election year. 

He then tells us what we should do:

- Hold steady on the strategic plan
- Deploy Afghans, not Americans
- Transfer Taliban commanders held in Guantanamo Bay
- Pressure the Pakistan military

Read his article in "5 Myths about the Afghan War", The Atlantic, March 16, 2012.