As we all know but seem to have forgotten, is that there were NO Taliban involved in the 9/11 reason given for the war. Almost ALL the conspirators were Saudis trained to fight the Russians by tghe USA. Iraq had NOTHING to do with the so called"War on Terror". No Iraquis were involved in 9/11 and Al Quaida did not exist in Iraq until AFTER the US invasion. Neither of these wars therefore has defensive credibility in the public mind outside the USA. Quite the reverse. Maybe this accounts for the unwillingness to commit more troops.

kunjani, Suffolk, England

Only now are the Americans and NATO coming to realise the utter futility of the fight in Afghanistan. They should've listened to Pakistan after 9/11, when they said emphatically that there would be no military victory. Instead a wounded and humiliated America lashed out in anger, because its leader did not have the maturity to understand the way the world works.

As for carpet bombing as a way out of problem, it didn't work for the Soviets, rather it created more Mujahideen.

This project was doomed from the start, thousands of us demonstrated in London to this effect, but Blair thought he knew best. One more cock-up to add to his legacy.

Akram, London,

Had America's Moron in Chief, George Bush kept his priorities straight and not invaded Iraq perhaps the situation in Afghanistan would not be so dire. Afghanistan was ground zero in the war on terror
but Bush's stupidity allowed the bad guys to escape Pakistan where they are thriving and remain out of reach.

Bruce Northwood, Washington, D.C. , USA

Anyone who has spoken with an Afghan will have been given the list of countries that have tried without success to dominate their country.
Without doubt anyone attempting to take over their country and tell them how they must run it will have every "Very Important Commander" turned against him. The only way to unite Afghans is to come from the outside. Once the outsider has been driven off they will return to fighting eachother.
There are situations that can be improved, and others that don't wish to be. This is a no-win situation for the West and we should accept that, and spend our money and our soldiers' blood elsewhere.

M Clement Hakk, Guelph, Ontario Canada

Increased Turkish committments? Yes!

No name, No place,

This is a classical example of groping in the dark or blind people explaining an elephant!

If fighting war on terror is more important, then the US and allies need to focus more in Afghanistan. So troops can be diverted from Iraq to Afghanistan. However, if oil and interests of Saudi Arabia are more important then Iraq gets precedence.

Certainly, more troops will be required. Here also the US will have to take the lead and others will not commit more troops as they think that it will be difficult to win in Afghanistan. There have to be carpet-bombing of Taleban areas in Afghanistan and Pakistan. If US and Nato forces go by rule books on Pakistan, it will be wasting time.

Pouring more money as aid is just waste and will go into pockets. Instead that money can be used to win ‘’hearts and minds’’ of tribal leaders and it will be more effective. Actions should be immediate without too many ifs and buts!
Regards,

Krishna R. Kumar, Udupi, India