Unwinnable War?

" Our focus now on Afghanistan. This was another bloody day in the war there. It makes October the deadliest month for US forces since the war began eight years ago. Eight years ago. The US military reports eight more American troops were killed today in a series of bomb attacks that officials are calling complex. The southern Afghanistan attacks came just one day after fourteen Americans were killed in two separate helicopter crash. So as the president tries to decide whether to send more troops in Afghanistan. The violence escalates. 55 of our troops have been killed in this month alone. The previous -- occurred in August when 51 soldiers die during the first round of the Afghanistan presidential elections. And more troops as more troops -- key American diplomat in the war in Afghanistan. Says it is not worth the fight. He quit his job in protest he reportedly is the first US official to resign over the direction of the eight year old war since it began. His name is Matthew hope he's a former marine corps captain served in Iraq and -- the State Department. Since July he'd been serving as the senior US civilians in the turbulent Kabul Province. He sent a letter of resignation it went in August but we've just found out about it because it was just published in the Washington Post newspaper today. In its -- wrote I have doubts and reservations about our current strategy and plan future strategy but my resignation. Is based not upon how we are pursuing the war but why. And to what and he goes on to say that the war is simply fueling the insurgency. Joining us now Robert Young Pelton author of licensed to kill hired guns in the war on terror. He also wrote the world's most dangerous places in this live this on the phone serve. The White House says it's taking this resignation very seriously."

" Yes that president and AM and I respect his opinion nation one but. If you remember this guy resigned on December. And in the crystal just came out with his assessment on August -- it was somehow within ten days -- decide that the war was worth fighting. In our commander over there hasn't even figured out what his strategy going forward is so I find that. Second volume makes some very intelligent observations about the situation in Afghanistan. But it also makes a major mistakes and historical comparison. If things. So I don't know I'd say yes let's read that was think about it but I don't think the resignations of major -- anything."

" He says I failed to see the value or the worse. I'm concerned US casualties -- expenditures of resources in support of the Afghan government. In what is truly a 35 year old civil war isn't it true. That we have in essence parachuted ourselves into a civil war and we find ourselves with lacking direction lacking strategy and lacking resources."

" might disagree with that I mean he was stationed -- bubble. Which is in the south. Back of backwater in Afghanistan and the public dole looked the same under your nose at that years ago but if you go to Kabul it was he -- extraordinary -- And there. Yes -- correct when he says that we parachute into the civil war this northern alliance was fighting you know the elephant that we want to. Very quick time about this week. -- there as a very late for the quick thinking very creative energetic person is not fighting picked. Position war -- also. I think his comments are only valid in contact timing of the resignation. And giving crystals -- of the but the way forward."

" What is the goal in Afghanistan. Our goal right now is to bring security for the Afghan people that the government and build -- the of a democratic functioning. Is that there's never been -- a democratic government in Afghanistan there's never been a time. When more than 50% of the people. Believe -- believe that a nationalized government they they believe themselves as ethnic groups they they they fight amongst each other. In tribes less than 10% of them can read they still regularly murder women. I mean who in the world thinks -- can come up with a democratic society that governs itself in in a national away."

" You're -- playwright -- but you gotta -- the idealism of Americans in Afghanistan may be the fourth of the poorest country on earth. But our goal is to take it from there. Lately upwards of not gonna make it European democracy but we're trying to take -- out of the dark days."

" How do you take people with 10% -- literacy rate out of the dark ages who probably think we're gonna do that I haven't seen. Anything that suggests that we have a strategy to make that happen maybe that's a goal but. I mean is it realistic and I think that's one of the things that this this diplomat was asking is this realistic."

" Yes we -- because. There's the long term agenda which is to educate not only one generation but possibly -- generations that people have equal -- people of literacy and and as the political agenda which is only eighteen months before we shall result an eight month. That's because it's required for -- successful political activity on this on. I think that's what -- should have really addressed this if we're gonna do this but you're right it is just messing around with just admit that -- out of."

" It it is fair to say on on some levels that part of the reason that we had such success in the in the end in Iraq was that we started paying off the right people -- and -- it started -- Press -- because we've just gotten a lightning bolt -- dispatch from the White House because the president's plane just landed to the telling us what the president said on the plane. US defense spending bill authorizes paying the Taliban who renounced the insurgency. This is according to senator Levin now does that make sense."

" Well but that they when you wanna win a war you do full court press to do everything you have to do to win that war. Now kind of stuck in a gray area where the sort of fighting award to sort of rebuilding the country that the very uncomfortable by the."

" But it's not won't be the first time we've had to pay off people in that region and -- in if it works it won't be the first time it's worked either."

" Well just call it -- mark on steroids is. It's it's not unusual."

" Well Robert Young Pelton is always good to talk to thank you but there."