$(document).ready( function () { talk_rendercallback({"enabled":"0","islive":"0","eid":5508,"total":"8","discussion":[{"nm":"Maximillian","rs":"0","ms":"If nothing changes,  and the US keeps on exactly as is.\nI would be confident in predicting that 3 to 5 years from\nnow American\'s will be asking, what country(s) will come\nto America,  occupy and fight to restore our Democracy,\nEconomy, and Scocial structure ?","pt":"Oct 25, 2009 11:25"},{"nm":"Peter RV","rs":"0","ms":"  Our penchant for \'nation-building\' in Muslim World, could produce a colossal\nblow-back. Over a billion of them, they are a sleeping giant which is about to awaken as a result of our brainless attempt to reform them. If only one percent of them joins Al Qaeda, which is quite possible considering our counter-insurgency effects, it\'ll be TEN MILLION terrorists to deal with- about ten times the size of the U.S. Army. And these are not perfumed soldiers, but fighters who are ready to die for their cause. Just, what American technology is going to stop them from overrunning us? Is anybody thinking?\n ","pt":"Oct 25, 2009 09:07"},{"nm":"Mark, Beverly HIlls","rs":"0","ms":"A wonderful program that reminds me why I get my news and commentary from public media: PBS (e.g., Newshour) and NPR. This is a wonderful interview that had me wishing for more exposure to the points of view advanced by these most articulate spokespeople,  Mr. Bacevich and Mr. Nagl. Mr. Bacevich. It\'s one thing to have the perspective of Mr. Holbrooke or Adm. Mullen; but they are invested (in the political sense). A follow up, I hope, will look more deeply into the provenance of the counterinsurgency (as suggested here by Mr. Bacevich) and the suppositions behind this most interesting, dynamic development in military strategy.  ","pt":"Oct 17, 2009 00:11"},{"nm":"Marti E","rs":"0","ms":""Obama\'s War" should be required viewing for President Obama.  If watching those brave but untrained and inexperienced young soldiers try to communicate with Afghan villagers through an interpreter who can\'t speak the local language doesn\'t bring home the absurdity of counterinsurgency, nothing will.  We should be ashamed as a nation to risk the lives our young men and women in trying to accomplish a task that even the most seasoned diplomat would find (and has found) impossible to do.  Let\'s send Richard Holbrooke to Helmand province for a seven-month tour and see how many inroads he makes with the locals.","pt":"Oct 16, 2009 23:46"},{"nm":"Randall, american in scandinavia","rs":"0","ms":"Professor Bacevich once again speaks clearly, concisely, and truthfully, with insight and from a foundation of deep experience in these matters, both professionally and personally.\nI have written to Dr. Bacevich, to recognize his important contribution to the discussion, and to thank him for his sacrifice, and his courage to speak out and speak his heart and his mind so skillfully. His thoughts will stand the test of time because, as Catherine from Chicago commented, He is "eminently sane and principled," and as Louis from Canada put it, he "has it exactly right." I couldn\'t agree more. Thank you Frontline, for including his voice in your coverage. We need more of it.","pt":"Oct 16, 2009 13:27"},{"nm":"Ferrell","rs":"0","ms":"When considering the prospects for a global counterinsurgency it might be helpful to recall the words of Frederick II: "He who defends everything defends nothing."","pt":"Oct 15, 2009 23:50"},{"nm":"Catherine, Chicago","rs":"0","ms":"I have read some of Col. Bacevich\'s work and find him eminently sane and principled.  I am glad to see that I share his view, we should not go deeper into Afghanistan.  It is very sad that the females there will be left to the predations of the Taliban, but this country has had enough of this war.  I too hope the president will be shrewd and tough enough to resist this temptation.  I agree it is outrageous for McChrystal to go around saying what we must do.  He reminds one of MacArthur or McClellan.","pt":"Oct 14, 2009 21:17"},{"nm":"Louis Solnicki","rs":"0","ms":"I think that Col. Andrew Bacevich\'s analysis of counterinsurgency has it exactly right. I am Canadian and the Canadian armed forces have been in Afghanistan and in Helmand province for 8 years. The issues faced by American armed forces now in Helmand are nothing new. The Canadians have have already faced all the issues raised on Frontline including winning the hearts and minds of the local population. But Canadian soldiers number only 2000, so there is only so much that they have been able to do. It is only now that the asmricans have come into helmand province to take over from the Canadians. I wonder why Frontline didn\'t interview top brass in the Canadian armed forces why are very knowledgeable about fighting the Taliban.","pt":"Oct 13, 2009 22:48"}]}); });