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To: Road Walker who wrote (522092)	10/20/2009 1:17:54 PM
From: tejek	Respond to of 1583389

Why do hawks [Roger Cohen] always need to make extremist comments to make their point? NATO has little to do with Afghanistan. How Bush got NATO involved is beyond me. Why they should fold if we should leave Afghanistan is one of the secrets of the universe privy only to Cohen, the author. A third clarification is that you can’t just take to the air, lighten the allied “footprint” and pick off terrorists. Afghan bases are needed for drones to operate. The human intelligence gathered at or near the border is critical to identifying targets of value. The fight for Pashtunistan has to be won on the ground: That’s where counter-insurgency happens. If the United States steps back — or is seen to be stepping back (a perception fostered by each day of Obamivocation) — NATO will fold. So will Pakistan. That would be a disaster for Western security. America walked away from Afghanistan at the fall of the Soviet Empire with catastrophic results: After the expenditure of so much blood and treasure the retreat-and-return cycle has to end. But, as the lucid McChrystal has said, the situation has been “deteriorating” and failure is possible. So what to do? Yes, the United States needs a credible partner in the Afghan government and has not had one. President Hamid Karzai — assuming he remains in office — must be presented with certain non-negotiable demands: better governors; officials not beholden to Narcoshire; a transparent outreach program to “small T” Taliban; strong cooperation in fast-forwarding the Afghan Army and police. “We have to tell Karzai, here’s a contract and either your signature is on it or your brains will be,” a British general told me. I’d say that’s about the right tone. But as McChrystal has been urging, U.S. strategy also has to be rethought independent of Afghan government actions. The essence must be economy of force for maximized effect. It’s impossible — and foolish — to try to control the whole country or chase Taliban into caves. Rather, focus on model districts in contested areas of Pashtunistan. Give mud-hut Afghans something to believe in — not least efficient courts, motivated police and easy credit. President Obama is playing a wait-for-Karzai-to-shape-up game. I don’t buy it because it hangs McChrystal out to dry. As the general has said, “Time does matter” for “a favorable outcome.” Waiting is bad. Most Afghans still support the American presence. A swift commitment to endurance, with minimum additional troops required to convey that message, is needed from Obama. More than a specific number of troops, what McChrystal has pleaded for is “patience, discipline, resolve and time.” Do you hear him, Mr. President? nytimes.com

To: Road Walker who wrote (522092)	10/20/2009 1:21:22 PM
From: tejek	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1583389

Housing Inventory in SW Florida Neighbors house just went in a short sale. Everybody is afraid to look up the price. Feel bad for them... 3 kids, had an investment property also bought at the top foreclosed, moved in with the parents. Born again hard core Christians and very Republican but nice. Its sad but why do people think they can dabble in real estate? I wouldn't think of trying to figure out what to do with a semi chip, or to find a cure for cancer.....in my spare time. So what motivates people to plung into a capital intensive industry like housing? Not to sound too harsh but is it greed? It sure looks that way.