Things are going to get very bloodly next year with the Taliban and al-Qaeda no longer forced to fight two armies at once (NATO and the Pakistani Army). Because, of the Pakistani peace treaty with the Taliban they now can concentrate on Afghanistan and have a free base in Pakistan.
Unless we deal with Wariziristan our NATO allies are going to run because of political pressure at home next year. We may then have to restart major combat operations and heavy bombing, but unless we deal with Pakistan we can't beat them.
The big domestic news story in Norway today was just that.
The socialist government coalition turned down NATO's request for combat troops to be sent to the south in Afghanistan. The conservatives accused the government of cowardice and of letting down our allies, but the government stated they were just following in Prodi and Zappateros's lead.
Some lead.