South Vietnam was 62,000 square miles. Afghanistan is four times as big at 252,000 square miles, much of which is extremely mountainous and challenges even modern warplanes. That is, the enemy on high peaks know the helos must fly in a certain valley to come to support a besieged forward operating base.
Think abou the number of troops and warplanes we had in VN, at 62,000 square miles, compared to a much smaller number in Afghanistan, at 252,000 square miles.
Those combat support aircraft are spread mighty thin, and flying times are long.
For combat casualties, this is BAD. It’s like being shot in West Texas, and being medevaced to Houston for treatment, via a slow helicopter. In Iraq, from wounding to hospital is measured in minutes, in Afghanistan, it may be HOURS.
Folks need to understand the geography of Afhanistan.
Just a thought.
L
We will not do this but a more “ruthless or nasty” approach might be called for.
Don't want to hear from the just “nukem” crowd or any other “magic weapon” approach.
Starting to starve or otherwise eliminate the population by other means and letting then know that we will not stop till THEY kill the Taliban or AL Queda might produce results.
Will not happen.
So we either get out or prepare to spends decades, lives and money there.