[Carley]

Gates wants to be loved instead of feared.

All is lost.

These people think nothing of killing each other over a piece of dung.

[SevenMinusOne]

All is not lost, and reality is far from it. Reality is Stan has come about a century forward in the last 7 years alone.......There has been much progress in Stan but dragging a Country, peoples and a mindset that was pre-dark-ages into the 21st century is going to take time...especially longer than a decade. Those wringing their hands that all isn't accomplished and well within 8 years are fools.

Additionally, Gen. McChrystal is the best move possible for Stan at its current state. However, people seem to not understand McChrystal has operated / led in Stan prior, just not at his new level in the CoC. He will allow for more aggressiveness down the CoC now that he is further up. Big plus.

[r9etb]

Gates wants to be loved instead of feared. All is lost. These people think nothing of killing each other over a piece of dung.

Michael Yon disagrees with you about Gates. McKiernan's firing was ... perhaps ... ham-handed. Or it might be just the ticket to usher in a needed change in tactics.

Yon's opinion of the new guys is very positive.

[verity]

You do not know what you are talking about.