Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Nano-Tet

Ralph Peters slams the capabilities of the Afghan security forces for allowing a "mini Tet" in Kabul, which just shows how bad the government is:

Yesterday's wave of bombings was a mini-Tet Offensive -- a small-scale repeat of the attacks that triggered US public opinion's turn against the Vietnam War. They were designed to explode Western claims of progress and embarrass our leaders -- and it worked.

Bull. Perhaps 20 men (and maybe only half of that) attacked the city. If the enemy was trying to replicate the original Tet, the Taliban fell so far short that it is ridiculous to call it a "mini Tet." It's a Nano-Tet, at best.

But if people looking at Afghanistan have low levels for hand wringing, I guess even a Nano-Tet can break our will.

Sheesh, people, work the problem. Don't panic. We need to help the Afghan government be more vigilant, but we can't insist that perfection is the only alternative to giving up.