"America's Dumbest War, Ever"

For John, BLUF:  New guidance to our forces in Afghanistan are not furthering the mission.  Should the mission chance?  Nothing to see; just move along.

Meanwhile, back at Chiang Mai, Michael Yon gives us a soldier's letter home to his Father.  The son says they are no longer patrolling outside the wire and air-to-surface weapons are banned.  Neither, if true, will add to the safety of our Service members in Afghanistan.

…because of this massive change in policy (and complete change in mission) all U.S. forces are forbidden to actively patrol their AO and are to remain on their respective COPs/FOBs.  There are only a few exceptions to this rule and they all pertain to "hardening" highway 1 in our AO.  We have received orders that clearly state that all CF [Coalition Forces] will no longer be allowed to drop air to ground munitions within the country of Afghanistan.  This preempts Karzi's announcement that will be made shortly that states the above mentioned order, making it a tactical directive that he is ordering.

It's war and he may have the scuttlebutt wrong in detail, but it sounds right in general.

Last week I was a supporter of the war in Afghanistan, but this week I am a fence sitter.

UPDATE:  Here is a comment from a random individual:

I was told recently by a gentleman who was on the ground in the 1980's arming the Muj that the Soviets had green on blue (red) in the same places that we have them when they tried forming militias.  In light of our strategic mistake of conducting something other than a punitive raid and staying after May 2002, tactical actions are irrelevant

Not edifying,

Regards  —  Cliff

PS:  Michael Yon is an independent writer, but not financially independent.  Consider hitting his "Tip Jar".