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Added: Sunday, 11 October, 2009, 06:39 GMT 07:39 UK

the statistics in the intro to this HYS are interesting: they suggest that although overall most polled are against the war both now and now three yrs ago, peoples' positions have strengthened: opponents are more opposed and supporters are more supportive, in numbers. (Unless I missed it, no error margins were in the linked report).
It is absolutely critical to enlist the support of Afghans if this effort is to succeed. It isn't clear that that effort is succeeding.

Gary Roberts

Added: Sunday, 11 October, 2009, 05:12 GMT 06:12 UK

People have been struggling for years for the cause of peace but they He has just just taken over and has been awarded nobel peace prize. What significant job has he done ? Is it the decision of taking out forces from Iraq & putting more troops in Afghanistan so that more innocent civilians can be killed, more troops causalties & on top of it what have the troops achieved ? Has he forgotten that its the same country where they drove out Russian forces few years ago.So where is the difference ?

nash

Added: Sunday, 11 October, 2009, 04:42 GMT 05:42 UK

Afghanistan is a black hole that sucks down nations and treasure. Everyone knows this. Then why do the politicians continue to throw blood and money away?

Walt K, Rialto, California, United States

Added: Sunday, 11 October, 2009, 04:30 GMT 05:30 UK

Unfortunately the lives of soldiers are put at risk without having a real strategy or vision for a combined military/political solution. And even more disturbing (please correct me if I am mistaken) is the fact that politicians like Rasmussen, Blair and Obama, who never in their lives served in the army or touched a rifle are the ones who feel comfortable about risking the lives of young soldiers.

Mehmet Yilmazata, Istanbul, Turkey

Added: Sunday, 11 October, 2009, 02:25 GMT 03:25 UK

1998 Congressional Record: "The only other possible route is across Afghanistan, which has of course its own unique challenges. The country has been involved in bitter warfare for almost two decades, and is still divided by civil war. From the outset, we have made it clear that construction of the pipeline we have proposed across Afghanistan could not begin until a recognized government is in place that has the confidence of governments, lenders, and our company" -John J. Maresca, Unocal VP 2+2=

Keith Cassady

Added: Sunday, 11 October, 2009, 01:56 GMT 02:56 UK

History shows that over whelming force usually means less casualties. Yes there should be more troops now and should have been from the start. Ultimately it can only be the Afghan people themselves that decide if the war against the Taliban is won or not. Nato's objective is not to win the war but to give the people a breathing space, the time and the opportunity to build the society they want without being dictated to by extremists. But in the long run they must defend themselves,

kevin, ottawa

Added: Sunday, 11 October, 2009, 01:40 GMT 02:40 UK

Whether we should be there or not, is no longer an issue. Nor is there any point in apportioning blame for the initial commitment. We are there and that is a fact.

It's not about 'Empire' but do we and all of the other nations involved not have an obligation to the Afghan people to do the best we can for them? Or do we withdraw and let the country disolve into civil war much the way it did after the Soviets left or like Somalia after the US and the UN pulled out?

Richard Ackroyd, Hong Kong

Added: Sunday, 11 October, 2009, 01:28 GMT 02:28 UK

Obama the new Peace Prize Winner has a lot of war to deal with, the Taliban are still wreaking havoc in that country 8 years since that war started & we have Iraq still not done & dusted. But his most dangerous near future battle is & he has acknowledged it himself, is Pakistan. It is worrying that since the ousting of Musharraf it has become much more dangerous. & this is because the Taliban & Al Qaeda in all its guises have joined up, & could do a lot of damage & even take over power there!

Jaker, London & Dublin

Added: Sunday, 11 October, 2009, 24:44 GMT 01:44 UK

Yes it has made a HUGE difference to the amount of taxpayer's money now given to the defense companies to buy arms. These are the same defense companies who finance the Republican Party and the same defense companies who have Republican Party officials as the main shareholders. NOW do people realize why we have a new war every time the Republicans are in power. It also explains why the Republicans always cut funding for everything except defense. Waking up yet America ?

Glenn Lennox, Dallas, Texas, USA

Added: Sunday, 11 October, 2009, 24:11 GMT 01:11 UK

.. the Taliban from Afghanistan. They live there and there are more of them than there will ever be of those who seek to remove them.

[IanOlive], Nanteuil en Vallee, France

Actually, the Taliban is a Pashtun clique originating from Afghan refugees in Pakistan and citizens of Pakistan. It was funded and trained partly by the USA, but mainly by Pakistan - a classic case of the biter bit! Once trained, the Afghan army, working with that of Pakistan, will inevitably crush the Taliban.

Andrew, Norwich

Added: Saturday, 10 October, 2009, 23:48 GMT 00:48 UK

.. we are just using our young and future soldiers for political gains.
Afghanistan is much stronger that before, you just have to look at the statistics.

Simon, Dralington

I challenge you to list a single "political gain" anybody has obtained from invading Afghanistan. How can a country manifestly incapable of defending itself be "much stronger that [sic] before"? You knowingly urge us to "look at the statistics". Which statistics - the number of one-handled wheelbarrows in Kabul?

Tom, Exeter

Added: Saturday, 10 October, 2009, 22:24 GMT 23:24 UK

The Media and government can make anybody evil.
Evil is of those who call others evil, to protect their own backs and those they worship, ie satan.
When it is used against ancient civilizations, one needs to wonder who is the lesser of the evils.
People don't know what the real aftermath of war is like, they have never been there.
War is about greed, and nothing else, leave these ppl to live their lives without interference from the west.

klaus vonmegawatt

Added: Saturday, 10 October, 2009, 15:23 GMT 16:23 UK

Na, not a sausage, we are just using our young and future soldiers for political gains.
Afghanistan is much stronger that before, you just have to look at the statistics.

Simon, Dralington

Added: Saturday, 10 October, 2009, 05:37 GMT 06:37 UK

Nobody will ever get rid of the Taliban from Afghanistan. They live there and there are more of them than there will ever be of those who seek to remove them. This is a cause which was lost before it started by Bush and Blair, those well known war criminals.

[IanOlive], Nanteuil en Vallee, France

Added: Friday, 9 October, 2009, 11:28 GMT 12:28 UK

Oh yes weve made a difference. A couple of hundred the best young Brits dead, thousands of parents, spouses and kids whose lives have been ruined.

Well done Tony Blair, war criminal at large

[georgeorwell]