Is there light at the end of the tunnel?

[anotheoldgit]

It is not the end, nor even the beginning of the end, but it is the end of the beginning Winston Churchill.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia /afghanistan/5917697/Gordon-Brown-signals-end- to-Afghanistan-offensive.html

Are we at last seeing some advancement in this long conflict?

[rov1200]

I wish it were that simple. Remember the initial invasion 7 years ago? They were blasted with 500lb bombs and they took to the hills. Soon after we left Afghanistan to concentrate on Iraq. In the meantime the Taliban returned and so we were back at square one.

This time I believe we are keeping our troops on the ground and stationed in Helmund. But for how long? Will the snipers just return after the heavy armour has vanished? How many troops will remain there?

[Rollo]

If anything Brown said turned out to be true I would be amazed!

[Gromit]

The aim of this present offensive was to keep the peace until the Elections. As the elections are not for another month, it seems odd to declare victory.

Meanwhile, The Foreign Secretary thinks this is a good time to broker a deal with the Taleban, if they promise not to be so beastly, we will give them paid jobs keeping the peace.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics /article6728653.ece

[Sqad]

The chances of discussions over Afghanistan with the Taliban are NIL. for the forseeable future.

AOG.....I think that it is a little premature to say that.

In my opinion.