Must read progess report on Afghanistan

From the always interesting Abu Muqawama

The Sanka freeze dried version:

1. COIN and intel gathering is very sophisticated and successful at the tactical levels, and we have a serious handle on the 'human terrain'. Therefore, we are taking out a great many of the enemy.

2. Damn bastards still leak in replacements from Pak, and A.M. doesn't see how to plug that hole.

3. The national government is still not perceived as legitimate. This makes it easy for the bad guys to recruit replacements for the enemy killed.

4. If we want to transition to a lighter presence and Counter-Terror as opposed to Counter Insurgency, we'd better work on (3), and pronto.

I'd say, we rely on the National Government to the degree that we must, while making great efforts to recruit and percolate up legitimate replacements for the national level politicians recruiting from experienced and reliable local governing entities, such as the ANA folks we work with. The Karzai brothers have to go before we go. The symbolism alone will do something toward attaining success. Easier said than done, I know.