October will mark the 10th year of the Afghanistan invasion.  After a decade of fighting, nothing much seems to have changed.  Lives continue to be lost and treasure continues to be wasted. Every spring a fresh wave of Taliban fighters comes down from the mountains to attack the troops and terrorize towns and villages.  The minority of locals that support the U.S. military's actions are terrified of showing support for fear of Taliban retaliation.  What has really changed in 10 years? 

Today I read a story that after 10 years of war, the military has decided that demolishing a mosque, knocking down vacant buildings and blowing holes in compound walls will help their fight against the Taliban.  I get it, I really do.  No one want to see these kids get injured or killed and these actions will definitely reduce the capacity of the Taliban to attack.  But if this is what we're doing after 10 years, isn't it time to declare victory and get the hell out of there? 

One last thing, the nerve of the company commander to compare a military invasion to going to the dentist is off the charts.  I don't think he'd like it too much if Afghan troops were patrolling his town for the last 10 years.   

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Winning Afghan Hearts, Minds with Explosives
by Sebastian Abbot

SANGIN, Afghanistan — In a war where winning the hearts and minds of Afghans is the ultimate goal, damaging homes with powerful explosives and bulldozing a mosque and scores of other buildings may not sound like a wise idea.

But U.S. Marines in this key Taliban sanctuary say that's sometimes the only way to make progress, even if it risks angering the same people whose loyalties are required for success — a difficult trade-off that troops have grappled with throughout Afghanistan.

"We are here to rebuild, but sometimes that takes destruction," said Capt. Matthew Peterson, a company commander whose Marines were tasked in late December with clearing a key part of southern Helmand province's Sangin district — the most dangerous place for coalition troops in Afghanistan last year.

Peterson acknowledged it is difficult trying to juggle the interests of the locals, the safety of his Marines and actions he believes are necessary for sustainable progress. But he is confident they are on the right path.

"Anyone who doesn't think there is some pain before progress has never been to the dentist," he said.

Read the rest here.