WHY THE WAR IS UNLOSEABLE:

The Taliban grow desperate (National Post, September 15, 2007)

The deaths this week of more than 70 Taliban in fighting in Afghanistan points out a truth often overlooked in coverage of the war there: For the past year, the Taliban have been unable to fight conventional military battles.

Whenever the Taliban send their fighters into combat with NATO or Afghan troops, they lose, their commanders are killed or captured and their forces suffer scores of casualties.

The important thing is not just that they can't win battles, but that it makes it impossible for a Talibanesque government ever to arise anywhere, because they can't defend their sovereignty.

Posted by Orrin Judd at September 15, 2007 1:18 PM