Britain and the U.S. stay focused in Afghanistan

Fresh off a two day summit with China, Obama must have a lot on his mind regarding international politics. Speaking of international politics, remember that war that is going on in Afghanistan? The one that has been going on since 2001? The one that sort of feels like the way everybody talks about how Vietnam felt- except that no one is really protesting anymore and apparently someone figured out the right balance that the American public can put up with while keeping a war going and the military-industrial complex humming along…

Well anyway, what’s next?

Britain and the U.S. came out this week and vowed, together, to continue a sustained effort in Afghanistan. Good to hear, boys. We’re pushing like 9 years now.

Remember the coalition of the willing? The populations of each country certainly remember the rhetoric- whether or not they really remember why they signed up for supporting this whole war in the first place is another matter.

"I think the British people will stay with this mission, because there is a clear strategy and a clear determination on behalf of the United States and other coalition members to see this through," said British Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

Clear strategy? Clear determination to see this through? Those seem to be the same thing- just stay as long as possible. Then stay more. Then reassure everyone that things are ok- then wait for everyone to get distracted, then move on.

Miliband continues to refer to Afghanistan as the incubator for things like 9/11. And whatever your opinion of the war in Afghanistan, nobody wants that to happen again.

Clinton reiterated that the U.S. and Britain will stand strong with each other- "We will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder," she said.

This month has been rough because of the record number of British troops who were killed in Afghanistan, now higher than the total number killed in the Iraq war.

39 U.S. troops have been killed this month.

"This has been a very challenging period for American and British forces alike, and for the American and British people, who are standing behind them," said Clinton.

"We know that this is a challenge that is not going to be easily resolved in a short period of time."

She goes on to talk about supposed “significant gains” that leave much more to be done. Somehow the new rhetoric seems more evasive than the old rhetoric. How exactly are we going to defeat al Qaeda and/or any of the allies? In marketing-speak, what does success look like?

"The biggest increase in troop numbers in the next few years is not going to be Brits or Americans. It's going to be Afghans. And the heart of the strategy is to build up the Afghan security forces,” said Miliband.

It is an amazing thing to know that there will be an election during a war very soon, though. Whatever else is happening, whatever chaos is going on around the world, the people who live where the U.S. and Britain believe that terrorism lives will hold a democratic election to select their new leader.

Under the close watch of the liberators and protectors, of course