America's last chances in 'AfPak'

One of the better articles that I've seen lately on Afghanistan-Pakistan and the situation on the ground. I like Ralph Peters and he's quite informative with this installment, giving us all a look at the man who is charged with one of the more difficult tasks in that part of the world.

"Last week, our president nominated the ideal soldier, Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, to take on the toughest job of herding cats in our Army's history -- feral Afghan cats and NATO house cats. Caldwell's official title will be commander, Combined Security Transition Command, Afghanistan, and NATO Training Mission. In plain language, he's tasked to build a reliable Afghan army and a competent police force. I'm skeptical about the Afghans, but not about Bill Caldwell. I've know him since we served together as junior officers in the 1st Battalion, 46th Infantry, three decades ago. Brought in to replace a failed company commander, he swiftly became the star of our tougher-than-tungsten battalion, the guy you'd instantly peg as the future general -- an exemplary trainer of soldiers, calm and controlled amid exploding tempers and unexploded ordnance. I know Caldwell can train the Afghans. I'm just not sure anyone can motivate them. We're sending the best we've got, a man who's led a division in combat and even battled the media to a standstill in Baghdad. But how do we get the Afghans to send their best? If Caldwell can't build an Afghan security establishment willing and able to defend a non-Taliban Afghan government, we'll know it can't be done."

I don't remember the MSM stressing how important this gentleman's job was going to be but that's not suprising. God bless Lt. General Caldwell. May all troops someday leave that part of the world and may they eventually join the community of nations where the rule of law governs the affairs of the people and not the Taliban.