[M]ilitary and civilian development efforts -- a key component of the U.S. strategy -- are being focused on some 80 districts, most of them located on or near Afghanistan's Ring Road.
Over a year ago, when I wrote about our coming surge, I guessed the ring road would figure prominently in our strategy:
These American brigades and our fighting allies will concentrate on securing the ring road in Afghanistan out to the border with Pakistan. This will enhance economic growth and serve as a buffer zone to cut off the Taliban inside Afghanistan (within the ring road) from reinforcements and supplies from Pakistan and, to a lesser extent, Iran.Securing the ring road will allow economic activity to increase Afghan income that doesn't rely on simply receiving aid from the west or NGOs. This is a necessary component of beating the Talibant and preventing al Qaeda from gaining a sanctuary in Afghanistan.
And of course, this approach is greatly helped by denying the enemy sanctuary in Pakistan.
This war is very winnable. Don't be confused by enemy bombings designed to be seen by Western reporters and amplified into another "resurgent" Taliban story line.
