"The new president (I take it that he is referring to Barack Hussein Obama, not Hamid Karzai) could have announced a cease-fire in the war or sharp reduction of military operations, then called for genuine peace talks under Saudi aegis with Taliban and its nationalist allies."

Couple of points that surely an "expert" like Margolis must appreciate:

1. First and foremost it is not for the President of The United States of America to call the shots in Afghanistan, it is up to the President and Government of Afghanistan to do that.

2. Having announced his unilateral cease-fire I note that Eric Margolis does not explain or give any reason exactly why the Taleban would go along with it.

3. Once again peace talks and the calling of them have got nothing whatsoever to do with the office of the President of the United States of America.

4. The "Taliban and its nationalist allies" What nationalist allies?

"The president also heard alarms from his field commanders and CIA that Taliban and its allies were taking control of much of Afghanistan and threatening the big cities."

No Eric, you've got that wrong, the CIA and his field commanders were telling him that that is what would surely happen if he listened to that f***in' idiot Joe Biden's advice. Wisely he heeded what McChrystal had to say.

Interesting to know that this clown thinks that US Foreign policy should be dictated by Osama bin Laden's "Vows".

Obama's handling of the whole thing was woeful all he succeeded in doing in taking the time he did was to give aid and comfort to the enemy throughout the tail end of their fighting season. If Obama hadn't been shredded for that by the opposition in US politics then he should have been.

"Afghanistan's 15-million strong Pashtun tribal majority will continue to resist western occupation."

Demographics of Afghanistan:
- Pashtun 42%;
- Tajik 27%;
- Hazara 9%;
- Uzbek 9%;
- Aimak 4%;
- Turkmen 3%
- Baloch 2%;
- other 4%.

Latest population figures for Afghanistan put the population at 28.5 million. Some points for Mr. Margolis to chew over:

1. While 42% might be the largest of a number of minority groups 42% in no way constitutes any sort of majority.

2. 42% of 28.5 million does not equate to a Pashtun population of 15 million it works out at just under 12 million of whom only 1 in 10 actually support the Taleban. Twice as many Pashtun Afghans support Karzai as suport the Taliban.