No military solution

Veteran journalist Jonathan Steele, who has more than his share of experience in Afghanistan, writes in the Guardian (link):
The west has to accept that there is no military solution

...At least 135 unarmed civilians have been reported killed over the past two months by western troops, mainly US special forces

...Isaf troops demolish houses, empty out villages, displace tens of thousands of people, and use indiscriminate firepower that kills innocent civilians

...Making a priority of 'force protection' - which means that soldiers on patrol or in convoy treat every Afghan as a potential enemy and fire on anything suspicious - has helped the Taliban to gain recruits...