The Taliban are back in Afghanistan. Where is Abdullah Abdullah when you need him?

September 15, 2014

By Masoud Popalzai, Holly Yan, and Josh Levs

...Two were U.S. military personnel, (click here) and the third was Polish, a U.S. defense official said.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for a suicide car bombing targeting a convoy of foreign forces in the Afghan capital, the militant group's spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said....

The Taliban are finite in number. We learned that when they left Pakistan to return to Afghanistan. A well lead Afghan military can protect their land from the Taliban extremists. Afghanistan should maintain a strong military alliance with a well founded Pakistan and India military to coordinate efforts when necessary on their borders. India frequently finds itself involved with Jammu and Kashmir. Understanding that and it's impact on the sovereign stability of Pakistan is important.

This is the challenge to the region which will ultimately include Iran, China and former Soviet countries.

The map to the right is the tribal lands and the greatest threat to the region. It is a known region that creates instability and armed conflict.

The USA chronically dismisses entire countries in a regional strategy to end extremists and secure citizens, such as Iran. That is indescribably stupid.

The leaders in this region need to find their best footing to protect borders and move past the lack of policy by the USA. Early in the "W" White House, President Karzai attempted a conference with Iran and the USA to provide stability to the country. It was "W" that refused the conference. Afghanistan has a very long border with Iran and cannot exist without sound policy between the two countries.

The reason "W" refused the conference was because of his priority to assist the next war into the region. The USA divides these regions into good guys and bad guys. That is not the case and the fact of the matter is Afghanistan should have strong policy to govern borders with both Pakistan and Iran.

Before 2001 the USA had a policy against torture, jailing that employs poor human conditions, child labor and environmental standards. The USA was not in the habit of disturbing sovereign stability so much as crafting policy and USA assistance that brought about change to the people.