As the conflict in Afghanistan reaches nearly a decade, the results are becoming more horrendous as time progresses — six US GIs were killed Sunday and the entire operation appears on the point of break-down — the media pushes an end to the side and even a near-deathbed plea.

The Taliban, in statement released Sunday: “The NATO decision to start withdrawal of military forces from Afghanistan in 2014 is an irrational decision,” the Taliban said in a statement emailed to the media.
“Because until then, various untoward and tragic events and battles will take place as a result of this meaningless, imposed and unwinnable war. They should not postpone withdrawal of their forces even be it for one day,” it said.

(Illustration found here).

Despite WikiLeaks: (European Union President) Van Rompuy opined that no one in Europe believed in Afghanistan anymore. He said Europe was going along in deference to the United States; there must be results in 2010, or Afghanistan is over for Europe.
Despite one year after the highly-noted surge of US troops into Afghanistan (and the end of 2010 at hand), there’s still no progress and no end-game result from all the slaughter — More than 680 international troops, including at least 472 Americans, have been killed in 2010, making it the deadliest year of the war.
And despite an open letter by 23 different Afghan experts from around the globe calling for an end to the conflict.
From The Telegraph:

Despite these huge costs, the situation on the ground is much worse than a year ago because the Taliban insurgency has made progress across the country.
It is now very difficult to work outside the cities or even move around Afghanistan by road.
The insurgents have built momentum, exploiting the shortcomings of the Afghan government and the mistakes of the coalition.
The Taliban today are now a national movement with a serious presence in the north and the west of the country.
Foreign bases are completely isolated from their local environment and unable to protect the population. Foreign forces have by now been in Afghanistan longer than the Soviet Red Army.
…
A ceasefire and the return of the insurgency leadership in Afghanistan could be part of a de-escalation process leading to a coalition government.
Without any chance for a military victory, the current policy will put the United States in a very difficult position.

And even despite the deathbed wish of President Obama’s envoy, Richard Holbrooke, who died Monday at age 69.
There’s been a lot of obituary stories in the media the last couple of days on Holbrooke’s long-time diplomatic career, but little about his last words to his surgeon — probably the most-important aspect of his un-timely passing.
The Washington Post, in a big, five-page story this morning, literally buried the quote — it’s the last graph in the piece.

Mr. Holbrooke experienced health problems in August, when he underwent treatment for heart problems and canceled one of his frequent trips to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
On Friday morning, he was taken to George Washington University Hospital after he became flushed and suffered chest pains during a meeting with Clinton.
He underwent a 21-hour operation that ended on Saturday to repair his aorta.
As Mr. Holbrooke was sedated for surgery, family members said, his final words were to his Pakistani surgeon: “You’ve got to stop this war in Afghanistan.”

Why not put this ‘stop this war in Afghanistan‘ in the lede?
Yes, why not?

Obama is to address the nation on Thursday regarding Afghanistan, but from all media indications it will be a steaming, nasty pile of bullshit — the US is making progress and will continue to drain blood and treasure to at least keep up appearances.
And once again, Jason Ditz at antiwar.com says it best: But most of the less-than-public data, including the seldom discussed review sent to Congress just three weeks ago, point to a dreadfully worsening Afghan War, and the predictions of success seem to be reserved exclusively for the occasional photo ops needed to justify to the public the rubber stamping of what is, ultimately, a failed strategy in a failed war.

In a vacuum, can anyone hear you scream?