Re: U.S. seeks to establish base in Afghanistan . . .
From the military perspective clearly it is important for us to have 1 or more well protected airbases in Afg. Since the paks won't let us launch strikes from there, our aircover lines of supply are too long for effecive air support of continued ground offensives, operations that are notoriously "unscheduled" to say the least. Set up a forward airbase in Afg. And then take it to 'em on the ground.
-philw (and see the locals foam at the mouth on CNN)