First, read history. Other great nations have attempted to subdue Afghanistan. What happened to them?

Frankly, they got the shit kicked out of them. There is no subjugating Afghanistan.

Next, ask myself what my goal is. If my goal is to fight a war, sound tough, "dead or alive", "with us or against us", I'll invade, lose a lot of lives, and leave it for someone else to withdraw so that I can say at least while I was there I was winning.

If I claim my goal is women's rights, I'm full of shit.

If I say I do not want that country to be used as a base for attacks against the US,

I will stop attacking Muslims myself and financing repression of Muslims.

I will stop financing genocide.

I will "carrot and stick" the existing government. I will tell them AND FOLLOW THROUGH on helping them with schools, hospitals, bridges, etc. At the same time I bomb the bejesus out of things like al-Qaeda strongholds. I'll use UAVs intelligently, and get the badguys without the so-called collateral damage with is so well tolerated by Bush & Co.

I'll settle problems with innocent civilians and their families generously.

In short, I'll win hearts and minds while making life dangerous and short for badguys. I will not turn the entire country against me.

Simple. However, it doesn't have the ego gratification of an all-out war. Of tough talk. Or appeal to adolescents, who in their immaturity love the use of power.

Arf