Can Obama Fix Afghanistan?

Might the “surge” strategy fail in Afghanistan? McClatchy reports today that the military tactics that have succeeded in Iraq are not working as well in Afghanistan. The tougher Afghan terrain makes cumbersome the body and vehicle armors that were so helpful in Iraq, and unlike Iraq, where rural areas could be won over by swaying urban centers, in Afghanistan there are often no connections between towns and the countryside. USA Today looks at the problems facing Obama in the country, in 72 percent of which the Taliban has a permanent presence. They include corruption, inexperienced Afghan leaders, and a drug-based economy. Also troubling is the country’s poor security: The Afghan army is hoping to almost double its ranks over the next five years, and the commander of U.S. and NATO forces also wants to double his troops.