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"We can't shoot our way out of Afghanistan."
~Gen. Barry McCaffrey, a retired from U.S. Army general with two Distinguished Service Crosses
"We want to change the nature of the debate from one where disputes are settled through the barrel of the gun to one where it is done through negotiations. If the Taliban were prepared to sit on the other side of the table and talk about a political settlement, then that's precisely the sort of progress that concludes insurgencies like this. That shouldn't make people uncomfortable."
~Brig. Mark Carleton-Smith, the commander of British 16 Air Assault Brigade, which has completed two tours of duty in Afghanistan
"You don't kill or capture your way out of an industrial strength insurgency. Military action is absolutely necessary but it is not sufficient. Political, economic and diplomatic activity is critical to capitalize on gains in the security arena."
~U.S. Gen. David Petraeus, Commander of U.S. Forces in the Region
"Please do not try to put Afghanistan aright with the U.S. military. To send our troops out of Iraq and into Afghanistan would be a near-perfect example of going from the frying pan into the fire. There is reason to believe some of our top military commanders privately share this view. And so does a broad and growing swath of your party and your supporters."
~George McGovern, former U.S. representative, senator and Democratic presidential nominee
"I've always said to those that talk about the military surge . . . what we need most of all is a political surge, more political energy. We all know that we cannot win it militarily. It has to be won through political means. That means political engagement."
~Kai Eide, the U.N. special envoy to Afghanistan
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