In Michael Gerson's world ("Still awaiting Obama's Wilson transformation", November 11), all US President Barack Obama has to do to win in Afghanistan is to lead the right PR campaign to stiffen American resolve.
Such militaristic cant comes from the myth that war is inevitable and thrust upon us. Even president Woodrow Wilson knew that the first world war was avoidable and that decrepit European monarchs had stumbled into it.
The Afghan people know the full pain of America's military boot.
They want the US out. US Defence Secretary Robert Gates says that killing more people will not bring democracy or peace to that country. Hamid Karzai's puppet government can't even run a fair election.
Alternatives to war have not been lacking or exhausted. They have not been tried.
God help Afghanistan.
William DuBay, Ap Lei Chau
