Analyst's note:  Absolutely must read.  Just ask yourself this question:  "If the Taliban truly aided Al Qaeda in the planning, equipping and carrying out the slaughter perpetrated on 9/11, why have we not destroyed every man associated with this evil Islamist force."  The answer clearly demonstrates another failed strategy associated with the wrongful application of counterinsurgency (COIN) and bone-headed thinking in Washington. 

We are observing here a stunning waste of American lives and treasure.   For additional insight you will want to read "US - Taliban Talks Said to be at Critical Point ...Really?!" For well over two years now our friend and associate John Bernard and others, have been questioning the wisdom of conducting a Counter Insurgency effort in the center of an ideologically monolithic society.  John has pointed out that this is all occurring, "In a land where acts of treachery are commonplace and even seen as signs of reverence for your deity [....]"

Mark my words, our nation will be required to fight these people again in our lifetime. Will you or your son or daughter be sacrificed next?  Semper Fidelis.

"The U.S. government has launched into three-way peace talks with the Afghan government and Taliban, a senior military official in Afghanistan told Fox News. 

[....] An Obama administration official told Fox News that "an Afghan peace process" is key to the overall strategy in the war. 

"Insurgencies generally end with a political settlement and we believe Afghanistan needs a political process to help put an end to this conflict," the official said. "Our military campaign has set the conditions for initial reconciliation discussions to begin taking place." 

The official, while not going into detail, said "the government of Afghanistan has been kept fully informed of our discussions." 

[....] Retired Gen. Bob Scales, a Fox News military analyst, expressed reservations about the talks but said the weak Afghan government needs to find a way to separate the most "radical" elements of the Taliban from the rest in order to seek stability before NATO withdraws. 

"The only chance the government's got of achieving stability in the country is to, if you will, break the Taliban apart," Scales said Thursday. 

Meanwhile, the Pentagon has detailed part of its plan for eventually shifting away from a combat mission to one focused on training and advising Afghan forces as they gradually shoulder more of the combat burden. 

The Army on Wednesday identified five U.S.-based brigades, as well as an Army reserve organization, that will be reconfigured and sent to Afghanistan between April and August to "generate, employ and sustain" Afghan forces.