We still need to isolate the batlefield in Iraq and Afghanistan

Max Boot:

ONE OF THE KEYS to defeating any guerrilla movement is to cut off its outside support. That is what the United States managed to accomplish in the Philippines from 1899 to 1902 but spectacularly failed to do in South Vietnam, where communist fighters benefited right up until the end from the Ho Chi Minh Trail leading to havens in North Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

Today, even as the U.S. is making considerable progress in Iraq and Afghanistan, we are failing to isolate the battlefield. The extremists attacking U.S. forces and our allies continue to receive sanctuary and support from neighboring states, notably Pakistan and Syria. It is, of course, difficult to close any border, but we could do more by going to the source of the trouble.

...
In Boot's book, The Savage Wars of Peace, almost all of the conflicts ended when the leadership targets were taken out. It is not clear who is leading the Taliban, but Mullah Omar may still be a factor. In Iraq Zarqawi is clearly responsible for much of the mayhem. The war may not end witht he death or captur of these two, but things will get better.

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