Quote Originally Posted by Rex Brynen View Post
The Taliban are not, by any stretch of the imagination, "a damn fine military." Then again, I would be the first to admit that one doesn't need a "damn fine military" to win wars, or that having one means that you'll emerge victorious--something you'll know well from your Rhodesian experience.

I agree with you. That, however, was not the point I was commenting on.
i think we're quibbling about militaries. The United States Military is a TRILLION + dollars a year. Dwarfing everybody else. Is it worth it? Who knows. Even then the SOF of the United States military is bigger than some armies. Toss it an the next five biggest out the door. The drug cartels though ARE giving the Mexican military a good fight. Is it stand up and take your whackings? Heck no... Only fools and Englishmen believe in stand up and trade blows fighting. I thought this was a COIN forum? Take it back into the rest of the world and you've got a few other fights where drug cartels and others are doing quite handily.