However, to implement a cessation or reduction in attacks (by any means) on senior Taliban & al-Qaeda leadership targets inside Pakistan’s wild west without a concerted endeavor to win the population over on the ground through decisive security presence, civil governance and relief is to throw the baby out with the bathwater, quite frankly.

And in order to achieve any of the three preconditions above, the Pakistani military will have to adopt and internalize effective counterinsurgency tactics and tools along with the will to embrace the fight and remain present among the population, just as our forces did in the once-nearly-lost Anbar Province.

To end one necessary approach without entrenching the other preferable approach is the quite literally extend relief to the terrorists.

Unfortunate. Ugly. Imperfect. All of the above. But reality.