"British commanders made ceasefire deals with local leaders in a number of areas of Helmand last year, arguing that a halt in the fighting would strengthen the hand of the tribal elders.
But America believed that the ceasefires merely allowed the Taliban time to re-arm and reinforce its positions, and American commanders and diplomats criticised the deals."
Perhaps the wiseheads amongst those Americans remember what happened during a similar ceasefire some 39 years earlier?
The Tet offensive.
The US learned a lot from that.