Just watched a new movie called "The Outpost" about a US Army base established in the mountains of Afghanistan on the Pakistani border. The unit sent there was supposed to work with locals to stem the tide of Taliban infiltrating from Pakistan. They also tried to win hearts and minds by doing projects for the local tribes.
This was originally a book written by Jake Tapper about this camp that suffered a mass attack by the Taliban back in 2006 (IIRC).
The director is a former combat soldier and I think he did a great job showing what life is like on the jagged edge like that. Daily sniper attacks mixed in with mortars falling. Then the battle eventually happens with some 300 Taliban taking on a base of fifty Americans. Chaotic to the end, but felt very accurate. Saw some reviews from troops that had served over there and they thought the filmmakers did a great job.
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.