Archived material Access restricted Article
Rantburg

Today's Front Page   View All of Wed 03/24/2004 View Tue 03/23/2004 View Mon 03/22/2004 View Sun 03/21/2004 View Sat 03/20/2004 View Fri 03/19/2004 View Thu 03/18/2004
1
2004-03-24 Afghanistan/South Asia
American "Warlords" in Afghanistan
Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.
Posted by Mike 2004-03-24 6:49:54 PM|| || Front Page|| [6 views since 2007-05-07]  Top

#1 By working for the Special Forces warlords, the Afghans agreed to the deal. Of course, if the Special Forces run into a lot of problems, and appear in danger of defeat, all that could change. But that’s how you survive in the remote valleys of Afghanistan.

Not with a BUFF circling overhead. The only way our guys will lose is if the American people lose their nerve and vote for Senor Kerry...
Posted by Ptah  2004-03-24 7:17:58 PM|| [http://www.crusaderwarcollege.org]  2004-03-24 7:17:58 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 . . . Using techniques developed and used with great success as far back as World War II, Special Forces A Teams are operating in remote Afghan valleys, and forming their own small armies by hiring local Afghans to help catch any Taliban or al Qaeda who might come through. U.S. troops have hired armed Afghans in the past, but from local warlords. This did not work too well. The warlord who supplied the troops had their own agendas.

Cutting out the middle man.... I love it!

Posted by wuzzalib  2004-03-24 7:54:07 PM||   2004-03-24 7:54:07 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 "We eliminate the middleman . . . and the Taliban . . . and pass the savings on to you!"
Posted by Anonymous 2004-03-24 8:35:35 PM||   2004-03-24 8:35:35 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 The hired gunmen get more training, being taught how to "fight like a Special Forces warrior."

Be careful this doesn't come back later on and bite us in the ass.
Posted by Rafael 2004-03-24 8:38:48 PM||   2004-03-24 8:38:48 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 Rafael - I doubt they ever show the locals their 'full hand'...
Posted by Raj 2004-03-24 8:46:56 PM|| [http://angrycyclist.blogspot.com]  2004-03-24 8:46:56 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 The training they get MIGHT be a shortened version of our basic, but it's NOTHING compared to our Special Forces. Remember, folks, our average soldier is trained to a level that makes them elites in most of the other armies in the world.
Posted by Robert Crawford  2004-03-24 9:00:36 PM|| [http://www.kloognome.com/]  2004-03-24 9:00:36 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 It would be interesting to see what the fully loaded cost is to a) develop and b) maintain an SF soldier. Somehow, I don't think the Afghans can afford that even if they could procure all the gadgets and BUFFs.

And once the WoT is over if they revert to what they have always done. but keep it to themselves and are simply more eficient, I can live with it. If not, the WoT will just take a little bit longer.
Posted by Mr. Davis 2004-03-24 9:19:36 PM||   2004-03-24 9:19:36 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 When the instructor stands up in front of the recruits, does he then say? "listen to me primates. This is my boom stick..."
Posted by Super Hose  2004-03-24 11:19:25 PM||   2004-03-24 11:19:25 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 "Shop smart. Shop S-MART. YOU GOT THAT?!!"
Posted by Laurence of the Rats  2004-03-24 11:33:22 PM||   2004-03-24 11:33:22 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 I think this is so F****** cool:

"The warlord who supplied the troops had their own agendas. This included not getting any of their lads killed, and being open to bribery from the opposition. All of this is considered traditional in the Afghan scheme of things."
Posted by Evert Visser in NL  2004-03-25 3:27:18 AM|| [http://chinditz.buzznet.com/user/]  2004-03-25 3:27:18 AM|| Front Page Top

10:24 B
09:03 B
08:55 B
08:50 The Doctor
08:39 B
07:08 Fred
03:27 Evert Visser in NL
01:17 gromky
00:40 Super Hose
00:30 mojo
00:22 mojo
00:05 Barbara Skolaut
23:56 Korora
23:52 Super Hose
23:51 Anonymous
23:47 Jen
23:43 Raj
23:43 Super Hose
23:42 Raj
23:33 Laurence of the Rats
23:28 Frank G
23:19 Super Hose
23:16 Super Hose
23:15 The Doctor









Paypal:
Google
Search WWW Search rantburg.com