Article

2012-02-07 Afghanistan

Truth, lies and Afghanistan - How military leaders have let us down

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Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2012-02-07 00:00|| || Front Page|| [8 views ] Top

#1 An excerpt: On Sept. 11, the 10th anniversary of the infamous attack on the U.S., I visited another unit in Kunar province, this one near the town of Asmar. I talked with the local official who served as the cultural adviser to the U.S. commander. Heres how the conversation went:

Davis: Here you have many units of the Afghan National Security Forces [ANSF]. Will they be able to hold out against the Taliban when U.S. troops leave this area?

Adviser: No. They are definitely not capable. Already all across this region [many elements of] the security forces have made deals with the Taliban. [The ANSF] wont shoot at the Taliban, and the Taliban wont shoot them.

Also, when a Taliban member is arrested, he is soon released with no action taken against him. So when the Taliban returns [after the Americans leave in 2014], so too go the jobs, especially for everyone like me who has worked with the coalition.

Recently, I got a cellphone call from a Talib who had captured a friend of mine. While I could hear, he began to beat him, telling me Id better quit working for the Americans. I could hear my friend crying out in pain. [The Talib] said the next time they would kidnap my sons and do the same to them. Because of the direct threats, Ive had to take my children out of school just to keep them safe.

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2012-02-07 00:11|| 2012-02-07 00:11|| Front Page Top

#2 This shall be at the forefront of the Afghanistan conflict. The CINC does not take it serious and the mission is sketchy. Logistics thin. It deserves to be looked at seriously.

Posted by newc 2012-02-07 00:23|| 2012-02-07 00:23|| Front Page Top

#3 The domestication of the Dendroaspis polylepis (black Mamba) would be a more realistic and attainable goal. Afghanistan is, as the author indicates, pure folly. Anyone who says differently is motivated by something other than reality.

Posted by Besoeker 2012-02-07 01:07|| 2012-02-07 01:07|| Front Page Top

#4 Wasteland of liars and thieves, expensive to maintain a large presence with "friends" like Pakistan and Russia handling the shipping.

If Al-Qaida does move it's operations to Yemen, it should be much cheaper to operate against them.

Posted by Fat Bob Unotch3711 2012-02-07 06:59|| 2012-02-07 06:59|| Front Page Top

#5 Rebuilding what was never built to begin with is folly. Ultimately the only way to beat these savages is to be savage with them, and simply kill them, families and all, in large enough numbers to exterminate the culture. If the US are not willing to salt the earth, the US should not be there other than as directly to kill specific targets, whether they are in Afghanistan or in Pakistan. When will the US learn that Pakistan is not and ever will be a friend? They are a mentally ill nation.

Posted by Tamir Pardo 2012-02-07 10:58|| 2012-02-07 10:58|| Front Page Top

#6 If Al-Qaida does move it's operations to Yemen, it should be much cheaper to operate against them.

AQ has a presence in Yemen. It would be much easier to operate against AQ for many reasons: geography, logistics, access, people who are somewhat more like allies than Afghanistan and Pakistan...

Posted by JohnQC 2012-02-07 10:59|| 2012-02-07 10:59|| Front Page Top

#7 If i was AlQ why move when you are looked after by Iran and Pakistan

Posted by Paul D 2012-02-07 18:17|| 2012-02-07 18:17|| Front Page Top

#8 Rebuilding what was never built to begin with is folly. Ultimately the only way to beat these savages is to be savage with them, and simply kill them, families and all, in large enough numbers to exterminate the culture. If the US are not willing to salt the earth, the US should not be there other than as directly to kill specific targets, whether they are in Afghanistan or in Pakistan. When will the US learn that Pakistan is not and ever will be a friend? They are a mentally ill nation.

The best post i have read in ages.Ask any Indian about Pakistan and they all tell you the same!

Posted by Paul D 2012-02-07 18:20|| 2012-02-07 18:20|| Front Page Top

#9 Ultimately the only way to beat these savages is to be savage with them,

You beat them with their own kind. You grind down the main trouble makers and then you pick a tribe and empower them with the necessary means and abilities and let them keep the far nastier ones on the run and down. It's a method that has worked before.

Posted by Procopius2k 2012-02-08 00:02|| 2012-02-08 00:02|| Front Page Top

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