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Afghanistan
Talib Emir: U.S. Missile Strikes "Incredible and Accurate"
2010-09-15
Dozens of bad guys killed in the last three weeks.
Credit where due: President Obama has supported the increased use of UAVs to get jihadis hiding in Pakistan. One can hope that will be his legacy, not his little domestic efforts.
Posted by:Q

#11  #8 AC hello!, B. Woodward is in my opinion is and always has been spoon feed information. His handlers will tell him when to report and it will be an exclusive. The outcome will be a major benefit to a political group. Besides I just don't trust the man.
Posted by: Dale   2010-09-15 20:49  

#10  AC, I have a better idea than most of what can be done with satellites and network analysis. I was looking to prompt a discussion.

I find it remarkable that the first truly 21st century war is being fought in FATA and no one bats an eyelid, even the crowd who still go apeshit at the mere mention of 'Iraq'.
Posted by: phil_b   2010-09-15 20:35  

#9  phil_b, I'm pretty sure there is more to it than blowing up some guy on the unsupported word of a local. The Taliban and their supporters admit as much in fact. A tip from an informant is not verification, it tells you where to look for verification. Tips are important but once in hand they have to be checked and verified against whatever other information comes to hand.
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy   2010-09-15 19:24  

#8  There may be factors at work whose real nature will come as a tremendous shock when they are finally revealed. More than 3 years ago, reporter Bob Woodward made several cryptic statements about new developments that would rival the Manhattan Project in their importance. He said he couldn't say more because lives were literally at stake, but the analogy suggests a revolutionary technical development of some kind rather than a political or procedural one.
Personally, I am quite sure Woodward is onto something big, but I don't think it would be prudent to speculate any more than that.
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy   2010-09-15 19:20  

#7  I swear that hog is smiling.

#5 My favorite as well. Ike was the best.

What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight - it's the size of the fight in the dog.
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Dwight D. Eisenhower, speech to the Republican National Committee, January 31, 1958
Posted by: Dale   2010-09-15 17:25  

#6  Personally, I am happy if all we are doing is gutting the tribal leadership of the Pashtun in Pakistan. The Pashtuns are the root of the problems in the area -- they are the grunts of Al-Queda, the Taliban, and the drug gangs. So reducing their numbers is essential to winning in the area, and taking out their tribal leadership ensures that the next group of Pashtuns do not have the traditional social stamp of approval, and so have to fight and kill Pashtun rivals to gain it. Win-Win.
Posted by: Shieldwolf   2010-09-15 17:21  

#5  If you have not, or it has been a while:

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Eisenhower%27s_farewell_address

Some more:

http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Dwight_D._Eisenhower

I get what you are saying there rammer and I agree with you; it is the catch phrase I have an opinion on. I look at the life and body of work which is Eisenhower and I can come away with, "It is OK to pull the hammer out if you have to, just have good reason and get it done. It is those who purposely perpetuate war (that includes provacaturs and politicians not just those who build a supply of arms for demand) for bullion we have to keep an eye on."

I don't know who is who in the mixer of targets, but if we are getting the bad guys then credit to everyone involved. As it is permission comes from way up, but I figure picking out the right targets is no small matter either.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2010-09-15 12:45  

#4  I can't tell you Mr. Talib Emir how exhaustive the research effort is leading to such a highly successful strike. I really, really can't tell ya.
Posted by: The Predinator   2010-09-15 12:10  

#3  "Relentless waves of air strikes, suspected to have been carried out by unmanned U.S. drones"

Or 'The Will Of Alan'.
Or Jinn.
Or the ghosts of the women and children you've butchered.
Posted by: Mullah Richard   2010-09-15 10:12  

#2  And who will say something nice about the 'military-industrial complex' as the do-badders are being kicked in the a$$?

"Not I," grunted the pig from his muddy patch in the garden.
"Not I," quacked the duck from her pond.
"Not I," purred the cat from his place in the sun.

"Enjoy the garden, pond and sunny day," said the little red hen. "Working hard in service to the nation is the right thing to do, even though it is plagued with lazy douches right now. This too will pass."
Posted by: rammer   2010-09-15 00:37  

#1  the Taliban's "brutal punishment and beheading of spies" was apparently failing to halt the villagers' cooperation with government forces, who have increased their tip-offs to American intelligence operatives.

The locals grassing on their tribal enemies. Not exactly the most reliable formula for making sure you are zapping the right guys.
Posted by: phil_b   2010-09-15 00:31  

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