Article

2005-09-10 Afghanistan/South Asia

Al-Qaeda reorganizing forces to help Taliban

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Posted by Dan Darling 2005-09-10 00:38|| || Front Page|| [11129 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Simple answer - nuke Pakistan. Let's face it, it's a total hell-hole and noone would miss it if it were gone.

Posted by Tony (UK) 2005-09-10 01:06|| 2005-09-10 01:06|| Front Page Top

#2 Tony, you need to reason looking in the past that the long arms of US has been in the center of Pakistani military powers as it was in Iran. In the case of Iran, France stabbed in the back of US to get Iran out of US influence. This time, China will do what France did to get Pakistan out of US hands and to control India. It is almost a done deal. Every one will know this soon after president Bush is out of power. The cold war never ended except for the change in the players who actually want to control the supply of oil. In this regard, the infighting among the western powers will be worst than what was during the world war two only to the benefit of China. The best logical options for US are simply two. if US could get it. Allow China to establish power bases in east and south Asia then tell Pakistan go to hell after evaporating a few hills with nuclear devices between the borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan just to demonstrate that US will not hesitate to destroy any land and population of the world who harbor enemy of US interest.

Posted by Annon. 2005-09-10 07:25|| 2005-09-10 07:25|| Front Page Top

#3 I must be slow this morning. Anonn.'s post makes no sense to me -- what am I missing?

Posted by trailing wife 2005-09-10 08:25|| 2005-09-10 08:25|| Front Page Top

#4 nothing wrong with the coffe TW, you're observation is salient.

Posted by Red Dog 2005-09-10 10:18|| 2005-09-10 10:18|| Front Page Top

#5 your might be better than you'are. <<:

Posted by Red Dog 2005-09-10 10:19|| 2005-09-10 10:19|| Front Page Top

#6 There are several glaring problems in this story. The first would be how the foreign fighters would hope to get to Afghanistan in the first place. The first assumption would be Pakistan, but the Paks are kicking out the foreigners, or almost all of them. So how are large numbers of non-Pak al-Qaeda going to get there?

Second, if the great Taliban-al-Qaeda advance into Afghanistan is at the point of a bayonet from Pakistan, is it an advance, or is disordered retreat towards enemy lines?

Third, the article notes "Iraqi suicide bombing" tactics. But Iraqis abhor suicide bombings, which are done almost exclusively by foreigners.

Last, equipment. If they can barely get themselves in country, how can they get any appreciable amount of equipment? The only possible way would be if both the personnel and equipment were coming *directly* from Iran.

And, as much as we detest each other, that is far too direct an approach for Iranian tastes.

Posted by Anonymoose 2005-09-10 10:32|| 2005-09-10 10:32|| Front Page Top

#7 Another problem is that most Al Quaida people are Arabs and will be far easier to detect in Afghanistan than they are in Irak. That plus the fact that they will not benefit from the "national sympathy" that they get between Sunni Arabs. In fact from e-mail exchanges with Pashtoons and scanning at their web sites my impressions is that except for a small minority of hardline Talibans most Pashtoons (even between the islamists) held themselves as superior to Arabs and will have little sympathy for Arab intruders, while Al Quaida types will be attacked on sight if they venture in Tajik or Hazara zones.

Posted by JFM">JFM 2005-09-10 11:20|| 2005-09-10 11:20|| Front Page Top

#8 The first would be how the foreign fighters would hope to get to Afghanistan in the first place. The first assumption would be Pakistan, but the Paks are kicking out the foreigners, or almost all of them. So how are large numbers of non-Pak al-Qaeda going to get there?

1. The Pakistanis are not kicking all of the foreigners out or,

2. There are other 'Stans' to the north.

if the great Taliban-al-Qaeda advance into Afghanistan is at the point of a bayonet from Pakistan, is it an advance, or is disordered retreat towards enemy lines?

Unknown.

Third, the article notes "Iraqi suicide bombing" tactics. But Iraqis abhor suicide bombings, which are done almost exclusively by foreigners.

Agreed. The Iraq angle is in there to reinforce a meme.

Last, equipment. If they can barely get themselves in country, how can they get any appreciable amount of equipment? The only possible way would be if both the personnel and equipment were coming *directly* from Iran.

Possible. But again, there are 'Stans' to the north. There's also the 'other neighbor'.

And, as much as we detest each other, that is far too direct an approach for Iranian tastes.

Perhaps. But it doesn't mean they aren't doing it.

Posted by Pappy 2005-09-10 12:55|| 2005-09-10 12:55|| Front Page Top

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