Archived material Access restricted Article
Rantburg

Today's Front Page   View All of Sun 10/29/2006 View Sat 10/28/2006 View Fri 10/27/2006 View Thu 10/26/2006 View Wed 10/25/2006 View Tue 10/24/2006 View Mon 10/23/2006
1
2006-10-29 Afghanistan
Taliban plan to fight through winter to throttle Kabul
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 Fred 2006-10-29 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11133 views since 2007-05-07]  Top

#1  Hey guys, Infra-red detectors? Temperature differentials? OK I'll keep it simple: warm body on snowy mountainside, very conspicuous. What did they teach you in that Madrassah anyway?
Posted by Grunter 2006-10-29 00:45||   2006-10-29 00:45|| Front Page Top

#2 Talk about a target-rich environment for a Spectre : all those great sensors including thermal sights, all that firepower locked to the computer gunsights, and the ability to fly so high above the battlefield that the Taliban only know Spectre is there when they start to die. A few LRRP-style teams out with the new laser targeting sights and GPS targeting handhelds to confirm hostiles, and then Splatter Time!!
Posted by Shieldwolf 2006-10-29 02:31||   2006-10-29 02:31|| Front Page Top

#3 Infiltrating from Waziristan won't be a picnic. So few mountain passes. Kabul is a demographic mix. Taliban has always been a Pashto phenomenon. Taliban has a major problem: lying. In the West, most captured Pashtos are very unhappy with their Balochistan based trainers. And Balochis - many of whom are separatists - aren't too pleased with their parasitic guests.
Posted by Snease Shaiting3550 2006-10-29 02:53||   2006-10-29 02:53|| Front Page Top

#4 Re: Kabul, although it would not be the only target in the city, the Talibani will almost certainly try to hit the new Afghan national military academy. Many Pashtuns are furious that they do not dominate the student body or faculty there -- it's a representative mix of tribal backgrounds at present.

Killing cadets and faculty there would be aimed at chilling any movement towards an Afghan identity that transcends tribal differences. In the early 1800s, West Point was key to producing professional military officers and national leaders who identified with the U.S. as a nation. The Afghan academy is designed to have a similar effect there. The Talibani hate it -- it's their REAL rival for influence, long term.
Posted by lotp 2006-10-29 04:54||   2006-10-29 04:54|| Front Page Top

#5 I should add that we have people helping the Afghans at the academy. If it were struck, a fair number of US field grade officers might be casualties.
Posted by lotp 2006-10-29 04:56||   2006-10-29 04:56|| Front Page Top

#6 Funny, the writer doesn't indicate whether the Brutal Afghan WinterTM applies to the Taliban. We know that it applies to us, though. I wonder why that is...
Posted by Raj 2006-10-29 08:51||   2006-10-29 08:51|| Front Page Top

#7 Where they go during the BAW.
Posted by Shipman 2006-10-29 09:05||   2006-10-29 09:05|| Front Page Top

#8 Actually, some strut their stuff in the Big Apple. Man, forget about brutal Afghan winters, we're talking NY cabbies and the competition at Westminster Kennel Club. Now THAT's brutal!!



Heh.
Posted by dog fancier 2006-10-29 09:13||   2006-10-29 09:13|| Front Page Top

#9 Little thing, reminds me of S*** Dawg. Smart for an Afghan.

/no mo Afghans ever, ever, ever again. Unless they looks like Cookie Dawg.
Posted by Shipman 2006-10-29 09:17||   2006-10-29 09:17|| Front Page Top

#10 You gotta remember this is the Guardian. They are full of shit. They would love to see the Taliwhackers win. So they act out their fantasies by writing about them in their rag.
Posted by bigjim-ky 2006-10-29 09:32||   2006-10-29 09:32|| Front Page Top

#11 Not a breed I keep either, Shipman. For sighthound, I prefer my Whippets. Smart, wicked fast, fearless (puppies taking on nasty woodchucks that outweigh them), elegant and delightful pets once they get past the puppy stage.

But for sneaky smarts, you can't beat my spaniels. What's not to like about a dog that can open the refrigerator and bring a can of coke / beer on command?

Just keep the meat, cheese and eggs on the upper shelf or in the drawer, or they'll take care of their gratuity themselves LOL.
Posted by dog fancier 2006-10-29 09:38||   2006-10-29 09:38|| Front Page Top

#12 Let them fight, die like the porKoranimals they are. It will keep our boys from getting bored.
Posted by Icerigger 2006-10-29 10:48||   2006-10-29 10:48|| Front Page Top

#13 
I can understand how the Taliban would have Displacement Anxiety because of encroaching modernity. No one wants to give up oppressing women, beheading infidels and the like, but the times they are a changing.

I suggest they read my new book published by Appalachian Press: "Hey, who moved my hummus!" It might help them to adjust to their new reality.

Posted by BoNeards 2006-10-29 11:21||   2006-10-29 11:21|| Front Page Top

#14 BoNeards?

Oh, baby.
Posted by .com 2006-10-29 11:26||   2006-10-29 11:26|| Front Page Top

#15 Ha!
Still a fine titler for a book.
Posted by Shipman 2006-10-29 12:14||   2006-10-29 12:14|| Front Page Top

#16 I hope they do try for a winter push. Let the snow bury the bodies.
Posted by anymouse">anymouse  2006-10-29 14:51||   2006-10-29 14:51|| Front Page Top

#17 lotp: In the early 1800s, West Point was key to producing professional military officers and national leaders who identified with the U.S. as a nation.

we luv you lotp, but...

May I remind you dear that during the war of Northern Aggression such luminary Southern Patriots as Gen. Robert E Lee, Gen. Stonewall Jackson, Gen. A.P. Hill, Gen. Joseph Reid Anderson and about 100+ other West Point trained General officers resigned their commissions to fight like hell for heart and home. [as well as hundreds of other West Point trained officers of course]

ยป:-)
Posted by RD 2006-10-29 15:33||   2006-10-29 15:33|| Front Page Top

#18 so solly lotp, just being a 'Sunday go to meeting' smart ass!

>::)
Posted by RD 2006-10-29 18:07||   2006-10-29 18:07|| Front Page Top

19:58 Shomogum Shineling8027
23:59 Zenster
23:55 Zenster
23:37 Zenster
23:30 Oztralian
23:28 Oztralian
23:17 Mike
23:15 Kalle (kafir forever)
23:13 Zenster
23:10 Richard Aubrey
23:07 twobyfour
23:07 Monica Lewinsky
23:05 Eric Jablow
22:59 tu3031
22:53 CrazyFool
22:47 3dc
22:47 Mike
22:40 Barbara Skolaut
22:39 Clkethel OHlkdj
22:37 Classer
22:34 tu3031
22:30 Mike
22:28 Mike
22:23 Brett









Paypal:
Google
Search WWW Search rantburg.com