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2008-02-20 Afghanistan

Strategy Page: Taliban are reinforcing failure

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Posted by Mike 2008-02-20 07:58|| || Front Page|| [10 views ] Top
File under: Taliban

#1 Oh really?

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2008-02-20 08:32|| 2008-02-20 08:32|| Front Page Top

#2 They are actually gonna have a "Spring Offensive" this year, or are they gonna take a lot of casualties and pitter away the summer again?

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2008-02-20 09:27|| 2008-02-20 09:27|| Front Page Top

#3 They can't launch the Spring Offensive until after the Brutal Afghan Winter subsides.

Posted by Mike 2008-02-20 09:47|| 2008-02-20 09:47|| Front Page Top

#4 You guys misunderstand. The Spring Offensive is shorthand for "Irish Spring is Offensive" which means that they will not bath again this spring despite promises.

Posted by rjschwarz 2008-02-20 11:23|| 2008-02-20 11:23|| Front Page Top

The skill level of Afghan suicide bomb teams is still low...

It's a rough field for on-the-job training.

Posted by Rob Crawford">Rob Crawford 2008-02-20 12:06|| 2008-02-20 12:06|| Front Page Top

#6 RC or extensive practice.

Posted by AlanC 2008-02-20 12:44|| 2008-02-20 12:44|| Front Page Top

#7 The skill of the Taliban suicide bombers may be low but so is the skill of the Afghan military.

The Iraq Security Forces may not be great but at least they do take a lot of initiative themselves.

After a half decade of training, the Afghan military is probably not even up to rudimentary yet.

Posted by mhw">mhw 2008-02-20 12:59|| http://hypocrisy-incorporated.blogspot.com/]">[http://hypocrisy-incorporated.blogspot.com/] 2008-02-20 12:59|| Front Page Top

#8 in all fairness though, Iraq had a structured, trained military up through March 2003. Most of todays IA (and all the officers, presumably) are veterans of the old IA.

Afghanistan hasnt had a functioning "army" since 1992 or so, and THAT army was severely weakened by 12 years of playing helper to the Soviets in a civil war. From 1992 to 2001 it was nothing but warlord militias and the Taliban. Last time they had a real professional army was 1979.

Posted by liberalhawk 2008-02-20 13:45|| 2008-02-20 13:45|| Front Page Top

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