Afghanistan - Still losing the war, Part 9

quote:Anybody who doubts the legitimacy of the American inquisition (9/11 and the "Global War on Terrorism") is a heretic conspiracy theorist or an accomplice of the terrorists.

The American Inquisition is part of a Bipartisan Consensus. Both the Democrats and the Republicans support the American Inquisition. . .

How to reverse the tide?

Undermine the Inquisition;
Reveal the lies behind 9/11;
Break the consensus;
Reveal the Crimes committed by those in High Office;
Unseat the inquisitors:

I agree with this. And I tend to fear people like Donald Rumsfeld who said several months ago, in so many words, that the "correction" for lowered American fears of another 9-11 style attack would be another attack. Rule by fear mongering to justify extorting hundreds of billions of dollars from taxpayers on an annual basis was their way during the cold war, and it continues unabated, and it has to stop.

quote:They call them the Bandi Guantanamo, the Guantanamo returnees, and their welcome home is far from warm. All across Afghanistan in recent months, scores of men have been coming back from a long journey halfway around the world. About 100 have been released from Guantanamo Bay by the United States authorities in the last 12 months as Washington, under mounting pressure from governments around the world, attempts to moderate the damage done to America's image by the Cuba-based detention centre.

After more than five years in detention thousands of miles away, often traumatised, often angry, or just broken and poor, the Bandi Guantanamo try to build new lives, with limited success. Most claim innocence. Others are unashamed of their acts of violence. Interviewed in Kabul last month, Mohammed Umar described how he had been trained in terrorist techniques, met Osama bin Laden and fought at the battle of Tora Bora in 2001. Released 10 weeks ago, he spoke of how angry the presence of his former jailers in his homeland made him. "If they have come here to help us, why do they kill civilians and why can't they even provide electricity to Kabul seven years after invading?" asked the 30-year-old former footballer, arrested in Pakistan during the closing days of the war of 2001.

Almost all the former detainees describe mistreatment - ranging from waterboarding - the repeated half-drowning of prisoners to get them to talk - through to beatings, sleep deprivation, being kept in 'stress positions' and exposure to extreme temperatures for long periods. Most say that the worst abuse occurred in the US bases in Afghanistan, notably in the eastern and southern cities of Jalalabad and Kandahar, or at the logistics centre of Bagram airfield, where a 500-capacity makeshift prison was built. American military spokesmen in Afghanistan deny any mistreatment. - The Post (Pakistan)

quote:Originally posted by Webgear:
Suicide bomber kills 3 UN workers in Afghanistan

The U.S., Canada, all of NATO, and the so-called government of Afghanistan are increasingly incapable of providing elementary security to even humanitarian workers.

Time for them all to step aside and let someone else do the job.

Thanks for the item confirming that point, Webgear.

quote:“I think Canadians should be very concerned that Mr. Harper would be choosing an election time to be making such a commitment,” Layton said.

“Can we really trust Stephen Harper when it comes to bringing an end to the conflict and now suddenly becoming a champion of peace?

This is a prime minister who wanted us to follow George Bush into Iraq. I don’t believe he can be trusted and I don’t think that Canadians will be fooled,” he said.

Layton promised voters yesterday that, should he become prime minister, the NDP would immediately meet with Canadian Forces commanders and develop a plan to pull Canadian troops out of Afghanistan.

Military investigators say Saskatchewan-born Cpl. Josh Roberts died in Afghanistan from insurgent fire, not by stray bullets fired from a passing convoy of private security personnel.

Based on the physical evidence, witness interviews and analysis by the Military Police investigators, the investigation concluded that his death was inflicted by the insurgents," the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service (CFNIS) said in a press release Saturday.

quote:Originally posted by Webgear:

That does not sound like an immediate withdrawal, sort of sounds like a slow and steady pull out.

Apparently the Soviets began to consider pulling out in 1985 and actually did so between 1987 and 1989. But they had a lot more troops in the Stan than NATO countries do today. I imagine 2500 Canadians troops could be pulled out in pretty good time.

quote:Originally posted by Fidel:

Apparently the Soviets began to consider pulling out in 1985 and actually did so between 1987 and 1989. But they had a lot more troops in the Stan than NATO countries do today. I imagine 2500 Canadians troops could be pulled out in pretty good time.

How many days/months do you think it would take to remove 2500-3000 soldiers and thier equipment?

Fidel... I bet you a beer that everything I have stated over the last few months is correct.

quote:Originally posted by M. Spector:
I don't exactly know, but I'm willing to find out.

Take an educated guess?

quote:Originally posted by Webgear:

Take an educated guess?

Not two years.

quote:Originally posted by Webgear:
Take an educated guess?

quote:
GENEVA — One of the most experienced Western envoys in Afghanistan said Sunday that conditions there had become the worst since 2001....

Link to Article in the NYT

quote:The Bush administration is pushing for sweeping changes to the military command structure in Afghanistan, so that the head of international forces would report directly to US Central Command instead of Nato.

The changes would have huge repercussions for Nato, whose officials have stated that Afghanistan is a "defining moment" for the organisation's ability to conduct large-scale operations abroad.

The Independent has learnt that the proposal to streamline the complex chain of command, enabling US General David McKiernan to be answerable to superiors at Centcom in Tampa, Florida, rather than Nato, is before Robert Gates, the American Defence Secretary....

Any move to make the Afghan war an American-run operation would be controversial in some Nato countries. There is already public disquiet in countries such as Italy, Germany and Canada over the conflict.

The children were travelling in a vehicle in Panjwaii district that approached a Canadian patrol and ignored repeated warnings to stop, a statement from the Canadian military said.

One round from a 25mm cannon was fired into the vehicle, killing the two youngsters.

The military statement said soldiers in the convoy "followed proper escalation of force procedures and acted within the rules of engagement" for the Canadian mission.

- CBC

[ 18 September 2008: Message edited by: M. Spector ]

quote: Kabulov (Russia's top diplomat in Kabul is Zamir Kabulov) is right, NATO did very little to build up Afghan military forces. Just a little example: during the Soviet engagement there Afghanistan boasted a powerful air force. All pilots were Afghanis. At its best times it was manned by about 7,000 Afghanis and 5,000 foreign instructors and included:

3 Interceptor squadrons (around 40 MiG-21)
4 Fighter-bomber squadrons (around 50 MiG-17)
3 Bomber squadrons (around 20 Il-28)
Transports (around 15 An-26)
Helicopters (around 30 Mi-24, Mi-8, and Mi-4)

In 1988 the first Afghani, an Afghan Air Force pilot, participated in the Soviet space mission. Of course, that flight was a part of a propaganda campaign. But at least it was something.

What did NATO do? I keep seeing bearded militiamen in colorful clothes on CNN when they report on Afghan military. And that's it???

More from Kabulov:

quote:“If the things were going on as it is, it will be first and foremost a complete defeat, military and political and when this will happen is only a question of time,” Zamir Kabulov concluded. In view of this, Kabulov urged NATO to change its tactics and strategy in Afghanistan. “The NATO military presence (in Afghanistan) could be increased further but the move will not solve the problem. Afghanistan’s human resources combined with those in Pakistan, especially in tribal zones where Taliban operates freely now are many times more than the capabilities of NATO countries joined together,” the Russian ambassador said.

He believes that the only solution for NATO is the formation of really efficient Afghan army and police, which is achievable. “The US treasury has to spend on an American soldier more money than an Afghan company. This correlation should be changed and money should be directed to Afghanistan. This is affordable for Americans and NATO,” Zamir Kabulov said.

Kabulov urges NATO to change its tactics.

His advice is falling upon deaf ears.

[ 19 September 2008: Message edited by: N.Beltov ]