July 11, 2006
PARODY OR NOT? YOU DECIDE:
Taliban in search of a winning formula: In the three months of their spring offensive, the Taliban have changed tactics several times, indicating that all is not going as well as planned, or trumpeted. A leading Taliban commander, however, in talks with Syed Saleem Shahzad, dismisses the notion, claiming optimistically that the latest switch in operations, in which US air bases will be targeted, will pave the way for ultimate victory. The US has other ideas. (Asia Times, 7/12/06)
Posted by Orrin Judd at July 11, 2006 5:10 PMI'm curious to know whether the Paks are driving those dudes across the border into the meatgrinder.
Posted by: ghostcat at July 11, 2006 5:37 PMOperation Mountain Thrust? Wow.
Posted by: Mike Beversluis at July 11, 2006 6:38 PMWell, you've read about the dreaded Afghan Shelly Winters...
Posted by: oj at July 11, 2006 6:42 PMNice come back. Operation Little She-Bear?
Posted by: ghostcat at July 11, 2006 9:03 PMHow about Operation Beard-Pull?
The CIA estimates Afghanistan's population at 30,000,000. How many die-hard Talibs (and associated warlord gangs) are there? 30,000? 10,000? 100,000? Time to pick up the pace.
Posted by: ratbert at July 12, 2006 10:33 AMThe key to Afghanistan is whether we are able to build pockets of prosperity for the average peasant. If it means a better future for their children, they will not go over to the Taliban.
However, the last time I looked (years ago I admit) foreign aid was being sucked into the NGO bloat and not directed toward the bricklayer, ditch digger, shepherd, or farmer of the typical Afghan.
Posted by: Chris Durnell at July 12, 2006 12:23 PMAnd they're going to attack US Airbases how exactly? I can certainly see the strategic appeal of Not Getting Bombed All The Time, but attacking a small number of fixed targets the US military has had opportunity to fortify seems... unwise.
Posted by: Mike Earl at July 12, 2006 12:55 PMA Taliban decision to go after American air bases tells us two things: 1) They're effed, and they know thery're effed; 2) They're nuts, but, of course, we knew that. Bring it on!
Posted by: Lou Gots at July 12, 2006 1:00 PM