September 11, 2006
THE TRICK IS TO GET THEM TO STAY ON THE OFFENSIVE:
We're on the way to defeating Taliban (Patrick Bishop, 12/09/2006, Daily Telegraph)
"The governor of Kandahar came up to me the other day with a huge grin on his face and hugged me," said Lt Gen David Richards, commander of Nato's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which is helping the Afghan government to establish its authority."He said there is no longer any doubt down in the south that Nato can fight and win. We've just inflicted on the Taliban the biggest single loss of life since 2001.
advertisement"I believe that we are in the process of establishing psychological ascendancy over them and reassuring the vast majority of the population who want us and the Afghan government to succeed but were uncertain about which side might win that it is going to be us."
Whenever they come out and fight we win. So how do you get them to keep coming out? And, since they're so little threat, does a final victory matter? Who was the last American Indian to give up? Posted by Orrin Judd at September 11, 2006 10:54 PM
Obviously, they aren't a threat to you or me. But to the average Afghan teacher, student, or business owner, they are a clear and present danger.
Posted by: ratbert at September 11, 2006 11:02 PMAverage?
Posted by: oj at September 11, 2006 11:08 PM"Who was the last American Indian to give up?"
Ishi
The big increase in funding they got this year from , depending on who you read, Iran , poppies or the Soddies, kept them in the field far longer than the last few summers. They are getting slaughtered. The Dutch killed 40 in 1 day a month or so ago, for goshsake.
Posted by: JAB at September 12, 2006 12:03 AMWard Churchill
Posted by: Robert Duquette at September 12, 2006 7:57 AMRobert, has Ward finally given up and left the building?
Posted by: erp at September 12, 2006 8:13 AMRussell Means is still out and about.
Their strategy is to make people compare Afghanistan to Vietnam. They think we'll give up if enough people are convinced that Afghanistan is "another Vietnam." Since the Vietnam was marked by lopsided body counts, they have to make sure we kill enough of them to create the comparison.
Posted by: Joseph Hertzlinger at September 12, 2006 11:48 AMIf only it were. It remains extremely improbable that Afghanistan, which has never been a stable and productive nation, can ever be one.
Posted by: oj at September 12, 2006 11:53 AM