You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Afghanistan
US seeks supply lines amid Pakistan unrest
2007-11-15
The US military has begun making contingency plans in case its supply lines to US forces in Afghanistan are disrupted by the continuing turmoil in Pakistan, a Pentagon spokesman said on Wednesday.

Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell also said the US had no concerns about the security of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons. “We believe they are under appropriate control,” he said. But he said the supply lines were “a real area of concern for our commanders in Afghanistan because 75 percent of all our supplies in Afghanistan flow through or over Afghanistan, including 40 percent of all fuel.”

Morrell had no details on alternate routes being looked at by the US military. The US in 2005 lost access to a base in Uzbekistan, which offered a land route into Afghanistan from the north.
Posted by:Fred

#6  Wow. Firemen are smart and brave! Truly gorgeous, swksvolFF. :-)
Posted by: trailing wife   2007-11-15 21:22  

#5  Glenmore : )
Lets see (gets pen)..
Environmental Impact Statement: Precision JDAM, artillery, and Napalm effects can be referenced. 'Bad Ju Ju' leaflets would be printed with soy ink on swine vellum - biodegradable and edible if flash fried and seasoned.
This project will negatively effect__the traditional indiginous customs of the Taliban causing a dramatic loss of their heiritage of hubristic domination theories.
Bribary costs would be offset by seizing dope materials and selling them wholesale to phamacutical companies, and well as the discontinuation of general pakistan aid packages to be diverted to the local tribal bribal ethos (that is, rather than just giving the government money make the locals work for it - perv can get his with a negotiated set port/transport tax).
Posted by: swksvolFF   2007-11-15 15:08  

#4  OK, swks, have you prepared an Environmental Impact Statement? I am sure this project will negatively affect (fill in the blank). Plus, after requisite bribes were paid, the cost would exceed the Gross Global National Product.
Posted by: Glenmore   2007-11-15 13:51  

#3  Okay, sounds good enough. I'll get the RFP out to you first thing.
Posted by: Jack is Back!   2007-11-15 13:29  

#2  What I would have liked to see back in 2001-02 was the construction of a super highway from Karachi to Bagram. I mean, 6 lanes of pavements each direction with 3 lanes of gravel shoulder and a line of rail in the middle to go each direction, perhaps a pipeline while at it - you know something an astronaught could snapshop, then a 50 yard cleared zone on either side with dragon teeth and other anti-vehicle structures to prevent vehicle entry everywhere but for a select few entry/exit ramps (every 90-120 miles? except for spaced military bases); refueling stations built as islands in the road.

Hire local labor and buy local supplies - dig down a small mountain for gravel for display purposes - and equip them with basic road buildinging equipment and send them to clear, follow with US military road building units also setting up bases along the way with UAVs so thick the kite festival would look like a day of making mud pies, then followed by a trusted contracter/screened employees to lay the pavement and final touches. Build it alongside the Indus river (for river control and as a moat) as close to Islamabad as possible before cutting across and buiding a tunnel right through their precious mountains into Afghanistan (counter-mining would be an issue). To the farmers: we are going to destroy your crops after this season with sprays and evil curses - join the highway crew and make a good living for 3 years then retire. The vanguard would be locals, with adequate protection of course but ambush and opposition would be against their brothers (and sisters? if it could be pulled off).

Rebuild the docks at Karachi to accommidate civilian vessals but designed to host current and near future Navy and Marine ships. Offshore pumps and unloading stations.

At an average of 3 miles per day it could be done in less than a year. The ability to land and move military units right through the heartland would be intimidating militarily but also the increase in trade straight into Afghanistan would provide an alternative to the dope trade; a marvel bringing modern trade and ways right into the bandits nest (gift the construction equipment to Afghan upon completion and there would be a highly skilled workforce by then to use it). There would be many problems to overcome (oh, you don't like that idea perv? well you are either with us or against us, imagine the money you and cronies will make; besides if it works well you will have control of the highway ceded to you after x# of years depending on behavior a la Panama Canal)(designing leapfrogging cement and rubble stations, pavement and tunneling machines)(hey NATO nations you want to be on board with this because you would not be participating in combat operations, you would be safeguarding the highway which would eventually be bringing EU goods, such as construction equipment and personnelle, into and tradables out of thus securing the future of the oppressed Afghan people but also helping to open a new market)(imaginine the number of Fawaffle Houses and such opening up at those entry/exit points) but that is what this - indeed any - conflict is about.
Roman baby, yeah!
Posted by: swksvolFF   2007-11-15 11:58  

#1  WAFF.com Poster > Iran allows US to have air corridor over Afghanistan???

ION, TOPIX > RUSSIA MAY GIVE UP INF + RUSSIA TO DEPLOY NUCLEAR MISSLES IN BELARUS. Iskanders SS-26 Tactical missles, near POLAND, conventional-nuclear warheads, and which can be improved for longer distance and greater warhead explosive yield. Russ plans to field several Iskander units and face 'em towards NATO.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2007-11-15 01:06  

00:00