Archived material Access restricted Article
Rantburg

Today's Front Page   View All of Sat 10/17/2009 View Fri 10/16/2009 View Thu 10/15/2009 View Wed 10/14/2009 View Tue 10/13/2009 View Mon 10/12/2009 View Sun 10/11/2009
1
2009-10-17 Afghanistan
Taliban Strength Nears Military Proportion
Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.
Posted by Anonymoose 2009-10-17 00:00|| || Front Page|| [9 views ]  Top

#1 Showing that military attrition isn't a winning strategy in Afghanistan.

The Iraq Surge worked precisely because attrition was a winning strategy there.
Posted by phil_b 2009-10-17 02:34||   2009-10-17 02:34|| Front Page Top

#2 Worked for the plains buffalo. More lead and steel on target needed.
Posted by Besoeker in Duitsland 2009-10-17 02:45||   2009-10-17 02:45|| Front Page Top

#3 The Afghans are backing what they perceive as the strong horse, and is is not us.
Posted by Glenmore 2009-10-17 08:25||   2009-10-17 08:25|| Front Page Top

#4 The Afghans are backing what they perceive as the strong horse, and is is not us. What would you do if you were an Afghan, and emigration was not an option?
Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2009-10-17 09:45||   2009-10-17 09:45|| Front Page Top

#5 Well - polio might be one answer seeing how talibunnies don't like shots..

(just saying.... out of the box and all that...)
Posted by 3dc 2009-10-17 10:40||   2009-10-17 10:40|| Front Page Top

#6 The Pashtun Taliban have been merrily wandering off with the sons and some daughters of the Afghan villages they've claimed by right of conquest. Some other Afghans are working as Taliban for pay when no other jobs are available, just as in Iraq, or so it seems to me. I agree my understanding is not very deep, but I'd venture to guess that the number of willing and enthusiastic Talibs is considerably less than the number waving guns and making faces at the people counting them.
Posted by trailing wife">trailing wife  2009-10-17 10:45||   2009-10-17 10:45|| Front Page Top

#7 Phase two, IAW the insurgency manual?
Posted by Pappy 2009-10-17 13:00||   2009-10-17 13:00|| Front Page Top

#8 Shut down the money sources and the "army" evaporates.
Posted by Richard of Oregon 2009-10-17 14:39||   2009-10-17 14:39|| Front Page Top

#9 Large increase in Taliban manpower. Taliban chased out of the Swat vally - do the math. Same numbers - just re-deployed.
Posted by Sholuting the Weasel2160 2009-10-17 15:13||   2009-10-17 15:13|| Front Page Top

#10 I like your analysis better than mine, Sholuting the Weasel2160. Good catch!
Posted by trailing wife">trailing wife  2009-10-17 16:30||   2009-10-17 16:30|| Front Page Top

#11 If I was Obama (praise be I am not), I'd be pointing out to the Pakistani that 40,000 additional US troops are going to be pushing those Taliban forces down into Waziristan, and maybe further south.

Just sayin.

Posted by Skunky Glins****">Skunky Glins****  2009-10-17 17:00||   2009-10-17 17:00|| Front Page Top

#12 ...Wondering tho how many are capital T Taliban, and how many local warlords and gang leaders call themselves Taliban...

Mike
Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2009-10-17 22:05||   2009-10-17 22:05|| Front Page Top

23:46 gromky
23:44 gorb
23:17 Anguper Hupomosing9418
23:11 Anguper Hupomosing9418
23:04 trailing wife
22:31 Cornsilk Blondie
22:15 Pappy
22:07 Pappy
22:05 Mike Kozlowski
22:04 Skunky Glins****
22:02 Mike Kozlowski
21:56 Skunky Glins****
21:44 Alaska Paul
21:30 phil_b
20:02 Anonymoose
19:46 Procopius2k
19:46 Frank G
19:37 JohnQC
19:34 Frank G
19:33 JohnQC
19:32 eLarson
19:20 Old Patriot
19:13 Skunky Glins****
19:09 JohnQC









Paypal:
Google
Search WWW Search rantburg.com