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| Afghanistan |
| Another AlQaida last stand |
| 2008-09-29 |
| September 29, 2008: The Taliban and their al Qaeda allies have been fighting a large, and losing, battle against the army in the Pakistani region of Bajaur (right on the Afghan border). The fighting has been going on for a month now, and the terrorists have lost about a thousand dead, while the army has lost only 27 dead. The large disparity in losses is largely due to the Pakistani use of air power (bombers and helicopters) and artillery. The army controls the roads, forcing the Taliban to concentrate their forces, to avoid getting taken apart by road (and helicopter) mobile Pakistani infantry. The fighting began when the Taliban, who had always been dominant in Bajaur, sought to take over completely and drive government officials out. The army responded with over 10,000 troops, and more following, and went after the towns, villages and walled compounds known to be bases for the enemy. The Taliban did not expect the army to respond so energetically. But the Taliban had prepared ambushes along the roads (by renting houses, and digging tunnels and bunkers next to them for shelter from artillery and bombs). In response, the army detected these preparations (with air reconnaissance, patrols and local informants), and avoided, or destroyed, these positions. The situation has become so dire that the Bajaur Taliban has called for reinforcements from other Taliban groups in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Since most of the Pakistani Taliban are tribe based, not a lot of Taliban tribesmen have been showing up. But the al Qaeda forces (which are mostly Arabs, Chechens, Uzbeks and other foreigners) did arrive in large numbers. Al Qaeda gunmen were not immune to the army firepower, and four of the five known leaders killed, and identified, were foreign al Qaeda men. The army believes that it will have destroyed the Taliban in Bajaur by the end of the year. The army has openly vowed to win in Bajaur, and keep their own casualties down while doing it. Pakistani soldiers have noted the ability of foreign and Afghan troops to do the same in Afghanistan, and wanted to operate the same way. This is in contrast to the way things usually work. For centuries, the Pushtun tribes have had the edge in their own mountains and valleys, and soldiers from the outside had a hard time of it. The Pakistani army is determined to show that times have changed, and that the tribes are no longer supreme in their own territory. In the past, the one tactic that worked against the Pushtun tribes was mass murder. That's how the Mongols pacified the region, but such wholesale destruction of villages and civilians is no longer acceptable. However, the U.S. tactics of scouting and long range fire power does work, even when the armed tribesmen take cover among civilians (who now do all they can to flee when they see the fighting headed their way.) |
| Posted by:logi_cal |
| #12 See TOPIX > THE WAR WON'T END IN AFGHANISTAN. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-09-29 23:22 |
| #11 ...even when the armed tribesmen take cover among civilians (who now do all they can to flee when they see the fighting headed their way.) looks like the pak army doesn't care about collateral damage, and in the end it is reducing both the number of civilians involved and the length of the fight. |
| Posted by: Abu do you love 2008-09-29 21:40 |
| #10 lets don't get excited until they actually half ass finish the job this time. remember they are ALL cousins |
| Posted by: sinse 2008-09-29 19:37 |
| #9 But the Taliban had prepared ambushes along the roads (by renting houses, and digging tunnels and bunkers next to them for shelter from artillery and bombs). In response, the [PAK] Army detected these preparations (with air reconnaissance, patrols and local informants), and avoided, or destroyed, these positions. ************* similar to MacArthur's Pacific Island Campaign... ..or a hundred other strategic Battle Plans. |
| Posted by: RD 2008-09-29 18:21 |
| #8 Contrary to clear evidence this Revolting but much loved MEME is an MSM's Fav! Back not to long after 9/11 we evicted the Talibs from most of Northern A-stan in a few days.. Now it's a FACT that the Pashtun tribals switch sides twice a day depending on the weather and the latest rumours, that said since 9/11 everything and everybody they have thrown at the Coalition has been turned into recycled waste for compost piles.. BUT, The MSM will never let loose of this MEME ever.. ***** Approved MSM Slime-Bag Journalists VOICES. Two Leftest Gurus: 1) Code Pink Shrew: Preachy hysterical high pitched voice.. MEME: "Historically No Western Army has ever defeated the tribals in A-stan. George Bush is Doomed in Afghanistan and so is his SS ARMY!" 2) Leftest Hermaphrodite: A self appointed know it all who speaks in a contemptuous Super Snotty Nasal Tone. MEME: "American Troop Can't win because No one has ever defeated the best irregular Pashtun Armies EVER in Afghanistan!" /Hey I will never let loose of the treasonous MSM. |
| Posted by: RD 2008-09-29 18:12 |
| #7 It is starting to look like there was coordination between us in Afghan territory and the Pak army coming from the south for a delicious Talibani squeeze. Put a little gin in it or bourbon and lean back and enjoy. |
| Posted by: Richard of Oregon 2008-09-29 16:33 |
| #6 In addition to the bailout news, I needed some additional good news today. Maybe Pakis will save their country from being taken over by militants and terrorists. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2008-09-29 15:28 |
| #5 i would hate too be made a leader in al queada |
| Posted by: sinse 2008-09-29 15:23 |
| #4 Everything is interconnected. Musharaff had to leave office for this to happen. NATO had to push as many Taliban and al-Qaeda out of Afghanistan into this region as they could, then form an anvil for the Pak army to be the hammer. The real story was the combined OPSEC and PSYOPS. I imagine that a lot of less trusted Pak army leaders are in the rear area, counting and sorting 55 gallon drums full of buttons. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2008-09-29 13:56 |
| #3 If the lowlanders finally figure out that they can win (and are tired of the a##hole highlanders) perhaps they can use this to get their own country under control. |
| Posted by: tipover 2008-09-29 13:53 |
| #2 I like seeing the phase "dire for the Taliban" - more, more, more, please. |
| Posted by: Jack is Back! 2008-09-29 13:17 |
| #1 Is this related to the backing off of US ground troop forays into the border zone after the September 3 diplomatic confrontation? |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2008-09-29 13:03 |