Article

2006-05-08 Afghanistan

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Posted by Dan Darling 2006-05-08 03:26|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 We just don't sit around and wait for them to kill coalition forces

And therein lies the rub for the Talis. Part of the reason the soviets had such a hard time with the Muj was that they tended to act tacticaly like...soviets. Rigid, little initative at the squad and fire team level. Disorganized swarming tactics work best against large, rigid, and slow-reacting enemies. Western militaries use a similar form of swarming, and generaly are much quicker to react to threats. Western militaries appear to be much more aggressive than the soviets too. From reading Bear went over the mountain I get the impression that the Muj got used to being able to run riot all over the countryside, in part because the soviets tended to be really passive unless prodded. They would just sit there unless directed to do otherwise.

Taliban would like to lay their hands on a jeep-mounted AT-1 Snapper

Holy jeebus! Wouldn't they want something a little modern and easier to use, like a (AT-4)sagger or recoilless rifle. Does anyone still make these? Or is this a case of a reporter screwing up?

persistent rumours the Taliban have managed to reactivate a handful of U.S-made Stinger missiles using recently purchased battery packs.

Uh, Guys, yer gonna need more than just fresh BCUs by now for those things. IIRC the rocket motor casings have a definite shelf life, along with some of the critical parts in the seeker. I read a while back somewhere that the expected shelf life for a (early production) stinger was supposed to be about 15 years or so.

I expect that any manpads these clowns get will turn out to be SA-7s, or -14s, or similar.

Posted by N guard 2006-05-08 05:36|| 2006-05-08 05:36|| Front Page Top

#2 I trust our CIA is out there selling, wink, wink.

Posted by wxjames 2006-05-08 07:33|| 2006-05-08 07:33|| Front Page Top

#3 Taliban looking for deadlier weapons

another "deadline report" finished just in time.

Posted by RD 2006-05-08 09:05|| 2006-05-08 09:05|| Front Page Top

#4 Guys the answer to this lies in Steve White's article: "Afghan women start businesses"

I recommend all follow the link and read.

It is the solution to the war on terror.

But we need to arm them and train them in the police force as well.

Posted by anon1 2006-05-08 09:56|| 2006-05-08 09:56|| Front Page Top

#5 Go, Canada, go! And a nyaaaaa! to the Taliban. With no apologies for my rudeness -- they've earnt it.

Agreed, anon1. I seem to recall an article here quite some time ago about a woman officer in the Afghan police force. The terror of the bad guys, and a hero to the little girls. I wish I could remember the details...

Posted by trailing wife 2006-05-08 12:05|| 2006-05-08 12:05|| Front Page Top

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