Article

2008-07-21 India-Pakistan

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 Fred 2008-07-21 00:00|| || Front Page|| [5 views ] Top
File under: Taliban

#1 The difference between the US and the Russians, the Brits, and the host that came and lost before us: The bad boys can't hide from our technology. As we transition from Iraq to Afghanistan with 5 years of hard earned COIN lessons...the Taliwhackers are going to get some hard lessons.

Posted by anymouse">anymouse 2008-07-21 00:54|| 2008-07-21 00:54|| Front Page Top

#2 Heroin indulgence = Taliban Resurgence

What do journalists learn in 4 years of college?

Posted by McZoid 2008-07-21 03:56|| 2008-07-21 03:56|| Front Page Top

#3 You don't deal with a cockroach infestation by stomping on those who scamper when you turn on the lights.

To be roach free, you need to kill them in their nesting areas... all the cracks and crevices, behind the loose baseboard etc.

Posted by john frum 2008-07-21 08:43|| 2008-07-21 08:43|| Front Page Top

#4 And fumigate the property next door.

Posted by Excalibur 2008-07-21 11:27|| 2008-07-21 11:27|| Front Page Top

#5 Bill Roggio has an interesting article in Long War Journal on the attack on Wanat. The comments are especially informative.

Wanat is right on the border between Nuristan and Kunar. It is some distance from the Pakistan border.

It is also an area that is undergoing an ethnic transition to Pashtun from the original inhabitants. As such it is on the fault line of ethnic tension between the 2 tribes, and is alienated from the provincial government in Nuristan.

It looks like the Americans stepped into the middle of an ethnic conflict and the Taliban were able to present themselves as the "protectors" of the Pashtun.

In order to defeat the Taliban, we're going to have to become aware of the local issues in each area, as those are a lot more important to the villagers than any global war.

The best weapon we have is the Taliban's stupidity in enforcing faux Sharia laws. We just have to be careful we don't try to stuff village size conflicts into a one-size-fits-all template.

Al

Posted by Frozen Al 2008-07-21 12:36|| 2008-07-21 12:36|| Front Page Top

#6 Here is the Long War Journal article

Posted by Frozen Al 2008-07-21 16:05|| 2008-07-21 16:05|| Front Page Top

23:39 Sheba Sheamble5056
23:28 Swamp Blondie in the Cornfields
23:20 Swamp Blondie in the Cornfields
23:16 JosephMendiola
23:09 JosephMendiola
23:01 OldSpook
22:59 Percy Spumble4268
22:54 Rambler in California
22:51 JosephMendiola
22:46 OldSpook
22:44 JosephMendiola
22:36 Percy Spumble4268
22:33 OldSpook
22:11 trailing wife
22:06 trailing wife
22:03 phil_b
22:03 trailing wife
21:57 Besoeker
21:48 Goober Chinetle8558
21:47 Threnegar the Svelte
21:43 Frank G
21:41 Galactic Coordinator Chineting4499
21:35 AllahHateMe
21:25 g(r)omgoru