Article

2008-12-13 Afghanistan

Nato hard at work making deals to beat the Khyber Pass convoy trap

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Posted by john frum 2008-12-13 13:29|| || Front Page|| [3 views ] Top

#1 Nato plans to open a new supply route to Afghanistan through Russia and Central Asia in the next eight weeks following a spate of attacks on its main lifeline through Pakistan this year, Nato and Russian sources have told The Times.

Logistics, New Option:
John, the Northern routes are problematic.

But A new shipping/supply route going through Indian Ports and shipping Depots would be sublime!

:)

Keeping in mind that a straight line is often the shortest distance between two points, it would be mathematically elegant to Jump off from India and GRIND our new supply route straight through Pakistan.

This new shipping/supply route kills at least several dozen rag-headed shit-birds with each armored stone.

:)

Posted by Red Dawg">Red Dawg 2008-12-13 16:15|| 2008-12-13 16:15|| Front Page Top

#2 a new route would allow us to tell Pakis to f*ck off on the whining and sovereignty crap and cut off their aid. Let that shithole die

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2008-12-13 17:03|| 2008-12-13 17:03|| Front Page Top

#3 The Northern Route is as problematic as the Pak. Time to recognize that Afghanistan is, and always will be, plagued by locational obsolescence. Declare victory, withdraw, drive the Taliban and al-Qaeda out of Pakistan before they take it over, invade Afghanistan to finally destroy al-Q and the Taliban from Pakistan, if necessary.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2008-12-13 17:27|| 2008-12-13 17:27|| Front Page Top

#4 Turkmenistan. Now there's a secure reliable partner.
/endsarcasm

Posted by phil_b 2008-12-13 18:05|| 2008-12-13 18:05|| Front Page Top

#5 Turkmenistan can be coaxed (bribed) by laying a pipeline under the Caspian and exporting their gas at market rates. Last time I looked the Russians were generously taking the Turkmen gas at 30% of market rates (around $70-80/100CuM at the time) and selling their own gas to Europe at Euro market rates. This means $billions/year extra revenue for the Turkmens and a much higher standard of living. They are the Kuwait of nat gas. This should have begun years ago, even when Turkmenbashi was alive.

Russian nat gas at the German border (Nov 2008): $575/1000CuM )
US nat gas price (Dec 2008): $7.43/MMBtu = $265/1000CuM

Posted by ed 2008-12-13 19:25|| 2008-12-13 19:25|| Front Page Top

#6 Non-lethal supplies, including fuel, would be shipped across the Black Sea to Georgia, driven to neighbouring Azerbaijan, shipped across the Caspian Sea to Turkmenistan and then driven to the Afghan border.

Hurray. Someone gets it. Logistics through enemy territory is supplies denied. Actually there is a train line from ports of Poti Georgia to Baku Azerbijian. It was cut by the Russian invasion and sections blown up.

Better the money goes to Georgians, Azeris and Turkomen than to Pakistan to feed and raise another generation that will try to kill us.

Posted by ed 2008-12-13 19:31|| 2008-12-13 19:31|| Front Page Top

#7 Road and rail map of Turkmenistan

Note the close proximity of both routes to Iran < 20K.

Posted by phil_b 2008-12-13 20:41|| 2008-12-13 20:41|| Front Page Top

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