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2009-07-07 Afghanistan

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Posted by mom 2009-07-07 09:56|| || Front Page|| [11133 views ] Top

#1 Afghanistan is lost. Soviet slaughter couldn't win it nor will American hearts and minds.

It will be a bloody running sore for years because Liberals need to prove it was the good war as opposed to the bad Iraq (and now won) war.

Not only will it be lost, it will poison the posibility of intervention in places we really need to worry about like North Africa.

We already see the fallout of Afghanistan failure in the fact no one will touch the chaos in Somalia with a 10f bargepole.

My 2c worth.

Posted by Phil_B 2009-07-07 10:26|| 2009-07-07 10:26|| Front Page Top

#2 You can't cut-and-paste because its an image. I won't hot-link the image but the gist of it is....
(any spelling errors are probably my typos...)

The use of air-to-ground munitions and indirect fires against residential compounds is only authorized under very limited and prescribed conditions (specific conditions deleted...)

Any entry into an Afghan house should always be accomblished by Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), wiht the support of local authorities, and account for the unique cultural sensitivities toward local women.

No ISAF forces will enter or fire upon, or file into, a mosque or any religious or historical site except in self-defense. All searches and entries for any other reason will be conducted by ANSF.

So how is becoming a running joke going to help us win hearts and minds?

Posted by CrazyFool 2009-07-07 10:33|| 2009-07-07 10:33|| Front Page Top

#3 Is this not the way you operated in Vietnam war, handcuffed by politics?

Posted by Lagom 2009-07-07 11:02|| 2009-07-07 11:02|| Front Page Top

#4 There is a tactical case to be made for harshe rules of engagement, and for less harsh depending on conditions on the ground, including political conditions. Some folks on left and right like to opine for one or the other without respect to local conditions.

I dont know the local conditions well enough to say whether this is right or wrong. I also dont know how much the military is onboard with the new policy, though it sounds like it would fit so some degree with Petraeus and counterinsurgency doctrine.

Posted by liberal hawk 2009-07-07 11:49|| 2009-07-07 11:49|| Front Page Top

#5 "Any entry into an Afghan house should always be accomblished by Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), wiht the support of local authorities, and account for the unique cultural sensitivities toward local women."

This makes sense. IIUC it is based to a considerable degree on experience in Iraq.

Posted by liberal hawk 2009-07-07 11:50|| 2009-07-07 11:50|| Front Page Top

#6 "No ISAF forces will enter or fire upon, or file into, a mosque or any religious or historical site except in self-defense. All searches and entries for any other reason will be conducted by ANSF.
No ISAF forces will enter or fire upon, or file into, a mosque or any religious or historical site except in self-defense. All searches and entries for any other reason will be conducted by ANSF."

IOW - if we are being fired on from a mosque, we will fire back. If we are not being fired on, but suspect a weapons cache, etc, we will surround the place and call on the friendlies to go in and do the search.

Again, I dont think this policy is as weak as some seem to think.

Posted by liberal hawk 2009-07-07 11:52|| 2009-07-07 11:52|| Front Page Top

#7 What was the rule prior to TD6?

Posted by lord garth 2009-07-07 12:21|| 2009-07-07 12:21|| Front Page Top

#8 Lagom:

You've got to be kidding!

Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2009-07-07 13:15|| 2009-07-07 13:15|| Front Page Top

#9 General McKiernan's relief after less than one year was done shabbily and with little regard to truth on the ground. General McChrystal is the new administration darling. He's been appointed the Afghani Zsar and been given a mandate by Gates and Barry to play softball. The natural overreaction and safe-siding of this directive at all levels will surely get soldiers and marines killed. Fold the tentage and close the club USAF, you're done. They never liked CAS anyway. UAV's are early as unpopular

The preceptions of bad guys on the ground are KEY! The enemy, if it is still the Taliban, will joyously celebrate TD6 I assure you. Marines and soldiers, not so much. Particularly as the KIA numbers rise.

Posted by Besoeker 2009-07-07 16:54|| 2009-07-07 16:54|| Front Page Top

#10 Besoeker:

Well said!

My post from the thread above:

When the locals see the American Infidels appear to be running from the Mighty Taliban they will be convinced about who's winning.

B we still have to get together someday for barbecue and a mess of shrimp.

Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2009-07-07 18:00|| 2009-07-07 18:00|| Front Page Top

#11 Hoorah GB! We'll have to do it before Obamageddon. We'll all be quite busy with aiming stakes and pre-planned fires when that campaign kicks off.

Posted by Besoeker 2009-07-07 18:33|| 2009-07-07 18:33|| Front Page Top

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