Al-Qaida At Its Weakest?

[krashkart]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100627/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_us_afghanistan

WASHINGTON – CIA Director Leon Panetta said Sunday that al-Qaida is probably at its weakest since the Sept. 11 attacks because of U.S.-led strikes, with only 50 to 100 militants operating inside Afghanistan and the rest hiding along Pakistan's mountainous western border.
[...]
"We are engaged in the most aggressive operations in the history of the CIA in that part of the world, and the result is that we are disrupting their leadership," Panetta told ABC's "This Week."


I'm not sure whether to believe it. When this kind of good news comes along I usually get a sense that something isn't going right. :hmmm:

[Skybird]

TV news just one hour ago. This month has been the most lethal for NATO in Afghanistan since the Afghanistan mission began. the enemy has grown so strong that a planned offensive got delayed. Obama's timetable to withdraw US troops, is openly put into doubt.

Trapped in the Afghan maze.

[krashkart]

Obama made a promise that he could not keep, he had no idea what kind of a mess he would inherit. I have serious doubts that we'll be making any major withdrawals from the region in the next decade. Willingly, that is. :-?

[Tchocky]

TV news just one hour ago. This month has been the most lethal for NATO in Afghanistan since the Afghanistan mission began. the enemy has grown so strong that a planned offensive got delayed. Obama's timetable to withdraw US troops, is openly put into doubt.

Trapped in the Afghan maze.
Taliban, surely.

[Jimbuna]

I must admit, reading the CIA statement and seeing what is on the UK news does not help me make an informed choice as to whether the CIA statement is accurate or not.....I hope it is :hmmm:

[gimpy117]

Im sad to say that fighting Guerrillas didn't work in Vietnam and it still doesn't work today. Radical Islam is an idea not an army...and as long as they have the will there will always be a fanatic willing to pick up a gun, no matter how many tanks and jets we have.

[Admiral8Q]

Im sad to say that fighting Guerrillas didn't work in Vietnam and it still doesn't work today. Radical Islam is an idea not an army...and as long as they have the will there will always be a fanatic willing to pick up a gun, no matter how many tanks and jets we have.
I have to agree with you.

[Skybird]

Taliban, surely.
Does it matter?

Afghanistan was not invaded over the Taliban, but Al Quaeda, btw.

I am about the timing of this message: claimed success regarding Al Quaeda when Afghanistan seems to be worse than ever.

[krashkart]

Pitchin' it to the people. Washington would have us believe that there is still progress being made in Afghanistan. Still, I wonder what the numbers of dead look like on both sides. For nearly tens years of war (on two fronts, even) the US isn't doing too badly as far as combat fatalities.

[Marka Ragnos]

And where is Bin Laden he has alluded capture for almost 10 years now.

I'm not an american (sadly) but i have alot of respect for the soldiers that fight everyday in a war they cannot win. America can bring down almost any government on this planet but you cannot bring down a religion with force.


That said, better over there then on american soil right? Everyday is a victory.

[gimpy117]

Pitchin' it to the people. Washington would have us believe that there is still progress being made in Afghanistan. Still, I wonder what the numbers of dead look like on both sides. For nearly tens years of war (on two fronts, even) the US isn't doing too badly as far as combat fatalities.

no there has been no progress. the fact that the taliban is back means that we have digressed. We diverted out attention to a pointless war (iraq) that really had nothing to with terrorism OR the taliban, and while we were napping they moved back in and made themselves at home. All because Bush wanted to finish his daddy's war and make the old man proud :nope:

[Skybird]

And where is Bin Laden he has alluded capture for almost 10 years now.
Rumour is he retired from terror business and now works as a BP engineer in the Mexican Gulf.

[krashkart]

Rumour is he retired from terror business and now works as a BP engineer in the Mexican Gulf.

So that's what happened, eh? :har:


That said, better over there then on american soil right? Everyday is a victory.

Even better would be to keep it off everybody's soil that doesn't want it there.


no there has been no progress. the fact that the taliban is back means that we have digressed. We diverted out attention to a pointless war (iraq) that really had nothing to with terrorism OR the taliban, and while we were napping they moved back in and made themselves at home. All because Bush wanted to finish his daddy's war and make the old man proud :nope:

I dunno. There's a Nat'l Guard unit that's learning pre-industrial farming techniques so that they can teach it to Afghani farmers. At least it's a step in the right direction. Making Afghanistan a safe haven for Western ideology, on the other hand... I think we'll be lucky to establish that in the first place. :-?

[Platapus]

I still have the same questions I wanted to ask President Bush.

1. What is the objective or objectives for the AF Conflict?

2. How will we measure success or failure with regard to those objectives?

3. What is the exit criteria for success or failure in the AF Conflict?

The most important is, of course, the first question.

Never got an answer from President Bush and still have not gotten an answer from President Obama on this. :nope:

[TarJak]

I still have the same questions I wanted to ask President Bush.

1. What is the objective or objectives for the AF Conflict?

2. How will we measure success or failure with regard to those objectives?

3. What is the exit criteria for success or failure in the AF Conflict?

The most important is, of course, the first question.

Never got an answer from President Bush and still have not gotten an answer from President Obama on this. :nope:

I know I'll get flamed for this but the answer to Q1 is simple: The objective of the conflict in AF is to make the American people feel like they are doing something in response to the threat of terrorism.

The corresponding answers after that are:

By the Presidential popularity ratings.

When the US people realise there ain't much point being there any more and kick up enough fuss for the President to pull the troops out.

[krashkart]

I know I'll get flamed for this...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/French_indochina_napalm_1953-12_1.png

Dang, I missed. ;)

Actually, I think you're spot-on. The only thing that really seems clear is that we've put a lot of troops and money into the war. :-?

[TLAM Strike]

For nearly tens years of war (on two fronts, even) the US isn't doing too badly as far as combat fatalities.
Slightly off topic:

Interesting fact all the purple hearts awarded since the end of WWII were minted (is that the word?) for Operation Downfall the Allied invasion of Japan.

When I think of all the US fatalities in Iraq and Afghanistan I can't help but remember that fact.

[Blood_splat]

Know matter how many leaders get taken out, there's always another one to step right in.

[Skybird]

I know I'll get flamed for this but the answer to Q1 is simple: The objective of the conflict in AF is to make the American people feel like they are doing something in response to the threat of terrorism.

The corresponding answers after that are:

By the Presidential popularity ratings.

When the US people realise there ain't much point being there any more and kick up enough fuss for the President to pull the troops out.I already agreed with Platapu's questions in another thread, but your answers 1 and 2 are very good (="realistic") answers indeed. with 3 I do not agree since I tend nto think the people have not much to say in this anyway and right now a majority of people maybe already think it all is pointless right now.

:yeah:

[TarJak]

I already agreed with Platapu's questions in another thread, but your answers 1 and 2 are very good (="realistic") answers indeed. with 3 I do not agree since I tend nto think the people have not much to say in this anyway and right now a majority of people maybe already think it all is pointless right now.

:yeah:My point being they are not kicking up enough of a fuss yet for the people who decided these things to decide otherwise.

[Jimbuna]

Rumour is he retired from terror business and now works as a BP engineer in the Mexican Gulf.

ROFLMAO :rotfl2:

[Jimbuna]

I know I'll get flamed for this but the answer to Q1 is simple: The objective of the conflict in AF is to make the American people feel like they are doing something in response to the threat of terrorism.

The corresponding answers after that are:

By the Presidential popularity ratings.

When the US people realise there ain't much point being there any more and kick up enough fuss for the President to pull the troops out.

I already agreed with Platapu's questions in another thread, but your answers 1 and 2 are very good (="realistic") answers indeed. with 3 I do not agree since I tend nto think the people have not much to say in this anyway and right now a majority of people maybe already think it all is pointless right now.

:yeah:

Point three will more than likely come at the next presidential campaign....the closer the race the more likely one of the candidates will announce a definitive timescale to win thaose few extra states.

[krashkart]

Skybird, would you be pissed if I quoted your Bin Laden rumor in my sig? That's just funny as hell. :DL

Point three will more than likely come at the next presidential campaign....the closer the race the more likely one of the candidates will announce a definitive timescale to win thaose few extra states.

There might even come a time when enough of us get fed up and start protesting again. Hard for me to tell how likely that would be, though.

[Gerald]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100627/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_us_afghanistan



I'm not sure whether to believe it. When this kind of good news comes along I usually get a sense that something isn't going right. :hmmm: 4 men died in mine explosion
http://www.nrk.no/drfront/resources/img/2010-06/28/2-b0ac36d1-c8f226ec.jpeg, they was from Norway....R.I.P :salute:

[Skybird]

Skybird, would you be pissed if I quoted your Bin Laden rumor in my sig? That's just funny as hell. :DL
Nöö... :)

Fairness demands me to admit that the joke was inspired by a cartoon I read some days ago.

[Platapus]

I know I'll get flamed for this but the answer to Q1 is simple: The objective of the conflict in AF is to make the American people feel like they are doing something in response to the threat of terrorism.



You may be right with that one. :nope:

[krashkart]

4 men died in mine explosion
http://www.nrk.no/drfront/resources/img/2010-06/28/2-b0ac36d1-c8f226ec.jpeg, they was from Norway....R.I.P :salute:

The second man in the picture reminds me of a friend from years back. Honors to Norway. :salute:

[TarJak]

Wow 12 posts and no flames apart from kraskarts misguided napalm strike!:o

[krashkart]

Wow 12 posts and no flames apart from kraskarts misguided napalm strike!:o

Ehm, sorry about that... I was trying to light your BBQ. :-?

[TLAM Strike]

Ehm, sorry about that... I was trying to light your BBQ. :-?

After your bombing run I think I saw August laying on his bedroom floor half naked staring up at the ceiling fan. Then someone down the hall shut off their 'Doors' album and he seemed to snap out of it... :O:

You might want to be more careful with that napalm Krashkart... :03:

[krashkart]

After your bombing run I think I saw August laying on his bedroom floor half naked staring up at the ceiling fan. Then someone down the hall shut off their 'Doors' album and he seemed to snap out of it... :O:

You might want to be more careful with that napalm Krashkart... :03:

Oh crap! I hope August is okay. I've never been very good at toss bombing. :nope:

(Where's a CCIP when you need one?) *nyurk nyurk* :O:

[TarJak]

After your bombing run I think I saw August laying on his bedroom floor half naked staring up at the ceiling fan. Then someone down the hall shut off their 'Doors' album and he seemed to snap out of it... :O:

You might want to be more careful with that napalm Krashkart... :03:

Oh crap! I hope August is okay. I've never been very good at toss bombing. :nope:

(Where's a CCIP when you need one?) *nyurk nyurk* :O:
LOL He's got his tie wrapped around his head again and the MP's are on their way up the stairs. This is the end my only friend.:D

[TarJak]

Another reason i'm not keen on Gillard and her cronies:
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/gillards-fawning-over-obama-a-bad-start-on-diplomatic-front-20100629-zj3h.html

This bloke must have been reading this thread. He's asking the right questions, but I wish our unelected leader would ask them of Obama.

[krashkart]

I'm seeing a lot of parallels in public opinion. I'll just highlight some things that strike me as similar...


For a war that seems unwinnable and futile to so many AustraliansDuring the Second Gulf War, Washington's boosters in the Australian media sought to quarantine the alliance from widespread public hostility to George Bush.describing Bush as ''the most incompetent and dangerous president in living memory''.^^ This one especially grabs me. I keep hearing the same thing about O. :har:

We could be asking : What are your war aims? When will they be achieved? What are your criteria for ''success'' in Afghanistan? What is the exit strategy?OMG, we're not the only ones scratching our heads over this thing? Imagine that. :D


[ADDED]

I took a look over at Wiki to see how many countries have been dragged into this thing:

46 countries on "our" side.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Afghanistan_%282001%E2%80%93present%29