Al-Qaida At Its Weakest?

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Tchocky

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.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Marka Ragnos

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]

Originally Posted by Skybird

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

So that's what happened, eh?

Originally Posted by Marka Ragnos

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.

Originally Posted by gimpy117

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

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.

[TarJak]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Skybird

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

ROFLMAO

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by TarJak

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.

Originally Posted by Skybird

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.

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.

Originally Posted by jimbuna

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.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by krashkart

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

Nöö...

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

[gimpy117]

Originally Posted by 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.

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

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by krashkart

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.