Afghanistan

[Undertoad]

So what we have now is Europeans uninterested in doing the heavy lifting, Americans out of money to do the heavy lifting, China completely focused on itself, Russia playing games...

If the shit really hits the fan we'd better hope the Aussies and South Koreans are up to fixing it. Maybe the Canadians can help.

[xoxoxoBruce]

From what I've read the Brits, Aussies, and Canucks, are doing very well at holding up their end. Some of the Eastern European countries, too. Oh, and the Japs are spending a fortune on local civilian improvement projects, as they are not allowed to get into the fight.

[classicman]

The Afghan war from behind enemy lines: Documentary-maker follows Taliban as they attack U.S. soldiers

A documentary made by a Norwegian journalist embedded with Taliban fighters has provided a rare glimpse of the other side of the Afghanistan conflict.

The raw footage - captured by Paul Refsdal - shows the Afghan militants attacking U.S. convoys on a road below their mountainous hide-out and celebrating hits with a high-five.

The men also show their softer side to the Norwegian journalist by singing, reciting verses from the Koran and even brushing their long hair as he quietly records their day-to-day activities.

Refsdal informs viewers that a price of $400,000 has been placed on Dawran's head, and the commander himself tells the story of how he was almost killed by a traitor.

Later their perilous position is exposed when the men become concerned by the sight of the U.S. gunship flying nearby.

The narrator says: 'One aircraft that scared them is a transport plane transformed into a gunship.

'When this was in the air Dawran was very concerned.'

During the night, the fighters flee into the mountains when it becomes apparent their hide-out is to be attacked.

And the next day U.S. special forces achieve a successful raid on the house of Dawran's deputy, killing him and a dozen fighters and relatives.

This action ends Refsdal's filming of the unit, and he is told to go back to Kabul.

But at the end of the film, the documentary-maker reveals he was tempted back to the hills by another fighter called Omar, and kidnapped, but released six days later.

Read more
There is a lot more ... Both pics and videos

[TheMercenary]

I hope the boys got some good intell from his video and audio feed. We need more people to infiltrate.

[classicman]

The US and Saudi Arabia are in advanced talks on transferring Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaeda fighting force out of Afghanistan and Pakistan to a new location. His removal would clear Taliban leader Mullah Omar's path to a negotiated end to the war in Afghanistan.

Read more about this proposal and find out what the drums of war beating in Beirut and Damascus are all about in our next issue out Friday.

Debka
I don't know what to make of this.
Are we negotiating the release of bin Laden to end the war or is the Taliban giving him up?

[Shawnee123]

I thought Bin Laden died years ago?

[classicman]

I reported that multiple times as it came up in the press.

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

I thought Bin Laden died years ago?

Hahahaha. He was right - then or now, whatever it takes.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Mike Yon is back in country, not embedded, checking out USAID projects, that seem to be doing well. I didn't realize there is so much antagonism between the Afghanis and Iran. On Facebook

[tw]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

I thought Bin Laden died years ago?

That myth was widely promoted by sources with a political agenda.

When asked about bin Laden 6 months ago, the CIA director said he wished he knew where bin Laden was. That the CIA had no solid information - then repeated for emphasis. But they believe he was in tribal areas of Pakistan where the Taliban have many allies.

America has a serious problem. Nations that remain at war for decades end up dying nations 20 years later. Obama constantly demanded an exit strategy from the Generals. Only got requests for more troops. To protect America, we must decide in a few years whether we have been defeated. Hard decisions necessary because some fool invented a myth "Mission Accomplished" rather than achieve victory.

Wars are never resolved on the battlefield. Wars are always resolved at the negotiation table. Expect people such as Holbrook (moderates) to be proposing many ambitious solutions because America is, otherwise, that close to defeat.

Iran does not hate Afghanistan as much as Iran hates the Taliban. Never forget what happened. Iran sent six negotiators to Afghanistan to resolve issues. Bodies came back without heads. Everyone here should know that story - or have a serious problem with their information sources.

The region is full of hatred. Many parts of the Pakistan government regard Afghanistan as allies of India. More hate. By letting bin Laden go free, we got ourselves in a real pickle

[casimendocina]

An interview (transcript + video) of an important player in Afghanistan's media. Interesting stuff.

http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/conte...0/s3011854.htm

[gvidas]

First female officers of Afghan National Army graduate, albeit headed exclusively for administrative roles.

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan's army got its first female officers in decades on Thursday when 29 women graduated in a class of new recruits who hope to help take the lead role in national security from foreign forces by 2014.
...

The women will not be sent to the frontline of the fight against the insurgency, which is raging at its strongest since the 2001 overthrow of the Taliban government, and instead will largely be doing administrative work.

Women served in the army of Afghanistan's communist-backed regime in the 1980s but retreated from military service during the civil war and hardline Taliban rule that followed the Soviet retreat from Afghanistan in 1989.

[TheMercenary]

Well I guess it is a start, until we are gone, then I have a felling things are going to fall apart. We will have to see what Obama is going to do next. The latest book by Woodward seems to have some telling insight as the struggle they are having staying on task.

[xoxoxoBruce]

If the Afghans see how much better things can be, than when the Taliban was running things, maybe they'll be more disposed to keeping it when we leave.

[TheMercenary]

We can only hope. But my fear is that they operate and understand a feudal system more than one based on an educated system of democratic potential. I certainly do not have the answers.