Taliban is back, says Pentagon

cat's meow · #1 (**permalink**) 06-28-2008, 12:01 PM

...and we are still in Iraq d*cking around...

Quote:

Taliban is back, says Pentagon
Militants just one of host of problems in Afghanistan

By Lolita C. Baldor
Associated Press
Saturday, June 28, 2008

WASHINGTON -- The Taliban has regrouped after its initial fall from power in Afghanistan, and the pace of its attacks is likely to increase this year, according to a Pentagon report that offers a dim view of progress in the nearly seven-year-old war.

Noting that insurgent violence has climbed, the report said that despite U.S. and coalition efforts to capture and kill key leaders, the Taliban is likely to "maintain or even increase the scope and pace of its terrorist attacks and bombings in 2008."

At the same time, the Afghan Army and national police are progressing slowly and still lack the trainers they need.

The report was released Friday along with a separate plan for the development of Afghan security forces. They are the first two comprehensive Pentagon reports to evaluate progress in Afghanistan.

Vast problems -- corruption, the illegal poppy trade, human rights abuses and slow progress in reconstruction -- were detailed, as well as the struggle to train and equip the Afghan Army and police.

The report described a dual terror threat in Afghanistan that includes the Taliban in the south, and "a more complex, adaptive insurgency" in the east. That fragmented insurgency is made up of groups ranging from al-Qaida and Afghan warlords such as Gulbuddin Hekmatyar's radical Hezb-i-Islami group to Pakistani militants such as Jaish-e-Mohammed.

The assessment was bluntly pessimistic as it described efforts to train the army and police.

As of March, it said, just one army battalion and a headquarters unit could operate independently, while 26 battalions, five brigade headquarters and two corps headquarters units could plan and execute counterinsurgency operations with the support of coalition forces.

In addition, as of the spring, the U.S. had provided only 44 percent of the nearly 2,400 trainers needed for the Afghan Army, and just 39 percent of the mentors for the Afghan police.

Overall there are 32,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, including 14,000 serving with the NATO forces and another 18,000 conducting training and counterinsurgency. As of Friday, the Defense Department has confirmed the deaths of 527 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, along with 310 from other coalition members since the start of the war in late 2001.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates referred to the worsening problems in Afghanistan on Thursday.

He noted that when he traveled to the border area of Khost last year, security was better.

"It actually was not bad until a few months ago," said Gates. "This is a fairly recent phenomenon of seeing the numbers (of insurgents) come across the border."

A key to the deterioration there, he said, has been recent efforts by Pakistan to negotiate peace agreements with tribal leaders along the lawless border.

On a positive note, there is a nod to the economic and political gains in Afghanistan -- including successful elections and improvements within the ministries of defense, foreign affairs and finance. It also recognizes that women are now holding government posts and teaching positions -- although it said that challenges remain in eliminating human rights abuses.

The executions in the Bajur region highlighted the power of local Taliban forces in tribal areas near the Afghan border.

Also Friday, a top U.N. official expressed fears that Pakistan's peace deals with militants were sparking a wave of similar abuses.

Militants calling from the loudspeakers of mosques summoned people to the banks of a stream outside the town of Khar, about 120 miles northwest of Islamabad. At least 5,000 people gathered to watch the executions.

Waliur Rehman, a local Taliban commander, told the crowd that the two men had confessed to aiding in the strike on a house in the border town of Damadola that killed 14 people last month.

Gunmen with daggers then pounced on one of the men -- identified as Jan Wali, 36 -- decapitated him and waved his bloody head to the cheering crowd.

The militants then argued over how to kill the other man because he may have been a teenager, before one lost patience and shot him.

-- Associated Press

Badmutha · #2 (**permalink**) 06-28-2008, 12:13 PM

Wasn't Afghanastan the "Just" war??

Wasn't Afghanastan the war where the UN and our "allies" around the world vowed to help us??

As we have seen...libs are so concerned about how the rest of the world and the UN views us (democrat Mary Kay policies)....regardless of how they view us....its has become evident where they leave us....high and dry

smart makes a comeback · #3 (**permalink**) 06-28-2008, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cat's meow

...and we are still in Iraq d*cking around...

"Back" is not accurate

The fact is, they never went anywhere, except to regroup while Dubya sent 4000 Americqans to die looking for imaginary WOMD and his Daddy's balls in Iraq

Lets not forget to thank the rotting corps of Ronald Reagan for making the Taliban, and Al Queada possible in the first place

I am really surprised that the American Right and the Taliban are at odds, since their social agendas are identical

cat's meow · #4 (**permalink**) 06-28-2008, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smart makes a comeback

I am really surprised that the American Right and the Taliban are at odds, since their social agendas are identical

A very keen observation I might add; I have always found this ironic myself. Islamic militants and far right Evangelicals are basically the same thing in far too many respects.

smart makes a comeback · #5 (**permalink**) 06-28-2008, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cat's meow

A very keen observation I might add; I have always found this ironic myself. Islamic militants and far right Evangelicals are basically the same thing in far too many respects.

Thanks !

They are indeed, two sides of the same coin

itsplayed · #6 (**permalink**) 06-28-2008, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smart makes a comeback

Thanks !

They are indeed, two sides of the same coin

Not too much a broad sweeping statement!
Only those that don't believe in the seperation of church and state and are willing to blow up innocent civilians toward this goal are on the same playing field.......run into many of them, do ya'?

The Taliban have always been there, they've just been laying low in Pakistan until their strength was sufficient enough to go on the offensive. They are now killing about 30 Shias each day.

cat's meow · #7 (**permalink**) 06-28-2008, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itsplayed

Not too much a broad sweeping statement!
Only those that don't believe in the seperation of church and state and are willing to blow up innocent civilians toward this goal are on the same playing field.......run into many of them, do ya'?

How about a David Koresh? Hmmm...willing to allow little kids die. Jim Jones...killing all his followers. Both used Christianty in this way.

Sorry pal, no difference, these are 'American made' religious extremists.

itsplayed · #8 (**permalink**) 06-28-2008, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cat's meow

How about a David Koresh? Hmmm...willing to allow little kids die. Jim Jones...killing all his followers. Both used Christianty in this way.

Sorry pal, no difference, these are 'American made' religious extremists.

And they were directed to do so by what religious leader?

Any asshole can call himself Christian.....doesn't make it so.

Did they have the Pope's blessing?

smart makes a comeback · #9 (**permalink**) 06-28-2008, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itsplayed

Not too much a broad sweeping statement!
Only those that don't believe in the seperation of church and state and are willing to blow up innocent civilians toward this goal are on the same playing field.......run into many of them, do ya'?

The Taliban have always been there, they've just been laying low in Pakistan until their strength was sufficient enough to go on the offensive. They are now killing about 30 Shias each day.

And yours is WAY too narrow.....I run into people who don't believe in the seperation of church and state all the time, and...tell me again what the common perception of the meaning of the 2nd amenment is ?
No...not the part about "hunting and self defense", the OTHER part.
Something about..."Government fearing an armed population "
And WHAT would be the criteria for the uprising of the population ?
What would be the "moral code" of the new leadership..would it include a establishmant clause and be highy tolerent of religous diversity and women's rights ????
Get my meaning now ?

Your last paragraph,,,I am in total agreement

wow · #10 (**permalink**) 06-28-2008, 04:00 PM

This is more evidence that NATO and the UN should be eliminated. They can't fight their way out of a wet paper bag without Americans.