The Other Surge--Afghanistan - Page 2 - Political Forum

CHUQ · 02-16-2007, 05:35 AM

What about the possibility? Are we so confident that it could work against us?

WASHINGTON - While President Bush and Congress argue over Iraq, experts warn that Afghanistan could slip back into chaos.

U.S. commanders are bracing for a spring offensive by Taliban insurgents that'll test the staying power of the fragile U.S.-backed Afghan government.

In a sign of the administration's concern, President Bush will deliver a speech Thursday highlighting plans for a dramatic increase in military and economic aid, but skeptics fear that the renewed focus on Afghanistan may be too little and too late.

"We have our finger in the dike because our resources and attention were turned toward Iraq," said Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Pa., a former Navy admiral who served in both conflicts. "This is the real front in the war on terrorism. It's a daunting task, more daunting than it had to be because we let the opportunity almost slip away."

KRT Wire | 02/14/2007 | Experts fear Afghanistan could become the next Iraq

CHUQ · 02-17-2007, 06:29 AM

We seem to be losing at least some Pakistani support.

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PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Taliban-led insurgents are winning ever-greater public support in Afghanistan for a struggle that is taking on the character of a "liberation war" against foreign troops, a senior Pakistani official claimed Friday.

The remark by the governor of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province could inflame further a war of words between Kabul and Islamabad about who is responsible for the resurgence of militant activity in Afghanistan.

It could also dismay U.S. and NATO commanders who say their beefed-up military operation is designed to pave the way for badly needed reconstruction aid.

Ali Mohammed Jan Aurakzai, whose province includes areas where many Taliban and al-Qaeda militants fled after a U.S.-led military coalition drove them from Afghanistan five years ago, said cross-border attacks accounted for only a fraction of the insurgency in Afghanistan.

Pakistani official: Taliban insurgency becoming 'liberation war' - USATODAY.com

george.d · 02-17-2007, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHUQ

We seem to be losing at least some Pakistani support.

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PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Taliban-led insurgents are winning ever-greater public support in Afghanistan for a struggle that is taking on the character of a "liberation war" against foreign troops, a senior Pakistani official claimed Friday.

This would seem normal in any country having gone through failed US/NATO occupation and a puppet US government with a declining standard of living and ongoing destruction.

Quote:

The remark by the governor of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province could inflame further a war of words between Kabul and Islamabad about who is responsible for the resurgence of militant activity in Afghanistan.

Failed US/NATO occupation, failed puppet government and failed reconstrution efforts would tend to drive nationalism for change regardless of who leads it.

Quote:

It could also dismay U.S. and NATO commanders who say their beefed-up military operation is designed to pave the way for badly needed reconstruction aid.

Until the new US commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan recently took charge there was no fanfare about reconstruction being a priority with NATO forces controlling only parts of Kabul and very little of the rest of the country. Gates was rebuffed in his request for more NATO troops in Afghanistan at the NATO security council meeting and now Bush is beating the drum for the same thing, again with no results. The 'beefed up' military operation consists of US troops being held over from normal rotation. 30-some thousand NATO troops are not going to turn Afghanistan into the democratic ME dreamland fantasized by current US administration.

Quote:

Ali Mohammed Jan Aurakzai, whose province includes areas where many Taliban and al-Qaeda militants fled after a U.S.-led military coalition drove them from Afghanistan five years ago, said cross-border attacks accounted for only a fraction of the insurgency in Afghanistan.

Exactly. Tribal chieftains and warlords in Afghanistan proper make up the bulk of resistance to NATO forces, including warlords who sit on the puppet Afghanistan government and also direct resistance efforts. Another US policy failure in all its glory.

Public_Enemy · 02-17-2007, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Until the new US commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan recently took charge there was no fanfare about reconstruction being a priority with NATO forces controlling only parts of Kabul and very little of the rest of the country. Gates was rebuffed in his request for more NATO troops in Afghanistan at the NATO security council meeting and now Bush is beating the drum for the same thing, again with no results. The 'beefed up' military operation consists of US troops being held over from normal rotation. 30-some thousand NATO troops are not going to turn Afghanistan into the democratic ME dreamland fantasized by current US administration.

Bush administration's policy fails, it is becuase they never care of team work .They never required to convince partners, allies... just go there alone and ask (and press) others "come with me" , they didn't put clearly their global plans, final objective etc (if they are exist) .. just expected others would follow him blindly and this pushed Nato partners or other allies to suspect... No one willing to be just a pawn in unclear american game plans... Just a few new nato members take this as a sacrifice for being a nato member and contributes a little bit.. Thats all...Thats why nobody willing to contribute more... And , also there are other objections, US support to baluchi separatists which are living in southwest pakistan, southern afghanistan and eastern Iran is a problem for mainly Pakistan... it would put pakistan in a position to a compulsory solidarity with Iran....

CHUQ · 02-20-2007, 06:00 AM

Things are about to heat up and does not look promising.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghan police on Monday abandoned a volatile western district a day after a roadside bomb killed four officers — the second time this month the government has lost control of a town in the area.

Gen. Abdul Wahab Walizada, the Afghan army's Western corps commander, said police had left Farah province's small Bakwa town Monday, but would not say whether Taliban militants active in the area had taken control.

Baryalaj Khan, spokesman for the Farah police chief, said they had lost contact with police in Bakwa since 11:30 a.m. It wasn't immediately if they were forced out or just fled.

The retreat followed Sunday's bombing of a car carrying the province's police chief on his return from destroying poppy fields. The police chief was unharmed, but four other officers in the vehicle were killed and two wounded.

Police abandon district in western Afghanistan, officials say - USATODAY.com

CHUQ · 02-27-2007, 04:28 AM

Not many people seem to be interested in Afghan situation, but the hell I AM!

The plan to eradicate the poppies will have a backfire built in.

The tractor roared through the field, the plough tearing through the valuable poppy crop as the farmer looked on. A helicopter searched for insurgents and armed police stood watch, their uniforms replaced by robes and turbans to make them less conspicuous.

“The people are unhappy with this eradication campaign; if it goes on they will all join the Taleban,” Dilbar, a poppy farmer in Helmand province, told The Times.

The prospect of such a surge in Taleban numbers is bad news for the 5,000 British troops based in Helmand and 1,400 more heading there after the announcement by Des Browne, the Defence Secretary. The fiercest fighting since the Taleban were overthrown in 2001 came last year, with more than 4,000 people killed, and intelligence reports predict a new offensive this spring.

Ruined poppy farmers join ranks with the Taleban-News-World-Asia-TimesOnline

Public_Enemy · 02-27-2007, 06:12 AM

Turkish FM visited Afghanistan...

Noting that Turkey is to take over the command of NATO forces in the Kabul region, Gul said, "Turkey is not in Afghanistan only for military purposes. It also aims to win the hearts of the Afghan people. Some 35,000 Afghan students are being educated in schools built by Turkey. Everyday, 900,000 Afghans are treated in hospitals that have been built by Turkey. These are the signs of Turkey's humanitarian aims in Afghanistan."

Spanta also highlighted the strong ties between two countries, stating that the efforts of Turkey in educational issues are especially noteworthy.

"Last year, 28 Afghani diplomats were sent to Turkey for education. Another 25 diplomats are also to be sent to Turkey this year," he said, stressing the importance of diplomatic relations between the countries.

Spanta expressed his gratitude to Turkey in Turkish at the end of the press conference.

The New Anatolian

Public_Enemy · 03-04-2007, 05:36 PM

Turkish Flags in Afghanistan