Tag Archives: taliban

International, U.S.

World War 3: New U.S. commander in Afghanistan says the U.S. is not leaving, more proof that Obama is not a man of peace, more ignorance of cultural realities

“The plan is to win. The plan is to be successful. So while some folks may hear that we are departing in 2014 as a result of the Lisbon conference and the transition, we’re actually going to be here for a long time.”-John Allen, General USMC

The original publicly, and loudly stated goal of invading Afghanistan was to get Osama bin Laden, and al Qaeda.  A secondary goal was to topple the Taliban government.  All those goals have been achieved, but General Allen says we’re not leaving.

The United States could be in Afghanistan for decades.  Maybe we’ll even invade Pakistan, especially since the U.S. main stream media is now touting the Pentagon’s claims that the Taliban are using Pakistan as a base of operations.

There are Pakistanis that might call themselves Taliban, but the word means Student!  So how many people are simply calling themselves a student, and U.S. intelligent agents are taking it as Terrorist?

Then there’s the Haqqani “network” which is nothing more than a family run freedom fighter operation (notice that any freedom fighter in Afghanistan is automatically labeled Taliban by the media), after all we invaded them, not the other way ’round!  Once again, not one Afghan was involved with 9/11!  Just as well, not one Pakistani was involved with 9/11!

Another thing, the majority of Afghans (42%) are Pashtun, they just happen to make up most of the members of the political organization called Taliban.  Many of the people in northwestern Pakistan are Pashtun (second largest ethnic group in Pakistan). They are direct relatives of those in Afghanistan.  That’s because northwestern Pakistan used to be part of the Kingdom of Afghanistan (before the British took control, in fact there was no Pakistan until after World War 2).

So, from the view point of the Pashtuns (who’re considered the dominant ethnic Afghans) they are not “using” Pakistan as a base, because they see that area of Pakistan as their ancestral Afghan territory to begin with.  This is one of the reasons the Pakistani government is so hesitant to take direct military control over that region.  Ever since the creation of Pakistan the northwestern territory has actually been under direct control of the Pashtuns.

Basically the United States has decided to wage war with the majority of the people in that region, in order to impose upon them a government run by a pro-U.S. minority.  Sounds like Vietnam.

Towards the end of the war between the U.S. and Vietnam many people warned that the U.S. had to stay in Vietnam to prevent possible attacks against U.S. territories by Vietnamese commie terrorists.  Gee, I guess we’re still waiting for those dreaded Vietnamese attacks, 36 years later!

International, U.S.

Sign that the U.S. realizes it can’t defeat Afghan Taliban, U.S. to officially recognize Taliban diplomatic office in Qatar

September 12, according to Australian media, the Taliban have opened a diplomatic office in Qatar, and will soon be recognized by the United States as an legitimate political organization.

Qatar is also the biggest Arab supporter of the U.S., U.K. and French backed Libyan rebels.  Qatar is also being implicated, along with Saudi Arabia, of instigating armed uprisings in Syria.

Foreign media tried to get reaction from White House officials, but declined comment.  Reports say this is a step towards peace talks between the Taliban and the United States.  Such peace talks would recognize the Taliban as the de facto rulers of Afghanistan.

Earlier in the year there were reports that Turkey would allow a Taliban embassy, but now it looks like Qatar has become the location of choice by U.S. officials.

The Taliban are seeking assurances that its representatives in Doha, the Qatari capital, would be free from harassment or arrest.

 

 

International, U.S.

Government Coverup: United States rejected several offers from Taliban to hand over Osama bin Laden, also, proof the U.S. knew bin Laden was actually in Pakistan

“Even before the [9/11] attacks, our Islamic Emirate had tried through various proposals to resolve the Osama issue. One such proposal was to set up a three-nation court, or something under the supervision of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. But the U.S. showed no interest in it. They kept demanding we hand him over, but…They did not recognize our government.”-Wakil Ahmad Muttawakil, Afghan Foreign Minister under the Taliban

Robert Grenier, CIA boss in Pakistan at the time of 9/11, confirmed that the Taliban made such offers, but that the United States didn’t take them seriously: “No one in the U.S. government took these [offers] seriously because they did not trust the Taliban and their ability to conduct a proper trial.”

Offers by the Taliban were relayed to the U.S. through indirect channels such as the U.S. embassy in Pakistan, or the informal Taliban office for the UN in New York City.  But, the United States did not recognize the Taliban, who governed Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001.

Also, top U.S. prosecutor, Patrick Fitzgerald, visited Pakistan to present evidence implicating bin Laden in U.S. embassy bombings: “He met with the Pakistani interior minister and the idea was to convince the Pakistani government to help in turning over bin Laden.”-Robert Grenier, former Central Intelligence Agency

Of interest is the fact that most main stream U.S. media failed to report that the Taliban government of Afghanistan condemned the 9/11 attacks: “Afghanistan was one of the first few governments that condemned the attacks…We [Taliban] condemned the attacks because the people targeted were defenseless civilians, women, children, Muslim and non-Muslim. But al-Qaeda praised it.”-Wakil Ahmad Muttawakil

 

 

International, U.S.

Afghan Mujahideen claim they killed 27 U.S. troops in truck bomb attack

August 18, Taliban claim they launched a truck bomb attack on U.S. Gardez base, killing 27 U.S. troops.

Official U.S. media reports say only two Afghans were killed.  The U.S. media has proven over and over that it can not be trusted.

Witnesses say the explosion was “huge” and destroyed a U.S. helicopter as well.

Since the beginning of August the Afghan Mujahideen have escalated their attacks on NATO forces.  This despite President Obama saying the Taliban were on the decline.  August is looking like it will be the deadliest month for U.S./NATO forces.

 

 

International

Afghans celebrate independence from U.K. by destroying British Embassy

The British embassy in Afghanistan is under attack as I write this.  It began with massive explosions.  Pics show a multi-story building with its facade completely destroyed.  Smaller explosions and constant gunfire is ongoing.

The Taliban are claiming they launched the attacks.  Insurgents are still inside the embassy compound.  At least 12 people killed, officials expect the number to increase.  At least two of the killed are confirmed to be U.K. citizens.

Afghanistan gained independence from Britain on August 19, 1919.

 

International, U.S.

Taliban on the Run? Taliban shoot down 2nd U.S. CH-47 since Saturday, a 3rd makes emergency landing

On Saturday, August 6, a CH-47 Chinook helicopter was shot down in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, killing all on board, including members of the elite SEAL team.  Now the Taliban claim they’ve shot down a 2nd Chinook.

Monday, August 8, a Chinook with 33 personnel onboard was shot down near Zarmat city, in Paktia Province in eastern Afghanistan.  It’s believed all 33 were killed.  The Taliban say they shot it down.

On Sunday, August 7, another Chinook made a crash landing in the same province.  The area has been secured by NATO troops and an investigation is underway.

 

International, Opinion, U.S.

Taliban on the offensive, Obama lied again, our military leaders are in a state of denial

In March 2011, The Taliban (aka Leadership Council of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) declared another spring offensive (aka Operation Badar, after a Mujahideen leader killed in 2003) against all foreign occupiers, and locals they view as supporting the foreign forces.

“…I can report that thanks to the extraordinary service of our troops and civilians on the ground, we are on track to achieve our goals….But there is no question we are clearing more areas from Taliban control, and more Afghans are reclaiming their communities.”-President Barack Obama, December 2010

Not only did Obama claim the Taliban were on their way out, but so did the Western media.  Many U.S. and U.K. mainstream media outlets stated that the Taliban were on their way out because so many of their leaders had been killed or captured.  Some media claimed that the Taliban were in a state of “shock” from the relentless attacks by U.S. and NATO forces.  Mmmm, the current Spring Offensive shows otherwise.

Not only does Obama seem oblivious to the situation in Afghanistan, so do our military leaders:  In January 2011, USA (under U.S. grammar rules USA without periods stands for U.S. Army, just as USAF means U.S. Air Force, and USMC means U.S. Marine Corps) General David H. Petraeus said this about the Taliban: “The sheer losses that they’ve sustained are tremendous. That in and of itself is very significant, and it’s caused enormous stress on the central nervous system of the command and control structure.”

In a February 2011 USA Today (the USA in “USA Today” is actually, legally, a word not an abbreviation.  It does not mean United States of America Today.  If it did there would be periods behind each letter. But it can not because no one can legally use “U.S.A.” in their business name) interview USMC Major General Richard Mills said this about the Taliban: “This is really the heart of the insurgency. I believe they have been beaten.”

USAF Lieutenant Colonel John Dorrian recently brushed off the 2011 Taliban Spring Offensive as a “propaganda ploy.”

The latest casualty numbers prove it’s not a “ploy”:  In March 2010 the United States suffered 22 KIA (killed in action), in March 2011 the U.S. lost 24 KIA.

In April 2010 KIAs were 14, but this April U.S. KIAs hit 43.

For May 2010, U.S. KIAs were 31.  For 2011 KIAs are at 21, but there are a few days left in the month, and so far there have been attacks and explosions almost daily in the month of May.

For the whole year of 2010, U.S. KIAs in Afghanistan hit record levels of 44o (by the way that was the year the Obama administration claimed the Taliban were beaten back).  So far for 2011, KIAs are at 126, that’s almost the total for all of 2008.

Of course U.S. WIA (wounded in action) numbers are even higher.  While NATO troops are getting hit as well, it’s obvious by the casualty numbers that the Taliban are targeting U.S. forces.  This goes against the claim that the Taliban are on the run, or are afraid to take on U.S. troops (it’s also an indicator of the massive U.S. personnel presence, compared to NATO forces).

Even United Nations officials in Afghanistan are ignorant of the fact that Afghans have been at war for decades.  Ignorant of the fact that the Afghan people have sacrificed themselves for freedom from foreigners.  Ignorant of the fact that the Afghan people ARE the Mujahideen: “Our mission is to make sure that civilians and Afghan people are not affected by now 11 years of conflict. What we are worried about, and I think every Afghan is worried about, is whether the Afghan people and the Afghan civilians will be again the victims of a long conflict.”-UNAMA statement

The people of Afghanistan know full well they could be killed in the fight for independence.  This isn’t the first, second or third time Afghanistan has been in this situation.  The Taliban (who are Afghans) even warned the Afghan people about being collateral targets in the Spring Offensive: “All Afghan people should bear in mind to keep away from gatherings, convoys and centers of the enemy so that they will not become harmed during attacks of Mujahideen against the enemy.”-Taliban 2011 Spring Offensive Operation Badar statement

Silly Western thinking, leaders in Afghanistan aren’t viewed the same as in the West; as in “cut the head off and the body will die”.  Afghan leaders are only representatives of the Mujahideen, if one gets killed they’ll elect another one, and it definitively won’t stop any of their military action plans.

For the latest casualty numbers, for all coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, go here.

 

International, U.S.

U.S. ally Turkey to open Taliban Embassy, Obama approves

On April 14, 2011, Turkey, a member of U.S. led NATO, confirmed they will allow an embassy for Afghan Taliban, with the approval of the government of Afghanistan.  Afghan President Hamid Karzai gave approval last December: “If Turkey can be kind to provide for such a venue, we the government of Afghanistan will  be pleased and happy to see that facilitation take place by Turkey.”

On April 15, 2011, Pakistan announced they support Turkey’s recognition of the Taliban.  Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari  declined to comment, but one of his spokesman said: “We are not against it. As long as there’s ownership from the Afghan people and the Afghan government we will not oppose it.”

In February, 2011, President Obama told Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly: “…the Taliban will not be retaking Afghanistan.” But, Obama said in December 2010: “…our civilian and military efforts must support a durable and favorable political resolution of the conflict. In 2011, we will intensify our regional diplomacy to enable a political process to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan.”

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, also in February 2011: “…we are launching a diplomatic surge to move this conflict toward a political outcome that shatters the alliance between the Taliban and al-Qaida.” In other words they are trying to bring the Taliban over to the U.S. side of the Force.  This includes political participation in Afghanistan’s government, and most Afghans can identify with the Taliban, so how can they not take over, at least politically, as Obama stated to O’Reilly.

And for those who think officially recognizing the Taliban will get the U.S. out of Afghanistan any faster, think again: “For reconciliation to take hold – for it to be irreversible – Afghanistan’s government will need to provide security to all its people. So the United States and our allies will continue training, advising, and assisting Afghan forces.”-also-“We have been clear that this transition does not mark the end of our commitment to the people of the region. NATO has pledged an enduring military and financial commitment to Afghanistan that will extend beyond the completion of transition in 2014.”-Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State

Let me remind people that Obama promised to get U.S. troops out starting in July 2011, yet Hillary Clinton stated, back in February, 2011, that U.S. forces will be staying “beyond” 2014.

Many analysts, in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan, think the Obama Administration’s policy of trying to reintegrate the Taliban into Afghan politics, is a way of stabilizing the situation in Afghanistan so that the U.S. can focus on invading Syria, then Iran.