Turns out foreigners, you know American and Nato troops running around kicking down doors and bombing Afghans many of whom don't really know the difference between the last invaders, the Russians and the USA are losing.******* Taliban Captives Dispute US View on Afghanistan WarWednesday 01 February 2012 by: Rod Nordland and Alissa J. Rubin, The New York Times News Service | Report Kabul, Afghanistan - More Taliban insurgents are being killed or captured than ever before, yet when the captives are interrogated by the American military, they remain convinced that they are winning the war. That is because the Taliban believe that their own hearts-and-minds campaign is winning over Afghans — or so they tell their interrogators — and even converting a growing number of Afghan government officials and soldiers. Those are among some of the findings of a NATO report, “State of the Taliban 2012,” based on 27,000 interrogations of 4,000 Taliban and other captives that portrays a Taliban insurgency that is far from vanquished or demoralized even as the United States and its allies enter what they hope will be the final phase of the war. A copy of the document, which was first reported by the BBC and The Times of London, was given to The New York Times by a Western official, on the condition of anonymity because it was classified. The report coincides with an announcement on Wednesday by Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta that American forces would step back from a combat role in Afghanistan as early as mid-2013, more than a year before all American troops are scheduled to withdraw http://truthout.org/taliban-captives-dispute-us-view-afghanistan-war/1328193475
But what else would they say? "Oh ya, I know we're losing the war but I was bored and joined the taliban anyway"?
Sadly, the Taliban do seem to have a lot of support among the people. Kind of like the Nazis had a lot of support from the German population in the dark years. If the Taliban didn't have the support of a large percentage of the population (and from Pakistan), the problem would have been much easier to solve.
You say sadly, but if you were a poor Afghan you'd probably end up supporting the Taliban too. Let's pretend you are a hypothetical Afghan citizen who lives out away from the new government's central strongholds. The Taliban fighters are fighting off Americans and the new government. You have to pick sides. Here are your choices: 1) A weak central government that struggles from its own corruption and internal conflict that is held in place and backed by a military superpower with a stated intention to leave your country or 2) A religiously fanatic regime that has shown an ability to outlast the will of its opponents. Well armed and previously the rulers before the military superpower came in. You have to be really brave to pick side #1 when you know the power that keeps side 1 viable is going to leave you soon.
Reminds me of this story from a little over a year ago. http://bbs.clutchcity.net/showthread.php?t=196125
If I'm an Afghan citizen, I don't give a s*** why soldiers are in the country, I just care about the fact that they're there. would you honestly care why a dude is in your s*** and pointing a gun at you? Most Americans would resent foreign invasion, even if some countries would have rationales that Americans are as equally ignorant about. For example, what if I told you America was protecting vessels that were dumping toxic/nuclear waste on developing countries, which lead to horrific diseases? How many Americans are aware of that? http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cif-green/2009/sep/21/global-fly-tipping-toxic-waste
I agree with your analysis, but that's like choosing between death by hanging and death by getting shot. I have no solution. I still think it's a regrettable situation.
There are also people in the GARM who think the Rockets are 1 trade away from multiple championships...
Has the Taliban captured Glynch's heart and mind? I kid. I don't care how many roads, schools and hospitals the Canadians have built us. I won't rest until we push these occupiers out!!! Seriously, it's just simply not obtainable. It's most likely profitable, which is why the US still insists continuing with this failed policy.
A mega trade sending Lebron and the first overall pick here would net the Rockets multiple championships.
Germans were very happy after WWII that American soldiers were in our country, because they were protecting us from the (very real) threat of a Communist invasion. American soldiers are supposed to be in Afghanistan to protect them from a threat. The idea is not that they are pointing a gun at peaceful citizens. The problem is that it is very hard to tell who is peaceful and who is supporting Al Qaeda or the Taliban.
I'm sure it didn't hurt that both countries are western and share similar ideologies. Afghanistan and the US are very, very different. The US needs a minature, arab version of itself to join NATO and help occupy the fractured societies that we can't in the Middle East. Turkey would be perfect for this role, I would imagine a Pashto can relate to a Turk more than an American.
