Comments on: Kabul's enemy at the gates http://securityfiles.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/11/barbarians-at-the-gate/ Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:31:02 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: The Captain’s Journal » The Coming Battle for Afghanistan http://securityfiles.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/11/barbarians-at-the-gate/#comment-923 The Captain’s Journal » The Coming Battle for Afghanistan Mon, 16 Mar 2009 03:39:11 +0000 http://securityfiles.blogs.cnn.com/?p=377#comment-923 [...] Newton, CNN: Kabul is clogged with traffic and people and at the best of times there is no way to assure safety [...] [...] Newton, CNN: Kabul is clogged with traffic and people and at the best of times there is no way to assure safety [...]

]]> By: Erik H http://securityfiles.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/11/barbarians-at-the-gate/#comment-920 Erik H Sat, 14 Mar 2009 13:08:05 +0000 http://securityfiles.blogs.cnn.com/?p=377#comment-920 Henry, you sound just like a British person speaking of the American traitors fighting British troops during the Revolutionary War. You probably have no idea what I'm talking about so I'll keep it short. Why is every new enemy we fight "evil"? Why is every war we fight a war that "must" be won? I recall we lost Vietnam and we did just fine despite all the FEARING from a certain group here in the U.S about communists taking over the world. I fought in Afghanistan with 10th Mtn Div (1-87 Inf) and it was joke back in 2001-2002 just as it is today. War On Terror my ass. War on common sense and you have fallen for it as millions of Americans blinded by some warped ideology of what patriotism is supposed to be? Perhaps someday you will learn? Henry, you sound just like a British person speaking of the American traitors fighting British troops during the Revolutionary War.
You probably have no idea what I'm talking about so I'll keep it short.

Why is every new enemy we fight "evil"?
Why is every war we fight a war that "must" be won?
I recall we lost Vietnam and we did just fine despite all the FEARING from a certain group here in the U.S about communists taking over the world.

I fought in Afghanistan with 10th Mtn Div (1-87 Inf) and it was joke back in 2001-2002 just as it is today.
War On Terror my ass.
War on common sense and you have fallen for it as millions of Americans blinded by some warped ideology of what patriotism is supposed to be?

Perhaps someday you will learn?

]]> By: Henry http://securityfiles.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/11/barbarians-at-the-gate/#comment-913 Henry Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:09:42 +0000 http://securityfiles.blogs.cnn.com/?p=377#comment-913 Matt, I doubt the Talibanis are that "smart", religious fanatics are seldom known for their brains nor reasoning power. However their brainless will to sacrifice themselves makes them a dangerous opponent as well as their absolute ruthlessness. As well as their immense experience in guerrilla warfare. However do not mix smartness with experience nor slyness. It is only one way to fight this style of enemy and that is to take of the gloves and fight back with the same ruthlessness and lack of respect for life. Dialogue is wasted upon these people, they only understand the ways they live by, i.e. the way of the sword.. That said, with non Talibani Afghanis the rule of engagement should be far different, and we should as now focus on rebuild, and cooperate and give the other Afghanis a better future so fewer people are lured into the ranks of the Taliban. The West has to either be willing to fight more ruthlessly and with far more resources or pull out of there as the middle way leads nowhere. Matt, I doubt the Talibanis are that "smart", religious fanatics are seldom known for their brains nor reasoning power.

However their brainless will to sacrifice themselves makes them a dangerous opponent as well as their absolute ruthlessness. As well as their immense experience in guerrilla warfare. However do not mix smartness with experience nor slyness.

It is only one way to fight this style of enemy and that is to take of the gloves and fight back with the same ruthlessness and lack of respect for life. Dialogue is wasted upon these people, they only understand the ways they live by, i.e. the way of the sword..

That said, with non Talibani Afghanis the rule of engagement should be far different, and we should as now focus on rebuild, and cooperate and give the other Afghanis a better future so fewer people are lured into the ranks of the Taliban.

The West has to either be willing to fight more ruthlessly and with far more resources or pull out of there as the middle way leads nowhere.

]]> By: mike hawk http://securityfiles.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/11/barbarians-at-the-gate/#comment-908 mike hawk Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:04:52 +0000 http://securityfiles.blogs.cnn.com/?p=377#comment-908 Who knows what since there is a sort of media blackout in afghanistan. Though, I think kabul would be secure but then the soviet occupation when Pakistan was a "safe base" of the afghan resistance [with billions of saudi and american $$$ flowing] was able to control kandahar, mazar-e-sharif and kabul. Unlike iraq, the battle is not the cities but the countryside which probably holds more population than the cities themselves. Afghanistan could be beautiful striking place but it is weird as the british found out.... Who knows what since there is a sort of media blackout in afghanistan.

Though, I think kabul would be secure but then the soviet occupation when Pakistan was a "safe base" of the afghan resistance [with billions of saudi and american $$$ flowing] was able to control kandahar, mazar-e-sharif and kabul.

Unlike iraq, the battle is not the cities but the countryside which probably holds more population than the cities themselves. Afghanistan could be beautiful striking place but it is weird as the british found out....

]]> By: Debby http://securityfiles.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/11/barbarians-at-the-gate/#comment-902 Debby Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:37:09 +0000 http://securityfiles.blogs.cnn.com/?p=377#comment-902 Nathan: Thanks for the level-headed comments. My loved one is in Kabul and it seems those there have similar feeling as you do. I agree with your comment about the “panic” elements to the headline. It is unwarranted to overstate the situation in the headline just to get the readers attention. It is an injustice to the reader. Nathan: Thanks for the level-headed comments. My loved one is in Kabul and it seems those there have similar feeling as you do. I agree with your comment about the “panic” elements to the headline. It is unwarranted to overstate the situation in the headline just to get the readers attention. It is an injustice to the reader.

]]> By: Matt Berg http://securityfiles.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/11/barbarians-at-the-gate/#comment-900 Matt Berg Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:38:35 +0000 http://securityfiles.blogs.cnn.com/?p=377#comment-900 The taliban are comparable with the vietcong. They may be some of the smartest enemy ever faced in combat. I am on the forefront of the firefights and I know how they play the game. Geniuses. They play us like a piano. The taliban are comparable with the vietcong. They may be some of the smartest enemy ever faced in combat. I am on the forefront of the firefights and I know how they play the game. Geniuses.

They play us like a piano.

]]> By: Nathan http://securityfiles.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/11/barbarians-at-the-gate/#comment-898 Nathan Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:41:35 +0000 http://securityfiles.blogs.cnn.com/?p=377#comment-898 I am currently in Kabul. The security situation is not so dire as the headline reads. "Kabul's enemy at the gates" brings to mind Great Game siege scenes. While the security situation remains tenuous, hyperbole will only lead to panic rather than a cool-headed assessment of the situation. If you want to look at a place where people almost dare not go, look at Kandahar (or even a border village). Far worse than Kabul, which sees less violence than Belfast during the Troubles, Kandahar represents a real problem. Meanwhile, Kabul moves on. It's not paradise but your expectations that it should be are misguided. So is the view that a horde of Islamists on horseback will soon be racing through the streets. Is this perhaps a case of a reporter taking everything her hired security guard says at face value? The real problems are that 1) with insufficient forces, we cannot hold what we clear; and 2) we alienate the people we are supposed to be supporting. Thankfully, we recognize these problems and are actually trying to correct them. I am currently in Kabul. The security situation is not so dire as the headline reads. "Kabul's enemy at the gates" brings to mind Great Game siege scenes. While the security situation remains tenuous, hyperbole will only lead to panic rather than a cool-headed assessment of the situation.

If you want to look at a place where people almost dare not go, look at Kandahar (or even a border village). Far worse than Kabul, which sees less violence than Belfast during the Troubles, Kandahar represents a real problem. Meanwhile, Kabul moves on.

It's not paradise but your expectations that it should be are misguided. So is the view that a horde of Islamists on horseback will soon be racing through the streets. Is this perhaps a case of a reporter taking everything her hired security guard says at face value?

The real problems are that 1) with insufficient forces, we cannot hold what we clear; and 2) we alienate the people we are supposed to be supporting. Thankfully, we recognize these problems and are actually trying to correct them.

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