Posted on 06/16/2016 2:54:34 PM PDT by Kaslin
The Taliban holds more territory in Afghanistan today than at any time since 2001. Current U.S. Commander Gen. John W. Nicholson has submitted a secret assessment of the situation to the Pentagon:
The report — and Nicholson’s deployment to Afghanistan — come at a time of Taliban resurgence, with the group gaining ground in the southern provinces of the Taliban heartland…The Taliban’s warm-weather offensive has shown the insurgents to be bolder and better organized, holding more territory now than at any time since 2001, when their regime was overthrown by the U.S.-led invasion, according to recent U.N. estimates.
Part of the concern is that more U.S. troops are scheduled to leave the country by the end of the year, leaving the defense of the country in the hands of the poorly trained Afghan military:
Since all foreign combat troops pulled out of Afghanistan at the end of 2014, leaving only an advisory and training contingent of international forces behind, the Afghan military has struggled in leading the fight, its 195,000 soldiers learning as they go.The 9,800 remaining U.S. troops in Afghanistan are scheduled to drop to 5,500 by the end of this year, but the pace of that decline has yet to be decided. One factor in determining future troop levels is the extent to which NATO allies are willing to remain involved in training and advising the Afghans.
That is likely to figure prominently in Nicholson’s review, which is widely expected to include a recommendation for more U.S. soldiers to boost training.
Through the report is still secret it certainly sounds as if we’re facing a similar situation to the one we faced in Iraq as Obama was coming in to office. The decision to remove all of our troops there left a power vacuum which was filled by ISIS. In Afghanistan, it seems somethign similar could happen with a resurgent Taliban.
Unlike the war in Iraq, Senator (and then President) Obama supported the war in Afghanistan and even sent a surge of troops there after taking office. So the question of his legacy would seem to be on the line with this decision about how and when to wind down troop levels.
The invasion was a total waste. Afghanistan is impossible to occupy. Alexander the Great, the British Empire, Russia all failed. Because it’seems geography makes it impossible.
And half the world’s supply of opium.
Funny how we had an army there for 15 years and never made a dent in that.
Afghani women were freed for ONE (1) day, and were
by FORCED by the UN and globalist to return to their
burqas on day 2.
The solution. Afghanistan and ANY Islamic nation
that attacks the USA will/should be beaten and enslaved
by the women therein ... FOREVER.
Fly a few drones around and program them to spray Agent Orange when they see poppy flowers. Pretty simple.
All them lives, all that money - and for what. What an utter waste.
Needs a barf alert!
Any veteran or military family member that votes for Hillary or any Democrat needs to have their head examined, IMO.
And half the world’s supply of opium.
Funny how we had an army there for 15 years and never made a dent in that.
Afghanistan produces 90% of the Worlds Opium.
We made a HUGE DENT in the Production in OPIUM by Being there, it is UP 50% over last Year and has DOUBLED since 2001!
Heck of a Job Barry!
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/heroin-use-grows-u-s-poppy-crops-thrive-afghanistan-n388081
Not if they are part of the Production or Distribution side in the War on Drugs. She is their meal ticket
Exactly!!! If you don’t vote for Trump, you don’t want America to survive and better times ahead!!!
The only way to win there is with nukes. Nothing remains.
Tolly-Bahhhn, right Barry?
Surround the Middle East and don’t let any of it get out. Let them kill each other...that’s all they are good for.
Lol noticed that too huh ?
That’s not really winning.
Sounds like a nuclear invitation.
The reality of the situation is this: if you cut off the poppy trade, you lose the “hearts and minds” of the people and then you totally lose the war. They depend on it to survive. It would be like invading Kansas, and telling them they can no longer grow corn.
After 15 years, we nebver gained the hearts and minds of the people.
The truth is, the poppies grow wild and require no water, fertilizer or insecticides.
That is why trying to get the Afghans to grow other crops failed.
The farmers were too spoiled by the ease of “growing” poppies.
I believe the money from this heroin trade flows directly to DC.
And that is why there is more opium gronw now then ever before, and why we still have not won the now 45 year old War on Drugs.
Follow the money.
Way to go Barry!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.