Posted on 02/09/2010 6:00:21 PM PST by Dubya
KABUL - Thousands of U.S., British and Afghan troops are poised to launch the biggest offensive of the war in Afghanistan in a test of the Obama administration's new counterinsurgency strategy.
Military operations usually are intended to catch the enemy off guard, but for weeks U.S. and allied officials have been telling reporters about their forthcoming assault on Marjah, a Taliban-held town of 80,000 and drug-trafficking hub in southern poppy-growing Helmand province.
(Excerpt) Read more at military.com ...
“Okay guys, we’re coming! Hide your guns and lie low for a few weeks. Then it’ll be all over, and you can start up again.”
CENTER>
Who are the strategy geniuses who came up with this approach? Quite the world we live in.
Just about everyone in Obama’s administration is capable of coming up with an approach like this, I’m afraid.
And I thought Clinton’s appointees were bad.
Hope they don’t forget the warrants and the handcuffs!
Somehow, I don't think they worried about FDR being the one to blab when this poster was drawn. Times have changed.
And yet we went out of our way to keep Hitler from knowing when and where we were going to invaded Europe … what fools we where. And so unfair to boot. ;-)
Tokyo Rose and Seoul City Sue are laughing their arses off.....
I hope there is purpose and not foolishness to telegraphing our moves in this way. Maybe it’s meant to fracture the Taliban forces if some flee and others make a “last stand”?? Plus it may be that with sufficient recon we are learning all about their locations and preparations? I don’t know, I’m not one of the FR experts, but I’d hope there is some good reason to do it this way, and not just an increase in risk our forces.
You have a good point.
The real strategy might be announce an offensive then use predators on the overseas contingencies aka Terrorists that leave the area.
NATO sucks
Sure does.
$$$$ warning the nice little Taliban warriors to go home to wife and kids, and get paid to farm.
Gives them a chance to avoid getting sent to allah early.
No idea if this is good military doctrine, since the US has no long term experience.
Petreaus is held up as a genius, but I expect long term Afghanistan will revert to the historical pattern.
Iraq, too.
Too bad Eisenhower didnt warn the Germans on D day
You are probably right.
Next thing you know we will be playing mother may i with the enemy.
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.