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Crocker: Taliban Infiltration Worse Than Estimated
Military.com ^ | Sep 18, 2012 | Richard Sisk

Posted on 09/22/2012 11:49:32 AM PDT by null and void

Taliban infiltration of the Afghan army and police is much worse than the U.S. military and NATO have admitted

"I would put the percentage rather higher" than the 25% figure for enemy infiltrators and sympathizers  that U.S. commanders have estimated, said Ryan Crocker, who stepped down as U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan in July.

"In response to elevated threat levels resulting from the "Innocence of Muslims" video, ISAF has taken some prudent, but temporary, measures to reduce our profile and vulnerability to civil disturbances or insider attacks," the statement said.

But holding territory has also been a secondary goal for U.S. commanders. U.S. leaders have all put the emphasis on "human terrain" in the effort to win the allegiance of the Afghan people, and on the "shohna ba shohna (shoulder to shoulder)" partnering with ANSF.

The only thing that surprised him about the Taliban insurgency was that "it took longer to develop than I thought it would," Crocker said.

Crocker said the current Taliban leadership was tough and adaptive. "We've killed all the slow and stupid ones," he said. Despite a long string of U.S. missteps, Crocker also said the U.S. must press ahead to establish a stable Afghanistan to avoid the possibility of another 9/11 attack being hatched in Afghanistan, and to prevent reprisals against Afghans who sided with the U.S.

Crocker also warned of a possible bloodbath if the U.S. pulls out before ANSF is ready to take over. "Who gets it in the neck? It's all those people we made all those promises to, starting with the women" of Afghanistan who have struggled for civil rights and education in the male-dominated society.

(Excerpt) Read more at military.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
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...unexpectedly...
1 posted on 09/22/2012 11:49:37 AM PDT by null and void
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To: null and void

We will be like good citizens leaving a wilderness campsite, clean and pristine, as though we were never there. Afghanistan will return to its natural state of Islamic oppression.


2 posted on 09/22/2012 11:55:31 AM PDT by pallis
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To: pallis

That may be the highest use of that land. a planetary open-air insane asylum.


3 posted on 09/22/2012 11:59:49 AM PDT by null and void (Day 1341 of our ObamaVacation from reality - Obama, a queer and present danger)
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To: null and void
I would suggest that some form of water-boarding be part of the recruiting process.
4 posted on 09/22/2012 12:00:39 PM PDT by immadashell
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To: null and void

* Drink *


5 posted on 09/22/2012 12:01:44 PM PDT by dfwgator (I'm voting for Ryan and that other guy.)
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To: pallis

I say we give them a head start by annhilating what infratrucute there is as we leave. Power plants, waste treatment, water supply, bridges, dams. Blow it all up real good as we pull out.


6 posted on 09/22/2012 12:08:58 PM PDT by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both)
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To: null and void

Before we leave, I would like to see us permanently destroy the land’s ability to grow any crops. The main export of this uncivilized piece of hell seems to be opium.


7 posted on 09/22/2012 12:10:39 PM PDT by patriotsblood
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To: null and void
shoulder to shoulder...right. Expecting these primitives to adopt western notions of nationhood is about as ignorant as expecting the Arab Spring to yield peaceful democratic governments. Sad that the sacrifices of our troops there are now so pointless. I can see no possible way to achieve our stated goals there. The whole effort rapidly threatens to degenerate into fatuous futility, with the inevitable VietNam-like bloodbath after we slink away.
8 posted on 09/22/2012 12:11:54 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: null and void

Can we get the hell out of that turd world nation NOW??


9 posted on 09/22/2012 12:32:38 PM PDT by KantianBurke (Where was the Tea Party when Dubya was spending like a drunken sailor?)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...

Thanks null and void.
Taliban infiltration of the Afghan army and police is much worse than the U.S. military and NATO have admitted
So, where's all the alleged foreign ministers of other nations claiming that the Obama administration has "squandered" all the good feelings foreign countries used to have in us?


10 posted on 09/22/2012 12:39:40 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: KantianBurke
And there's quite a pile of them around the world, isn't there?

What an amazing coincidence so many are filled with mosques, too.
Haven't quite figured out just how that works...

By the way, love your tagline! Wondered about the very same thing for years. I positively despise the TSA, and it's one abomination that didn't originate with the ObamaNation...
11 posted on 09/22/2012 1:21:50 PM PDT by MarineDad
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To: null and void

The first rule of fighting is.....
NEVER LET YOUR GUARD DOWN.


12 posted on 09/22/2012 1:23:47 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: BenLurkin

Afghanistan has infrastructure? I never would have guessed.


13 posted on 09/22/2012 1:40:42 PM PDT by ilovesarah2012
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To: null and void

We need to bring ALL of our people out of Afghanistan NOW!!!


14 posted on 09/22/2012 4:00:53 PM PDT by abclily
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To: null and void

Destroy their ability to grow poppies and leave. Infrastructure? Just leave it, it will fall apart about as fast as destroying it.


15 posted on 09/22/2012 4:06:45 PM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
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To: BenLurkin

My brother has been to Afghanistan to work on water treatment plants. We joke about how they will soon all belong to the Taliban.


16 posted on 09/22/2012 4:12:54 PM PDT by LiveFree99
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To: null and void

I just read the whole article.

I wish to God in Heaven that all our military were out of there TOMORROW.


17 posted on 09/22/2012 5:16:50 PM PDT by little jeremiah (Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. CSLewis)
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To: null and void

Lord Obama’s Just War is Lost.


18 posted on 09/22/2012 5:18:52 PM PDT by TADSLOS (Conservatism didn't magically show up in Romney's heart in 2012. You can't force what isn't in you.)
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To: null and void

Get the HELL OUT of that country.


19 posted on 09/22/2012 5:19:59 PM PDT by SE Mom (Proud mom of an Iraq war combat vet)
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To: TADSLOS
"Lord Obama's Just War is Lost"

If you read the article Crocker is very critical of Bush and the NeoCons and states what everyone knows, Afghanistan was lost when Lord Cheney put Afghanistan on the back burner and went into Iraq.

20 posted on 09/22/2012 5:46:28 PM PDT by Ben Ficklin
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