US suspects several foreign powers

The Guardian ^ | 09/19/01 | Ian Traynor in Dushanbe, Tajikistan

[eureka!]

Nice summary in this post. Osama's cells operate out of 34 countries. Some are friendly (Germany), others are not and will be subject to the "war". As to the friendlies, cruise missiles will not be used. It will be spooks, wet work and innocuous headlines ("Apartment explodes, gas leak suspected", "Rival gang killed in ambush" etc..) As to the unfriendlies, surgical, constant, effective military operations will be used and will satiate the sheeple's desires for action. We're in for the long haul on this one....

[Hatteras]

"Threat to Japanese bases reported"

This morning there was a report of a plane crash at a Japanese airport. What ever became of that?

[maestro]

Japan has to be a MAJOR target. (excluding their stock markets)
IMHO

[FLIGHT93]

I know we aren't playing a game of Risk but sooner or later we will be facing the real enemy in this play--CHINA-- I wonder if and when it comes to light that the financing and planning came through the mainland China are we prepared to act

[Trident/Delta]

The president's position was strengthened when the guerrilla army fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan offered to act as the Americans' ground force if the US opts for a bombing offensive against the Taliban and forces loyal to Osama bin Laden.

This is friggin' profound!! That puts a groundforce in place NOW!!!.....

Semper Fi

....Let's do 'em dirty Skipper...(from Horatio Hornblower)

[DJ88]

A question for you...how strong is the guerilla faction there? Thanks...Deej

[BlueNgold]

The US has for the first time suggested more than one foreign power was behind last week's terrorist attacks.

While this is a pretty good article overall it opens with a huge misstatement. Anyone who didn't get this little tidbit of information in time to take it to press before today was either sleeping or off the planet for the last week. FROM THE BEGINNING the Administration, including the P, VP, SecDef, AG, and SecState, as well as various members of congress looking for the spotlight have made it 100% clear: this is going to be a long protracted conflict that will stretch across many borders, and involve many people. This is NOT just about bin Laden or Afghanistan.

[Jim Noble]

>>The Taliban, Afghanistan's ruling militia, was today reported to be considering talks with the United States<<

KABOOM!

[Trident/Delta]

Although a minority, the Northern Coalition enjoys the support of the people. The Taliban movement is a usurper from outside Afganistan that seized power in an effort to establish a fundamental theocracy. Those in the leadership think that the theocracy of Iran is "warm and fuzzy".

Semper Fi

[DJ88]

Thanks, Trident. I must admit, I come to you guys whenever I have questions because I know I will always get a great answer...you rock...Deej :-)

[Alexandre]

Post 10: ...The Taliban movement is a usurper from outside Afganistan that seized power in an effort to establish a fundamental theocracy...

Why a half-speak here? Taliban grew up in Pakistan, with help of US as an istrument to fight Soviet occupation forces. What now is praised as "moderate Northern Alliance" in 80's was considered an insufficient force leaning towards compromises with the USSR.

[Nineteen_Kilo]

IIRC, this sounds like just the sort of thing the brave soldiers of the Army Special Forces (aka 'Green Berets') are designed for: co-ordinating the military efforts non-American military insurgents.

Can we trust the Northern alliance with anything like the level of information we would need to use effective combined arms tactics, though? Can we trust this 'northern alliance'? How many Taliban informers are in their ranks, and at what levels?

Don't get me wrong: I think that letting the local populace do some of the heavy lifting is exactly the right solution for these terrorist states. They are, after all, totalitarian regimes, in which there will inevitably be some form of opposition, overt or covert. I'm just a little leery of giving the 'northern alliance' much information, if any, on American forces. It seems to me that the right way to co-ordinate any military action with the Northern Alliance would be a discreet communique that said "When you see the bombs start falling, that's your que to attack".

Any contrary opinions out there? Anyone ex-military or better yet, ex/current special forces with an informed opinion?

[Trident/Delta]

I would trust them to about the same degree that we trusted the "Kit Carson Scouts" in the Nam. Problem is, they will consider themselves full partners in this and demand a seat at the big table. Time will tell. You are right, it's time for blanket-heads and snake-eaters. Of course, I lean more towards the deployment of marine-mammals

Semper Fi

[eccl1212]

bingo. The Central Player... CHINA. The worlds only remaining "wannabe" super power. They think they got our secrets. We probably sold them boxes of used pinball machine parts.

They want to invade taiwan. I think that taiwan MIGHT just be able to pull off an invasion of China after this little excercise "softens up" the mainland commies.

Here's hopin'.

[Rocko]

According to Fox News this morning, nothing really happened; apparently there was a miscommunication between U.S. and Japanese officials (they were supposedly discussing scenerios) that resulted in a misunderstanding that the media reported as a real event.

[justshutupandtakeit]

China is not involved with this and to pretend that it is is merely trying to obscure the real enemy, Islam. China does not want to conquer the world and is not motivated by "religious" impulses like the real enemy.

Why would a patriot try and distract the fight from the real enemy? What is your motivation and intent? Once the Chinese reject communism (and it will) it will be our friend once again.

[Harrison Bergeron]

"Osama's cells operate out of 34 countries. Some are friendly (Germany),"

And some, we can now say with confidence, are the United States of America.