Posted on 10/31/2001 4:00:53 PM PST by Pokey78
AMERICA intensified its attacks on Taliban front-line positions yesterday, launching the first raids by giant B52 bombers north of Kabul.
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The appearance of B52s cheered anti-Taliban commanders, who have spent the past week deriding American "pin pricks", and raised their hopes that the enemy positions might at last collapse. As a B52 barrelled across the sky, its four vapour trails clearly visible, the whole landscape appeared to shake.
It sent down one salvo of bombs, setting off a series of at least 15 explosions over a distance of half a mile, before returning for a second attack. Previous air raids on the strategic sector of the Taliban front line guarding the approaches to Kabul have been carried out by smaller fighter-bombers which release one or two bombs at a time.
The attacks continued throughout the day, and commanders said that it was the most intense since America began bombing the front line on Oct 17. "This is the most successful day so far," said Alou Zeki, commander of a sector of the front to the west of the Soviet-built Bagram air base. "If it continues like this, the front line will collapse and the Taliban can be defeated."
The intensified bombing was apparently in response to criticism from congressmen that America was not making enough use of its military clout. The B52 Stratofortress was used in the bombing of Cambodia, to destroy Iraq's Republican Guard during the Gulf war and against Yugoslav troops in Kosovo.
It was used against Taliban and al-Qa'eda bases in the early part of the campaign, but until now has not attacked Taliban front-line troops. The Pentagon indicated that additional US forces would move into Central Asia over the next few weeks from where they could attack targets in northern Afghanistan.
Several thousand troops, including Green Berets, have been in southern Uzbekistan for some weeks. Independent observers in northern Afghanistan have said that US F-15 Strike Eagle aircraft attacking Taliban front lines have flown off towards Uzbekistan.
The admission that more assets would be moved into the former Soviet republic came after a visit by Gen Tommy Franks, commander-in-chief of US Central Command, who is running the US campaign. US defence sources in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, said a number of countries were providing "concrete, solid assistance to the war on terrorism" but were not prepared to acknowledge this publicly.
Charles Heyman, editor of Jane's World Armies, said the movement of further assets to Uzbekistan came amid signs that the Americans were preparing to set up a forward operations base in northern Afghanistan as a prelude to a ground invasion in the spring.
Yesterday's raids have long been sought by the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance to make up for their weakness in men, materiel and strategic location, as the Taliban control high ground on the approaches to Kabul. Northern Alliance officials have said repeatedly that three days of carpet bombing of the front lines would open the way to the capital.
But Alou Zeki was careful not to say when the march on the capital might begin. "I am glad they are bombing the troop concentrations, where there are no civilians to be killed," he said. "This is really weakening the Taliban." After the B52 raid, the whole front line - which can be silent for days - burst into life, with exchanges of mortar and machine gun fire.
There was a new buzz in the bazaars of the opposition territory that the phoney war might be drawing to a close. The streets seemed more warlike as soldiers adopted winter camouflage. There were reports that Russia was providing armour to boost the Northern Alliance's inventory. But no tanks have been seen crossing the icy pass through the Hindu Kush.
There has been great disappointment on the opposition side - and equal relief among the Taliban - that the American front-line raids have so far been relatively restrained. Reports from Taliban-controlled areas suggest that the militia are constantly on the move to avoid being hit.
Anti-Taliban commanders say they see signs of the enemy creeping back to their bases at night. But the air campaign has yet to deliver a blow that would persuade the Taliban that the balance of forces has turned against them.
"I think this is so, and it brings up the question:"
Monday Morning Quarterbacking by Congressmen or whining by the press almost certainly had nothing to do with it. It comes under the heading of logical next step in a progression designed to collapse the Taliban on itself, with a little help from the Afghans themselves.
Do you honestly believe that Rumsfeld, Bush and Cheney give a damn what John McCain, Bill Kristol or Chris Shays might, or might not, think? That is, if they think at all...
Yes, the Administration wants the American people's support, and one element
that helps mold that support is the daily wailing of the CongressCritters,
Otherwise, "You & I" will be "eating Crow" for a LONG time---& EVERYTHING we believe our Nation "Stands For" will---ONCE AGAIN---Have to be "Won" by the Blood of "Patriots!"
We HAVE TO hold the unimaginably precious legacy our "Founding Fathers" bequeathed to us!
We OWE THEM----NOW & FOREVER!
Doc
The Bush administration enjoys near-unanimous support from the American people, without having to accommodate the self-absorbed wailings of these particular CongressCritters.
Bush, jr probably remembers the "near unanimous support from the American people" that his Dad enjoyed, which support quickly waned to the extent that a 3rd rate governor of a 4th rate state could beat him for re-election.
Let her roll?
I think you are right, but I think we are following a similar strategy as in the Gulf War, in spite of all the speculation. That is pound them repeatedly with air strikes 24/7, remove any infrastructure, reduce their will to resist and then and only then bring in the ground troops. Although Afghanistan is a somewhat different situation, I really think the military is working a plan here and too many people are over anxious to put the ground troops in. They need patience - this isn't a video game. Those soldiers who will be coming home in body bags if we send them in too soon are real people.
Of that, I've no doubt. Which is why he'll fight this war to win. Which means ignoring the gratuitous tactical suggestions coming from the political peanut gallery.
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