U.S. special forces seen here on horseback
Posted on 11/16/2001 1:19:30 PM PST by Diogenesis
Wolfowitz Shares Special Forces' Afghanistan Dispatches
just released by the American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2001 -- The Northern Alliance and other opposition groups have made tremendous progress in Afghanistan -- last week, they controlled
about 15 percent of the country and today control about half.
Defense officials said U.S. air support was pivotal in the battle. In his after-dinner keynote address at the Fletcher Conference here Nov. 14, Deputy Defense
Secretary Paul Wolfowitz spread the credit among all those participating.
The Fletcher Conference is jointly sponsored by the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis and the Army. The theme this year is "National Security for a New Era."
"Success in this campaign has come not just from our remarkable ability to fly bombers from bases in Missouri halfway around the world to strike targets with great
precision," he said. "Success has also come from putting extraordinarily brave men on the ground so they could direct that air power and make it truly effective."
Wolfowitz read to the audience the contents of two situation reports U.S. Special Forces soldiers sent from Afghanistan. The dispatches testify to the role the men
have played and will play in the campaign in Afghanistan, he said. Wolfowitz said he removed all classified information before sharing these dispatches.
The first is dated Oct. 25:
"I am advising a man on how to best employ light infantry and horse cavalry in the attack against Taliban T-55s (tanks) ... mortars, artillery, personnel
carriers and machine guns -- a tactic which I think became outdated with the introduction of the Gatling gun. (The Mujahadeen) have done this every day
we have been on the ground. They have attacked with 10 rounds AK's per man, with PK gunners (snipers) having less than 100 rounds ... little water and
less food. I have observed a PK gunner who walked 10-plus miles to get to the fight, who was proud to show me his artificial right leg from the knee
down. ...
"We have witnessed the horse cavalry bounding overwatch from spur to spur to attack Taliban strong points -- the last several kilometers under mortar,
artillery ... and PK fire. There is little medical care if injured, only a donkey ride to the aid station, which is a dirt hut. I think (the Mujahadeen) are doing
very well with what they have. They have killed over 125 Taliban ... while losing only eight.
"We couldn't do what we are (doing) without the close air support. ... Everywhere I go the civilians and Mujahadeen soldiers are always telling me they are
glad the USA has come. ... They all speak of their hopes for a better Afghanistan once the Taliban are gone. Better go. (The local commander) is finishing
his phone call with (someone back in the States)."
Wolfowitz said the soldier then went off and joined a cavalry attack on a Taliban position.
The second dispatch is dated Nov. 10:
"Departed position from which I spoke to you last night ... (We left) on horse and linked up with the remainder of (the element). I had meeting with (the
commander). ... We then departed from our initial linkup location and rode into Mazar-e Sharif on begged, borrowed and confiscated transportation.
"While it looked like a rag-tag procession, the morale into Mazar-e Sharif was a triumphal procession. All locals loudly greeted us and thanked all
Americans. Much waving, cheering and clapping even from the women. ... USN/USAF did a great job.
"I am very proud of these men who have performed exceptionally well under very extreme conditions. I have personally witnessed heroism under fire by
(two U.S. NCOs - - one Army, one Air Force) when we came under fire last night, which was less than 50 meters from me. When I ordered them to call
close air support, they did so immediately without flinching even though they were under ... fire. As you know, a (U.S. element) was nearly overrun four
days ago and continued to call close air support and ensured (Mujahadeen) forces did not suffer a defeat. These two examples are typical of the
performance of your soldiers and airmen. Truly uncommon valor has been a common virtue amongst these men."
Because the word has been appropriated by folks who write about these things to mean usually anti-Jewish over the last 150 years or so but it really picked up speed during Hitler's genocide attempt.
Arguably, most Jews today are only partially Semite in reality. This is a major bone of contention and is exploited to the hilt by anti-Jewish extremists and by Zionists to further each other's warring perspectives.
Confused enough yet?
Technically....Semite ...is derived from Shem ...the eldest of Noah's progeny and if one is to believe the flood then one could assume that we are all Semite to a degree....probably. But the idiots like Christian Identity(not normal Christians..trust me) think that only white Europeans descend from Shem and that the rest...Jews in particular descend from Edom.
I'm sure I've been truly helpful here (extreme sarcasm)
Really truly...ethnic classification speaking in a technical sense...I would venture that the Phonecians, Caananites, Hebrews and all who inhabited the Biblical Palestine region are the closest to what I would call Semites.
But it's sort of like Poland....are all Poles Polish....No, a huge number of them are actually German. Same for the Czech Republic....and Eastern France....or the northern Swiss Cantons....
Ethnic classification and nomenclature is an inexact science to say the least.
regards
Another one that I like is the bastardized homo-phobia, which, if it were to be literally interpreted means "self-fearing".
Since I do not "fear myself" then it is incorrect to refer to me as a homo-phobe, even though I might maintain, for example, that homosexuality is an abhorrent, deviant behavior, and that those who practice and promote it are repugnant, reprobates .
Can't fall prey to that mentality, my FRiend, all politics IS Local...and Shall Be Moreso In the Future!!
"Aren't our military people wonderful??"
They shore are...my AF brother's over there somewhere...he's not allowed to say where just now, but we are holding out hope he and his wonderful wife and ornery Little Cousin Ryan might be able to make it back Stateside for the Holidays!!
SAVE THAT DAM!!!!
FReegards...MUD
U.S. special forces seen here on horseback
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