Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

‘Invincible’ Taleban routed in raids on border camps
The Times(UK) ^ | 03/01/10 | Anthony Loyd

Posted on 02/28/2010 8:07:37 PM PST by TigerLikesRooster

March 1, 2010

‘Invincible’ Taleban routed in raids on border camps

Anthony Loyd in Peshawar

Significant leaders of the Pakistani Taleban have been killed or captured in an onslaught of frontier ground and air attacks, a Pakistani general has told The Times.

“The militant command and control centres and their caches have been dismantled or captured,” said Major-General Tariq Khan, one of the country’s most experienced commanders in the frontier war with the Taleban. “The kind of hits the leadership has taken, the casualties they have taken, the TTP [Pakistani Taleban] is no longer significant,” he said. “It has ended as a cohesive force. It doesn’t exist any more as an umbrella organisation that can influence militancy anywhere.”

The claims come at a time of improved military co-operation between America and Pakistan, in which US drones have killed a number of key Pakistani Taleban commanders, and Pakistani security agents have arrested at least four senior Afghan Taleban leaders over the past month.

(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: coalition; taleban; taliban; victory

1 posted on 02/28/2010 8:07:37 PM PST by TigerLikesRooster
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: TigerLikesRooster

It has so annoyed me seeing people suggest the Taliban could and would inevitably win.

There are too many americans that are reliably anti US troops.

The Taliban really are not all that awesome.

Its nice to see reality check articles like this one.


2 posted on 02/28/2010 8:10:58 PM PST by lonestar67 ("I love my country a lot more than I love politics," President George W. Bush)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TigerLikesRooster
Don't let your mental guard down - things are nor as they seem from this article - not for our troops across the border in the ‘ghan...

It's the same old hop back and forth across the border - whack a Tali on one side, they pop up on the other...

3 posted on 02/28/2010 8:16:13 PM PST by maine-iac7 ("He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help" Lincoln)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lonestar67

Consider who is the CIC. Do you trust the media to accurately report what is happening or do you suspect (as I do) that they just might want to paint Obumbler as the mighty general and conquering hero? If they are really defeating the enemy, then the locals will start siding with the good guys instead of being afraid that the Taliban will come back when the good guys leave.

I’ll reserve judgment.


4 posted on 02/28/2010 8:16:46 PM PST by Blood of Tyrants (Truth - Reality through the eyes of God.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Blood of Tyrants

I think you are right.

But I still never think that the Taliban are impressive in any respect. They are not militarily sophisticated or magical. They are culturally abhorrent. The world really is moving rapidly beyond these fools. Its all the rapid change that makes them violent.

I say let them die trying to roll back the world’s clock. We will kill them more kindly than the russians did.

Personally, I am fine with a world filled with predator drones for those that think the 7th century is their cup of tea. Eventually, they will get the message.


5 posted on 02/28/2010 8:20:34 PM PST by lonestar67 ("I love my country a lot more than I love politics," President George W. Bush)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: maine-iac7

Well, there has been some improvement. Now Talibans are squeezed from both sides: Afghanistan and Pakistan. Unless they secure new sanctuary outside both countries, things will get difficult for them. The success now depends on how they can manage Afghanistan in terms of politics and economy. If they screw up, no doubt Talibans or some other group will be back.


6 posted on 02/28/2010 8:22:07 PM PST by TigerLikesRooster (LUV DIC -- L,U,V-shaped recession, Depression, Inflation, Collapse)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Blood of Tyrants

What is “winning” in Afghan especially when you have a muslim CIC. These people change sides by the moment. The country has opium and other smuggling and war. War and tribal fighting are their main industry.


7 posted on 02/28/2010 8:24:00 PM PST by Frantzie (TV - sending Americans towards Islamic serfdom - Cancel TV service NOW)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Frantzie

Not to mention about $100 million in aid to Afghanistan that was siphoned off by crooked pols and sent to the Taliban. Put a wall around all the ‘stans in the ME and then let them kill each other.


8 posted on 02/28/2010 8:27:33 PM PST by Blood of Tyrants (Truth - Reality through the eyes of God.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: TigerLikesRooster
Now Talibans are squeezed from both sides: Afghanistan and Pakistan

This should have been going on all along - but it wasn't.

And now, with the new ROE the new muzzie loving CIC has ham strung our troops with - the tali's have it pretty sweet on the 'ghan side. They are taking full advantage of obyummers ROE that give THEM the advantage and is resulting in the highest numbers in loses of OUR troops since the first year of the war.

the most egregious and traitorous part of the new ROE? When they conceived and implemented them they ACKNOWLEDGED it would reuslt in higher losses for our troops, but deemed it was acceptable and would be worth it in the long run.

and none dare call it treason?

I do.

TREASON

9 posted on 02/28/2010 9:01:07 PM PST by maine-iac7 ("He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help" Lincoln)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: maine-iac7

The major change in the war against the Taliban is that they are now sandwiched inbetween Pakistani troops (with US liaisons and drone air strikes). Thus not only are the Taliban hit by ground troops, artillery and aircraft, but also at any time by the drones, the fourth leg of the offensive to decapitate their leadership and demoralize the regular fighters.

On the Afghan side, we are doing the same thing, some of which is unannounced and for good reasons.

Now that the Taliban has fled from Marjah, despite their vows to hold it, they have lost some face. And remember, everyone of their members killed even in the delaying actions, is one less fanatic to fight another day.

The old squeeze play is on, and I expect that you will see some very innovative US/NATO operations in the future. If you read good Vietnam military histories/operational reports, you’ll know what I mean.

Been there.


10 posted on 02/28/2010 11:35:08 PM PST by ToTheMax
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: ToTheMax

I pray you’re right - for the sake of those I know and communicate with who are boots on the ground in the area. I hope they soon see this happening.


11 posted on 02/28/2010 11:59:36 PM PST by maine-iac7 ("He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help" Lincoln)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: lonestar67

They’re not “invincible,” and it annoys me when I see that, too. They’re actually on the losing curve - the guy with the most technology always wins, and they’re not that guy. Furthermore, they’re not popular among their own people, so if we can release their people from fear by showing that we are winning and are determined to oust the Taliban, the latter will have no support at all.

Well, unless we make them “invincible” by refusing to use our technology and fighting them on their own turf in their own terms.


12 posted on 03/01/2010 6:04:49 AM PST by livius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: livius
the guy with the most technology always wins

I agree, but on that subject: the Taliban have a new form of body-armor, even better than the typical Muslim tactic of cowering behind their own womenfolk while talking big.

Like an invisible shield it can defeat any weapon. It's called "hiding behind the Coalition's own rules of engagement"

Not to mention their A-bomb, which is "coming back the week after Obama declares victory and withdraws the Infidel dogs"

13 posted on 03/01/2010 6:12:03 AM PST by agere_contra
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: TigerLikesRooster

***The claims come at a time of improved military co-operation between America and Pakistan***

I reckon Pakistan figured out that if you play with a snake long enough it will bite you. Better to chop off it’s head from the get go.


14 posted on 03/01/2010 6:34:45 AM PST by Gamecock (We aren't sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners. (R.C. Sproul))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson