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Is the Pentagon Telling the Truth About Afghanistan?
The New York Times ^ | 13 Oct 2015 | Editorial

Posted on 10/13/2015 8:13:58 AM PDT by Theoria

New data from the United Nations on the military advances by a resurgent Taliban is alarming for what it says about the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan — and what it suggests about the American military’s honesty about what is happening there.

The fall of Kunduz two weeks ago was a startling sign of how the Taliban has reasserted itself, wresting a northern city from the control of the NATO-trained Afghan Security Forces, who are not doing a great job of showing they are up to defending their country. The United Nations data, reported by The Times on Monday and backed up by interviews with local officials, paint an even bleaker picture of an expanding insurgency that has spread through more of Afghanistan than at any point since the Taliban government was deposed at the end of 2001.

Compiled in early September before the latest uptick in violence, the data shows that United Nations officials have rated the threat level as high or extreme in about half of the country’s administrative districts. Contrast that with the assessment offered by Gen. John Campbell, the American commander in Afghanistan, when he testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee last week. “The Afghan security forces have displayed courage and resilience,” he said. “They’re still holding. The Afghan government retains control of Kabul, of Highway One, its provincial capitals and nearly all of the district centers.”

According to The Times’s Rod Nordland and Joseph Goldstein, Highway One, which connects all of Afghanistan’s main cities, has long suffered repeated Taliban attacks; in recent weeks, the insurgents have cut a highway in Baghlan Province, which had been an uncontested government stronghold.

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


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 201510; afghanistan; fallofkunduz; kunduz; military; nato; pentagon; taliban; wot

1 posted on 10/13/2015 8:13:58 AM PDT by Theoria
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To: Theoria

Under Obama?

Probably not.


2 posted on 10/13/2015 8:16:48 AM PDT by Arm_Bears (Biology is biology. Everything else is imagination.)
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To: Arm_Bears

Is any branch of the government or media telling the truth about anything any more?


3 posted on 10/13/2015 8:22:49 AM PDT by SpinnerWebb (Winter is coming)
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To: Theoria

The good news is that IS ( ISIS) is opening a new front in Afghanistan and taking on the Taliban

The bad news is we have to choose which one of 2 really bad choices is our next ally

Decisions decisions


4 posted on 10/13/2015 8:26:20 AM PDT by silverleaf (Age takes a toll: Please have exact change)
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To: Theoria

If my choice on who to believe is the U.N or Obama administration..............wait, how are they different?


5 posted on 10/13/2015 8:27:10 AM PDT by Mastador1 (I'll take a bad dog over a good politician any day!)
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To: Theoria

Uh that would be the Obama Administration lying.


6 posted on 10/13/2015 8:27:55 AM PDT by Williams (Dear God, please save us from the Democrats. And the Republicans.)
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To: SpinnerWebb

hell, I could be lying to myself and don’t even know it.


7 posted on 10/13/2015 8:31:14 AM PDT by SteveinSATX (C'mon Cruz, Trump or Carson ...baby needs a new pair of shoes!)
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To: SteveinSATX; tx_eggman

I do that every time I look in the mirror... so..


8 posted on 10/13/2015 8:32:15 AM PDT by SpinnerWebb (Winter is coming)
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To: Theoria

Note it is not the Obama himself, nor even the Obama Administration - it is the “Pentagon.” As if it is a renegade group of outlaws not under the control of BO. In regards to Iraq a few years ago, the left didn’t say the “State Dept lied,” they said “Bush lied.”


9 posted on 10/13/2015 8:34:51 AM PDT by PghBaldy (12/14 - 930am -rampage begins... 12/15 - 1030am - Obama's advance team scouts photo-op locations.)
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To: Theoria

Hell no.


10 posted on 10/13/2015 8:39:41 AM PDT by laplata ( Liberals/Progressives have diseased minds.)
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To: Theoria
Is the Pentagon Telling the Truth About Afghanistan?

Was Goebbels telling the truth about the German Army?

Since we've got a little Hitler running things nowadays, I won't believe a D@mn word from them until the little Hitler is gone.

11 posted on 10/13/2015 8:45:16 AM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: SpinnerWebb

You have stated a tragic truth.


12 posted on 10/13/2015 8:49:13 AM PDT by AEMILIUS PAULUS
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To: silverleaf

“The good news is that IS ( ISIS) is opening a new front in Afghanistan and taking on the Taliban.”

The good news is it is another front being opened in the war between the Sunni’s and Shiite’s which will affect Iran directly. The Taliban are radical but are pikers compared to ISIS. Iran could live with the Taliban.

Of course, this also puts additional pressure on Russia because it also becomes another jump off point for ISIS to access Russia.


13 posted on 10/13/2015 8:58:24 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Jews For Cruz)
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To: silverleaf

Well, I think the Pentagon is only giving Obama the information that he wants to hear. Just ask General McCrystal what happens to those who have a view that runs counter to the daily narrative. Everyone remember the Afghanistan “surge”? The numbers the pentagon were running were a lot higher than the ones Obama’s team were floating. Years ago, the Pentagon and the CIA gave Obama an unbiased view of Afghanistan and were publicly ignored. Fast forward to today and the events on the ground reflect Obama’s failure. Now, career officers only tell Obama what he wants to hear. Facts have no place in the daily briefing.


14 posted on 10/13/2015 9:01:22 AM PDT by corlorde (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: Theoria

Gosh.

Who did the citizens of The United States choose to be the Commander In Chief of our military?

You see, that’s one of the things our President is responsible for.

That’s why you should vote for someone who can run the military.

If you vote for someone because you think that person will steal for you, and let’s face it, Mitt Romney had this one right, then you will have a President who doesn’t care about foreign affairs.

You know, like President Obama.

He doesn’t see himself as Commander In Chief.

He sees himself as Thief In Chief.


15 posted on 10/13/2015 9:11:07 AM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: Theoria

A Pentagon run by liberals vs The New York Times run by liberal elites?

Who to trust... who to trust... who to trust???

In a related thought - what group is more ethical? Mexican Drug Cartels or Italian Mobsters?


16 posted on 10/13/2015 9:31:48 AM PDT by GOPJ (Democrats want gun legislation? Fine. Pass a Bill outlawing 'gun free' zones.)
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To: SpinnerWebb

“Is any branch of the government or media telling the truth about anything any more?”

Only when the truth supports their narrative and advances their agenda.


17 posted on 10/13/2015 10:14:48 AM PDT by MichaelCorleone (Jesus Christ is not a religion. He's the Truth.)
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To: corlorde

As I recall there are 50 USCENTCOM analysts who opened a case with the IG about their intel reports being doctored and changed under pressure by General James Clapper, to make it look like the US was being effective against ISIS when it was not, and ISIS was growing.

Clapper is one of obama’s top facilitators.

Imagine a boss directing analysts to twist wartime intelligence to match a narrative rather than reality.
I guess this was intended to placate Congress and obscure what was really going on, our resupplying the butchers.


18 posted on 10/13/2015 12:32:38 PM PDT by silverleaf (Age takes a toll: Please have exact change)
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To: Theoria

At least Rommel tried to kill Hitler. Pussies.


19 posted on 10/16/2015 4:08:41 AM PDT by mindburglar (When Superman and Batman fight, the only winner is crime.)
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