Retaliation by U.S.will spark holy war

Washington Times ^ | 9/15/01 | Alex Spillius

[Travis McGee]

Indeed, destroy the nest.

Does anyone think that terrorists will be just sitting around in "terrorist barracks" while loads of Green Berets tip toe up on them?

Anyone recall how badly heliborne ops can go? Mogadishu? Desert One? Can you imagine sending companies of specops troops all over Afganistan chasing rumors of terrorist camps, only to fly into stinger missile ambushes from the mountain tops? So quickly these missions would turn into rescue missions of our downed choppers.

The folks calling for ground combat in Afganistan sound EXACTLY like the "Airmobile" gurus saying in 1964 that we would whip the pitiful scrawny little Viet Cong in a few months.

Jungle then, mountains now, our techno tricks don't work so well away from the flat open deserts and fields

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Isn't this threat like putting us on "double secret probation."

Thanks! I needed a good laugh after such a long period of anger and grief!

[etcetera]

There doesn't seem to be any clean way out of this. If we back off, they'll just keep coming. We'll just have to get 'er done. Too bad...

[CWOJackson]

They all tried to conquer and occupy Afganistan?

That is why the U.S. will probably not "invade" Afganistan but will most likely make some quick and decisive in and out raids on specific targets within it's borders. The Afgan is very capable of defending it's territory, but it is not a highly mobile force. They would have a difficult time reacting to quick precision strikes with any effective force.

[Travis McGee]

We can cut Afganistan off from the world, but we will still have to battle 5 or 6 other nations.

[tonycavanagh]

Hello Travis McGee

You are right Afghanistan will be a very hard nut to crack, if America does send in ground troops they will lose a lot of men.

Although sending in troops feels the right way, punish those who protect the scum who carried out this terrible act, give them a taste of cold steel, I don’t think it is the right way.

In this case I think economic muscle will work more, cut Afghanistan of from the world completely, withdraw all aid agencies, all charity all UN aid everything, any country bordering Afghanistan, if they break the embargo include them, all aid to Pakistan, many of these governments survive only because the feeding, educating and health of there people is done my outside agencies.

It is not dashing or glorious and it will not satisfy the need to strike back, but it will encourage the people them self’s to strike back at the corrupt governments who lead them.

My thoughts out with your country

God Bless America.

Tony

[Travis McGee]

Thanks Tony, and we have NO DOUBT that if push comes to shove, Tommy will be standing shoulder to shoulder with GI Joe.

BTW, we all cried when we saw the Coldstream Guards march out to the Star Spangled Banner. That meant a LOT.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Anyone who thinks invading Afganistan will be easy is an idiot. Ground combat is their national sport."

I agree BUT remember THE ONLY reason they held up against the Russinas is because the CIA trained AND supplied them with weapons.
I saw a documentary on the History Channel about 2 months ago, with interviews with the former CIA operatives, that went into great detail how they (CIA) made sure the weapons they (CIA) bought were NOT of US origin.
It was not until the Russians started to bring in their latest helicopters that the CIA finally began supplying them with US Stinger missles that they (Afganistan rebels) got Russia to finally realize it was time to end their version of Viet Nam.
When the CIA guys were asked if the Singer missels were a threat in the wrong hands they said the fuel for the missels only had a shelf life of about 6 months.
BOTTOM LINE: Without CIA help the Russians would have won that war in no time at all.

[Travis McGee]

We'll see!

If it helps to wear down and waste their ultimate long term enemy, (the USA), don't be shocked if the Chinese "CIA" supplies the muzh this time.

Covertly, of course.

Just cut them off totally from the world and let them figure out how to run their tenth century society in a tenth century economy.

[tonycavanagh]

Although I am an old bugger now, I have left a message at the drill hall offering what ever service I can supply even if it means a desk job to free up a younger man.

We have had many differences as shown on this site but when push comes to shove we will stand beside you.

I was in Spain when this happened, there were people from all over Europe on holiday the reaction was the same shock, horror and sadness and a determination to stand by and identify with America.

We laugh at the French but this French family we new adopted a young American couple who could not get home.

What ever happens, just remember many of us ordinary people are with you and your country what ever happens.

Tony

[Texasforever]

So quickly these missions would turn into rescue missions of our downed choppers.

Yep ala the debacle of the "Iranian hostage rescue disaster". I put my faith in Bush's reliance on his military advisors as to what the military should do. When the politicians play "military strategy" the end result is failure in EVRY case. All of us wannbe commandos can have a lot of fun playing “what if” but, thankfully, GW is NOT relying on us. Thanks for your service.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Just cut them off totally from the world and let them figure out how to run their tenth century society in a tenth century economy"

I totally agree!

[Joe Boucher]

About time we enter the fray. The Muslim extremists have been at war with us for years. About time we fight back. About time we grow some balls. So like the merry idiots from the gala in gone with the wind, excited to go kick the ass of the enemy, lets get it on. Nuke Iraq, nuke Iran, nuke Afganistan, nuke Syria, nuke these pukes till they join the ether.

[Travis McGee]

I hear you Tony, lots of us may be needed to train recruits or just fly desks, although I suspect civil defense bridge guards etc will take a lot of manpower over here, if they have as many sleeper cells ready to go as I suspect.

[ambrose]

They don't sound ready to roll over. Anyone who thinks invading Afganistan will be easy is an idiot. Ground combat is their national sport.

That's why we should just nuke 'em off the map now, and be done with it. If other Arabs complain, we can nuke them as well.

[HiTech RedNeck]

The folks calling for ground combat in Afganistan sound EXACTLY like the "Airmobile" gurus saying in 1964 that we would whip the pitiful scrawny little Viet Cong in a few months.

It was politicians and their pitiful "limited war" which doomed the Vietnam effort. NOT logistics.

Turn hell-and-a-half loose on the Afghan terrorists. There is no love lost between them and 90% of the US population.

[piasa]

They're bound to. Look at how many came out of ONE Florida flight school.

And planes aren't the only ready-made mobile bombs available.

This country is like a smorgasbord.

[Califreeper]

Re "kill or be killed" -- I agree! I'm usually no warmonger, but we no longer have a choice in the matter. Full steam ahead!

[ambrose]

But even still, I think we will be in a world war with at least 6 moslem nations in a year.

You are so cheerful and optimistic.

[nopardons]

Gee , joined today , didya ? America should be true to its wriiten " creed " ? We aren't a THEOCRACY and we have no " written creed ". We do ; however , bomb the ... out of our enemies . That's part of our UNWRITTEN CREEED.