More Silence on Afghanistan!

[crusader377]

This past weekend was an extremely deadly weekend for American forces in Afghanistan. Not only 4 soldiers were killed by our supposed allies, but in a separate attack on one of our air bases the Tailban managed to destroy 6 harrier jets and damaged two additional. This was the largest single day loss of U.S. airpower since the Vietnam war and the mainstream media has been silent. If Bush was still in office the media would probably be running this story 24/7. What are your thoughts?

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/09/6_harrier_jets_destr.php

[VooDoo6Actual]

The Green on Blue attacks are increasing & becoming more frequent etc. That should have been a clue that the War On Terror is NOT over or just AQAM. Or the Emassies' should have ARMED MSG's at every one of them & be 'Hardened facilities'.

1)
http://www.economist.com/node/21561943

2)
http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/16/us/new-york-green-on-blues/index.html

4 NATO Troops killed by Afghanistan Police
http://articles.cnn.com/2012-09-16/asia/world_asia_afghanistan-troops-attacks_1_insider-attack-afghan-police-helmand

Alledgedly they were/are in a re-vetting/re-evaluating mode regarding training etc.

Everytime Americans hear about the horrific amount of Americans killed in Afghanistan it makes the Democrats/Liberials etc. have to address/reconcile why Obama did not bring the Troops home as he promised during his 1st campaign.


Another :
http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/15/world/asia/afghanistan-fatal-attack/index.html

BTW that's not where it ends either. The amount of TBI's & suicides are off the charts at unprecedented levels to & not much, if any coverage here in the States about that either.

[High Tower]

I agree. The media would wet themselves at the chance to celebrate a soldier's death while Bush was in office. Now, an average of 31 soldiers are killed every month in Afghanistan and we hear.......nothing.

Our media is completely worthless and is nothing more than the propaganda wing of the DNC.

[khc3]

I believe the CO of the Harrier Squadron was killed in the attack, as well.

[Mauser KAR98K]

I believe the CO of the Harrier Squadron was killed in the attack, as well.

Not only was the CO killed, but 6 Harrier jets destroyed and two severely damaged. The Pentagon has ceased all Afgan-American joint operations.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57514546/u.s-military-suspends-joint-patrols-with-afghans/

And what does my local news report tonight? Mitt Romney's "gaff' at a private dinner/fundraiser. That is even here in Middle Tennessee.

IMO: What the media is "not" doing is criminal.

I don't think the majority of the American Public realize how bad the mission in Afghanistan has gotten in the last two months, or realize how much the Mid-East is heating up. What is possibly coming if the trend keeps going is a regional war in the Mid-East that will make Iraq and Afghanistan look like skirmish at a playground.

I have been one that supported the efforts in Afghanistan for the longest. I still believe our mission there is still ongoing and really needs to succeeded for the rest of the Mid-East countries to get out of the 10th-15th Century. But as things are progressively are getting worse, due to progressives, it is time we pull out, pay down the debt by getting the dead beats back to work by produce military hardware that I fear we are going to need more than ever.

The World is on fire and the "chosen" people to protect it don't care that it is.

[NWPilgrim]

"Please leave a message.The Commander In Chief is playing golf and has a very important smooze with a FAMOUS ACTRESS.

If your troops are bleeding, dying or under attack please press "1". If your troops are depressed and suicidal please press "2". If you would like to make a campaign donation please stay on the line and a perky volunteer will be with you immediately.

If you would like to hear these options again please press "FU". Thank you and have an audacious day!"

[Magic_Salad0892]

I want to know why it's not important that it was the Afghani POLICE that put down the Americans.

What is being done about this, and how does the change the relationship between local Afghani Law Enforcement (that we helped build, and train) and Coalition Forces?

Why are no news pieces being written about this?

The war in Afghanistan needs to be publicized. People need to NOT forget.

[500grains]

The press is focusing on getting Obama re-elected. All other considerations are secondary.

[Suwannee Tim]

From Wikipedia:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Coalition_military_casualties_in_afghanistan_by_month.svg

Barak Obama was inaugurated in January 2009. As you can see from the graph, casualties have increased substantially during his tenure. Listening to Boortz today he stated that during Obama's 3-1/2 years casualties in Afghanistan were more than double those of Bush in 7 years. And we are on the brink of handing the country back to the Taliban. Not a word about this in the mainstream media. The MSM is the propaganda organ of the Democrat party.

[caporider]

From Wikipedia:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Coalition_military_casualties_in_afghanistan_by_month.svg

Barak Obama was inaugurated in January 2009. As you can see from the graph, casualties have increased substantially during his tenure. Listening to Boortz today he stated that during Obama's 3-1/2 years casualties in Afghanistan were more than double those of Bush in 7 years. And we are on the brink of handing the country back to the Taliban. Not a word about this in the mainstream media. The MSM is the propaganda organ of the Democrat party.

Well... For this stat to be meaningful, it should show casualties per 10,000 in-theater or some other "percentage of" figure. As it stands, this graphic sort of ignores the surge that took place shortly after Obama took office.

[Denali]

This past weekend was an extremely deadly weekend for American forces in Afghanistan. Not only 4 soldiers were killed by our supposed allies, but in a separate attack on one of our air bases the Tailban managed to destroy 6 harrier jets and damaged two additional. This was the largest single day loss of U.S. airpower since the Vietnam war and the mainstream media has been silent. If Bush was still in office the media would probably be running this story 24/7. What are your thoughts?

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/09/6_harrier_jets_destr.php

The national democratic socialist party media cartel, is not about to report the truth, so wake the hell up! Do you understand? This media apparatus comes very close to enveloping the totality of the traditional print and electronic media sources of the USA, they are only proliferating propaganda beneficial to the marxist party. They have been totally "Soviet" since 2004-08!

The only concerns they possess regarding truth, revolve around their efforts to manipulate the masses from obtaining it....

[Mauser KAR98K]

Well... For this stat to be meaningful, it should show casualties per 10,000 in-theater or some other "percentage of" figure. As it stands, this graphic sort of ignores the surge that took place shortly after Obama took office.

The "surge" has no real meaning for this. This is all policy. When Bush did the surge in Iraq, Iraq became safer. Afghanistan is getting more dangerous. Also note that the DOD has been pulling those surge troops out of Afghanistan, yet we are seeing more casualties now.

More man power doesn't equal more deaths. It depends on the war aims, the tactics and policy of the head-sheds. This current administration has done a piss poor job in the policy end (though the airstrikes kinda make up for it, but we are loosing intelligence over it).

[davidjinks]

It seems to me that most people just don't care anymore. It seems like its a drag on the media to actually do their jobs and report the news. Well, kinda...it has been on the news every 5 minutes for the last few days that Kate Middleton's breast are all over the print....yawn.

[The_War_Wagon]

SHHHHHHH! His Oneness is up for re-election!

We can't have Captain Zero disturbed by news of mere soldier's deaths, when Letterman, Oprah, & The View are calling! :rolleyes:

[Suwannee Tim]

Well... For this stat to be meaningful.....

The meaning of twice the casualties in half the time aside, the fact that the media is not reporting this is astounding. Whenever I think the mainstream media can't possibly be more feckless and partisan they become more feckless and partisan. If this country falls completely apart these media folks are going to face a real threat of being lynched. I would like to get in on a few hangings. Maybe we can get up a group buy on rope. I'm kidding. But I'm close enough to serious to scare myself.

[Moose-Knuckle]

What, you mean to tell me we have a war going on? :lazy2:

[kmrtnsn]

One aspect of this being overlooked is the propaganda win for the Taliban if there is wide press of anything that could be considered a military success on their side. With the wire services and the internet these days, having a whole bunch of articles about this event criss-crossing the globe that essentially tell of a large scale military success accomplished by the bad guys, serves them much better than it serves us. As much as I think this event is newsworthy, denying the enemy the propaganda and recruitment potential that spreading the story wide might give them is probably the better course to take.

[500grains]

If this country falls completely apart these media folks are going to face a real threat of being lynched.

That is interesting. Beck predicted the same.

[glocktogo]

One aspect of this being overlooked is the propaganda win for the Taliban if there is wide press of anything that could be considered a military success on their side. With the wire services and the internet these days, having a whole bunch of articles about this event criss-crossing the globe that essentially tell of a large scale military success accomplished by the bad guys, serves them much better than it serves us. As much as I think this event is newsworthy, denying the enemy the propaganda and recruitment potential that spreading the story wide might give them is probably the better course to take.

Which would have a better chance of withstanding scrutiny if we were doing something to reverse the trend in theater. That could be an immediate and total withdrawal, or the mother of all surges to repel and eradicate the threat. We're doing neither. Also, the MSM were quick to do all manner of high profile detraction pieces when Bush II was running the show. Now it's all quiet on the eastern front. It's a blatant double standard and Obama isn't feeling the heat to bring things to a swift conclusion the way Bush was.

I'm particularly bitter on this subject. I lost a good friend there, one year ago last week. He was idealistic and a believer. I feel the "leadership" exploited his ideals and got him killed with no clear objective. Every loss in battle is a tragedy. A wasted loss is a travesty. It's hard to feel patriotic when the "leaders" have squandered the high ground. :(

[NWPilgrim]

One aspect of this being overlooked is the propaganda win for the Taliban if there is wide press of anything that could be considered a military success on their side. With the wire services and the internet these days, having a whole bunch of articles about this event criss-crossing the globe that essentially tell of a large scale military success accomplished by the bad guys, serves them much better than it serves us. As much as I think this event is newsworthy, denying the enemy the propaganda and recruitment potential that spreading the story wide might give them is probably the better course to take.

I think that is true, BUT what is also not being considered is that whenever we finally leave, whether quick or slow, they will celebrate victory. We delude ourselves if we think that if we just make it a little it better before we leave they might thank us or hold off celebrating. No. The minute we are out of their they will dance and chant in the streets. We might as well pull the band-aid off quick and get it over with and avert the loss of more lives. The world will know either way that we tried to bring Western values to that region and they wanted no part of it and will revert to their tribal gamemanship as soon as we are gone. The military won what could be won in the first three months. For the last 10 years the politicians have squandered the most professional and dedicated force to have graced planet earth on totally unrealistic and unachievable nation building goals.

[kmrtnsn]

I think that is true, BUT what is also not being considered is that whenever we finally leave, whether quick or slow, they will celebrate victory. We delude ourselves if we think that if we just make it a little it better before we leave they might thank us or hold off celebrating. No. The minute we are out of their they will dance and chant in the streets. We might as well pull the band-aid off quick and get it over with and avert the loss of more lives. The world will know either way that we tried to bring Western values to that region and they wanted no part of it and will revert to their tribal gamesmanship as soon as we are gone. The military won what could be won in the first three months. For the last 10 years the politicians have squandered the most professional and dedicated force to have graced planet earth on totally unrealistic and unachievable nation building goals.

You will receive no argument from me.

[VooDoo6Actual]

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/09/surge-report-card/

[crusader377]

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/09/surge-report-card/

This is terrible. I think our policy makers are criminal in the conduct of the war in Afghanistan. We don't have a acheivable mission and our leadership isn't serious about winning. IMO, I think Afghanistan now resembles our position in Vietnam in 1970. In both cases, everyone knew that we would fail to implement our policy goals and the war is lost but they keep sending 19 year old kids to be killed.

[kmrtnsn]

This is terrible. I think our policy makers are criminal in the conduct of the war in Afghanistan. We don't have a acheivable mission and our leadership isn't serious about winning. IMO, I think Afghanistan now resembles our position in Vietnam in 1970. In both cases, everyone knew that we would fail to implement our policy goals and the war is lost but they keep sending 19 year old kids to be killed.

Anyone who thought that there would ever be anything looking remotely like military or political success in Afghanistan is either naive to the point if imbecility or has never read any of the history of the region. Come on people, Alexander couldn't do it, the British Empire Couldn't do it, and the Russians couldn't do it and all of them applied a hell of a lot more time, effort, money, and personnel to the situation. The military situation in Afghanistan hasn't significantly changed since Kipling summed it up in a poem in 1895 and I doubt it ever will.

The Young British Soldier

When the 'arf-made recruity goes out to the East
'E acts like a babe an' 'e drinks like a beast,
An' 'e wonders because 'e is frequent deceased
Ere 'e's fit for to serve as a soldier.
Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,
Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,
Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,
So-oldier ~OF~ the Queen!

Now all you recruities what's drafted to-day,
You shut up your rag-box an' 'ark to my lay,
An' I'll sing you a soldier as far as I may:
A soldier what's fit for a soldier.
Fit, fit, fit for a soldier . . .

First mind you steer clear o' the grog-sellers' huts,
For they sell you Fixed Bay'nets that rots out your guts --
Ay, drink that 'ud eat the live steel from your butts --
An' it's bad for the young British soldier.
Bad, bad, bad for the soldier . . .

When the cholera comes -- as it will past a doubt --
Keep out of the wet and don't go on the shout,
For the sickness gets in as the liquor dies out,
An' it crumples the young British soldier.
Crum-, crum-, crumples the soldier . . .

But the worst o' your foes is the sun over'ead:
You ~must~ wear your 'elmet for all that is said:
If 'e finds you uncovered 'e'll knock you down dead,
An' you'll die like a fool of a soldier.
Fool, fool, fool of a soldier . . .

If you're cast for fatigue by a sergeant unkind,
Don't grouse like a woman nor crack on nor blind;
Be handy and civil, and then you will find
That it's beer for the young British soldier.
Beer, beer, beer for the soldier . . .

Now, if you must marry, take care she is old --
A troop-sergeant's widow's the nicest I'm told,
For beauty won't help if your rations is cold,
Nor love ain't enough for a soldier.
'Nough, 'nough, 'nough for a soldier . . .

If the wife should go wrong with a comrade, be loath
To shoot when you catch 'em -- you'll swing, on my oath! --
Make 'im take 'er and keep 'er: that's Hell for them both,
An' you're shut o' the curse of a soldier.
Curse, curse, curse of a soldier . . .

When first under fire an' you're wishful to duck,
Don't look nor take 'eed at the man that is struck,
Be thankful you're livin', and trust to your luck
And march to your front like a soldier.
Front, front, front like a soldier . . .

When 'arf of your bullets fly wide in the ditch,
Don't call your Martini a cross-eyed old bitch;
She's human as you are -- you treat her as sich,
An' she'll fight for the young British soldier.
Fight, fight, fight for the soldier . . .

When shakin' their bustles like ladies so fine,
The guns o' the enemy wheel into line,
Shoot low at the limbers an' don't mind the shine,
For noise never startles the soldier.
Start-, start-, startles the soldier . . .

If your officer's dead and the sergeants look white,
Remember it's ruin to run from a fight:
So take open order, lie down, and sit tight,
And wait for supports like a soldier.
Wait, wait, wait like a soldier . . .

When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An' go to your Gawd like a soldier.
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
So-oldier ~of~ the Queen!

[glocktogo]

Anyone who thought that there would ever be anything looking remotely like military or political success in Afghanistan is either naive to the point if imbecility or has never read any of the history of the region. Come on people, Alexander couldn't do it, the British Empire Couldn't do it, and the Russians couldn't do it and all of them applied a hell of a lot more time, effort, money, and personnel to the situation. The military situation in Afghanistan hasn't significantly changed since Kipling summed it up in a poem in 1895 and I doubt it ever will.

The Young British Soldier

When the 'arf-made recruity goes out to the East
'E acts like a babe an' 'e drinks like a beast,
An' 'e wonders because 'e is frequent deceased
Ere 'e's fit for to serve as a soldier.
Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,
Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,
Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,
So-oldier ~OF~ the Queen!

Now all you recruities what's drafted to-day,
You shut up your rag-box an' 'ark to my lay,
An' I'll sing you a soldier as far as I may:
A soldier what's fit for a soldier.
Fit, fit, fit for a soldier . . .

First mind you steer clear o' the grog-sellers' huts,
For they sell you Fixed Bay'nets that rots out your guts --
Ay, drink that 'ud eat the live steel from your butts --
An' it's bad for the young British soldier.
Bad, bad, bad for the soldier . . .

When the cholera comes -- as it will past a doubt --
Keep out of the wet and don't go on the shout,
For the sickness gets in as the liquor dies out,
An' it crumples the young British soldier.
Crum-, crum-, crumples the soldier . . .

But the worst o' your foes is the sun over'ead:
You ~must~ wear your 'elmet for all that is said:
If 'e finds you uncovered 'e'll knock you down dead,
An' you'll die like a fool of a soldier.
Fool, fool, fool of a soldier . . .

If you're cast for fatigue by a sergeant unkind,
Don't grouse like a woman nor crack on nor blind;
Be handy and civil, and then you will find
That it's beer for the young British soldier.
Beer, beer, beer for the soldier . . .

Now, if you must marry, take care she is old --
A troop-sergeant's widow's the nicest I'm told,
For beauty won't help if your rations is cold,
Nor love ain't enough for a soldier.
'Nough, 'nough, 'nough for a soldier . . .

If the wife should go wrong with a comrade, be loath
To shoot when you catch 'em -- you'll swing, on my oath! --
Make 'im take 'er and keep 'er: that's Hell for them both,
An' you're shut o' the curse of a soldier.
Curse, curse, curse of a soldier . . .

When first under fire an' you're wishful to duck,
Don't look nor take 'eed at the man that is struck,
Be thankful you're livin', and trust to your luck
And march to your front like a soldier.
Front, front, front like a soldier . . .

When 'arf of your bullets fly wide in the ditch,
Don't call your Martini a cross-eyed old bitch;
She's human as you are -- you treat her as sich,
An' she'll fight for the young British soldier.
Fight, fight, fight for the soldier . . .

When shakin' their bustles like ladies so fine,
The guns o' the enemy wheel into line,
Shoot low at the limbers an' don't mind the shine,
For noise never startles the soldier.
Start-, start-, startles the soldier . . .

If your officer's dead and the sergeants look white,
Remember it's ruin to run from a fight:
So take open order, lie down, and sit tight,
And wait for supports like a soldier.
Wait, wait, wait like a soldier . . .

When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An' go to your Gawd like a soldier.
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
So-oldier ~of~ the Queen!

Apparently you don't understand that "Democracy" can fix anything! :D

/sarcasm

[Denali]

Afghanistan could be easily won, if not for the softness of Amerika, and the corruption of its political leaders. Its an utter humiliation, what has been done to us by that evil political leadership, they line their pockets, and the pockets of their military industrial complex cronies, while our children die for the greatest oxy-moron of all, nation building! Victory was never on the table, as was proven out beyond all doubt at Tora Bora...

We had it won, nine years ago...In the aftermath of 9/11 we should have incinerated every single Afghan, then claimed its natural resources as our rightful spoil!

[glocktogo]

Afghanistan could be easily won, if not for the softness of Amerika, and the corruption of its political leaders. Its an utter humiliation, what has been done to us by that evil political leadership, they line their pockets, and the pockets of their military industrial complex cronies, while our children die for the greatest oxy-moron of all, nation building! Victory was never on the table, as was proven out beyond all doubt at Tora Bora...

We had it won, nine years ago...In the aftermath of 9/11 we should have incinerated every single Afghan, then claimed its natural resources as our rightful spoil!

Wholesale genocide would be the only way to win Afghanistan.

Good luck with that strategy...

[VooDoo6Actual]

US COMMANDER IN AFGHANISTAN: AL QAEDA HAS COME BACK

http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2012/10/01/US-Commander-in-Afghanistan-Al-Qaeda-Has-Come-Back


TALIBAN COMMANDER IN AFGHANISTAN REVEALS CLOSE TIES WITH AL QAIDA

http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2012/10/01/Taliban-commander-in-Afghanistan-Reveals-Close-Ties-With-Al-Qaida


[B]“The reason for the NATO and American intervention was terrorism. Terrorism has not gone away. It has increased,” he added. Violence against civilians and allies is on the rise, the Afghan president said."


Ya think

[Denali]

Wholesale genocide would be the only way to win Afghanistan.

Good luck with that strategy...

As I said, and you overlooked in your reply, Amerika is soft...

[SOWT]

As I said, and you overlooked in your reply, Amerika is soft...

We went into Iraq before the victory in Afghanistan was sealed. We hunkered down on the FOBs for years while dummy tried to figure out why Iraq didn't go the way he thought it should.

Wars are expensive; more expensive if you don't aim to win, or try to win cheaply.