US criticises Dutch troops in Afghanistan

[Cognescenti]

It is such a shame. This Republican government asks for help, but then when they get it they just complain.

Right wingers.. I tell you, there is truly no hope for them!

How does this have anything to do with political ideology? I will check but I am pretty sure the Republican Party is not a signatory to NATO. The United States invoked the mutual defence clause of the NATO Treaty.

Gates is no idealogue either. Thank you for not mentioning Haliburtun in your little rant. I am sure it must have been hard for you.

 

[Cognescenti]

So we're talking about Iraq now? In any event, I feel slightly immature even discussing this with you, no offense. Sounds too much like you're talking about a football game.

Yeah...no kidding. I half imagine he is lying on the floor with dozen Taliban figurines lined up against the green army men, making explosion sounds then chanting that thing the Taliban say (which I won't mention here).

 

[ahsan28]

So we're talking about Iraq now? In any event, I feel slightly immature even discussing this with you, no offense. Sounds too much like you're talking about a football game.

Strange if you think that IEDs are related to Iraq only :muddlehea

Most of Canada's combat deaths have been the result of improvised explosive devices, or IEDs - commonly known as roadside bombs.

Monday's blast in the volatile Panjwaii district resulted only in property damage. But on Sunday, four Canadian soldiers were injured in Zangabad, about 35 kilometres southwest of Kandahar city, when their vehicle struck an IED that was planted along a dirt road.

Besides the three IED hits against Canadians, Taliban insurgents seem to have escalated their attacks right across the country in the last few days.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/War_Terror/2008/01/15/4774261-cp.html


Improvised explosive devices: A growing menace in Afghanistan

"The insurgency in Afghanistan has been very carefully studying the lessons learned by the insurgents in Iraq," said John Pike of GlobalSecurity.org, an online portal that specializes in military and defence news.

"We're starting to see more organized ambushes in Afghanistan and starting to see the sort of roadside bombs that previously we were just seeing in Iraq."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/afghanistan/ied.html


The Ministry of Defence is conducting a major study into brain injury in troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan amid fears that thousands of soldiers may have suffered damage after being exposed to high-velocity explosions.

The US army says as many as 20% of its soldiers and marines have suffered "mild traumatic brain injury" (mTBI) from blows to the head or shockwaves caused by explosions.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/military/story/0,,2200330,00.html


Afghanistan Now Most Dangerous for U.S. Troops

The situation has deteriorated in Afghanistan. There have already been 111 U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan in 2007, making this the deadliest year for U.S. troops in Afghanistan of the entire war.

"We are stagnating in Afghanistan, if not backsliding," a senior U.S. military official tells ABC News.

It's also the deadliest year for non-U.S. troops, by far. This year, 112 non-U.S. troops in the coalition have been killed, including 40 from Britain and 29 from Canada.

Considering that there are only 26,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, compared to over 160,000 in Iraq, the death rate is considerably higher in Afghanistan.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=3937323&page=1


If you are not inclined to accept ground realities, its fine with me. Lets wait for the time to see who wins in the long run

 

[Keltoi]

Strange if you think that IEDs are related to Iraq only :muddlehea

Most of Canada's combat deaths have been the result of improvised explosive devices, or IEDs - commonly known as roadside bombs.

Monday's blast in the volatile Panjwaii district resulted only in property damage. But on Sunday, four Canadian soldiers were injured in Zangabad, about 35 kilometres southwest of Kandahar city, when their vehicle struck an IED that was planted along a dirt road.

Besides the three IED hits against Canadians, Taliban insurgents seem to have escalated their attacks right across the country in the last few days.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/War_Terror/2008/01/15/4774261-cp.html


Improvised explosive devices: A growing menace in Afghanistan

"The insurgency in Afghanistan has been very carefully studying the lessons learned by the insurgents in Iraq," said John Pike of GlobalSecurity.org, an online portal that specializes in military and defence news.

"We're starting to see more organized ambushes in Afghanistan and starting to see the sort of roadside bombs that previously we were just seeing in Iraq."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/afghanistan/ied.html


The Ministry of Defence is conducting a major study into brain injury in troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan amid fears that thousands of soldiers may have suffered damage after being exposed to high-velocity explosions.

The US army says as many as 20% of its soldiers and marines have suffered "mild traumatic brain injury" (mTBI) from blows to the head or shockwaves caused by explosions.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/military/story/0,,2200330,00.html


Afghanistan Now Most Dangerous for U.S. Troops

The situation has deteriorated in Afghanistan. There have already been 111 U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan in 2007, making this the deadliest year for U.S. troops in Afghanistan of the entire war.

"We are stagnating in Afghanistan, if not backsliding," a senior U.S. military official tells ABC News.

It's also the deadliest year for non-U.S. troops, by far. This year, 112 non-U.S. troops in the coalition have been killed, including 40 from Britain and 29 from Canada.

Considering that there are only 26,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, compared to over 160,000 in Iraq, the death rate is considerably higher in Afghanistan.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=3937323&page=1


If you are not inclined to accept ground realities, its fine with me. Lets wait for the time to see who wins in the long run

The goal should be making sure the people of Afghanistan "win", meaning they have a stable government that is looking out for their interests.

 

[snakelegs]

So we're talking about Iraq now? In any event, I feel slightly immature even discussing this with you, no offense. Sounds too much like you're talking about a football game.

i think the point is

How can you defeat a foe who can destroy million-dollar machines with devices that can be built off the Internet for about the cost of a pizza, especially if that foe doesn't particularly worry about dying?

i think it's a good question. time is not on "our" side.

 

[minaz]

The goal should be making sure the people of Afghanistan "win", meaning they have a stable government that is looking out for their interests.

No one ever mentions the poor Afghan people!

Although it is amusing to witness the hardcore supporters argues their case on behalf of NATO or the Taliban, but how about a little appreciation towards the interests of the Afghan people.

 

[Cognescenti]

No one ever mentions the poor Afghan people!

Although it is amusing to witness the hardcore supporters argues their case on behalf of NATO or the Taliban, but how about a little appreciation towards the interests of the Afghan people.

I'm not sure I have ever met a "hardcore supporter" for NATO. All of the member states have complaints.

Even so, the presence of NATO troops in Afghanistan is superior to the status quo ante in which an outlaw organization operated with the support of the Taliban. It is not, however, politically sustainable forever. Eventually, those who reject the rigid rule and murderous insurgency of the Taliban will have to do it on their own.

 

[ahsan28]

Alliance remains divided as spring offensive nears

From The Times
January 21, 2008

Winter in Afghanistan is traditionally the season when hostilities cease, enforced hibernation sets in and the warring parties make preparations for the spring offensive.

The bloody start to the year is probably a foretaste of what is likely to follow once the snows melt, the mountain passes reopen and the fierce struggle resumes for the fate of the country.

For the Taleban the strategy is clear. Spread the insurgency, undermine the reconstruction efforts, drive a wedge between foreign forces and the local population and isolate the beleaguered Government of President Karzai.

The alliance is dangerously divided. The main contributing nations remain at odds over who should do the fighting, for how long and the tactics employed.

Most of the European forces, Nato forces, are not trained in counter-insurgency; they were trained for the Fulda Gap Nato’s Cold War battle lines in Germany. :embarrass

Canada, whose forces have taken heavy casualties in the Taleban stronghold of Kandahar, has given warning that it may not extend its mandate beyond the end of this year because of growing public opposition to the war.


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3221852.ece