the war

mlincoln

Been following the goings-on in Afghanistan through the news and such, and I'm starting to get the feeling that maybe we're doing things the wrong way. In a way, the response by the US--at least that which makes it into the papers--seems rather restrained. So far as I'm able to discern, there are only about 100 US troops on the ground, and while we're bombing away we're not pounding the hell out of the country. It seems we're going to let the Northern Alliance take care of the Taliban, with our air power help.Should it be this way? Should the US sort of hold back like this? Here and there stories have trickled out that Clinton's response to various bombings and attacks actually emboldened bin Laden and his group. They figured if all the price they had to pay was 10 or 15 cruise missles, well, that's not too bad. What message are we sending to the world by refusing to send in ground troops, by not cranking up the whole operation like in Desert Storm?

mlincoln

I would like someone to explain to me how a country that allows someone to be put to death for believing in any religion other than islam can ever be a true democracy? How a country that views females as little more than a possesion with little or no freedoms or rites could ever be a true democracy? Also I would like to know how long a U.S. soldier is trained before being sent into combat? How long does it take to train an iraq soldier? I ask this one because it seems the iraq military and police are incapable of doing there job and I was just wondering if it was because they dont want a democracy or are they just to stupid to learn anything or maybe both? I know as well as many others this war has little to do with creating a democracy and much more to do with profits at the expense of Americans lives.

travelor

That's a good question, Why arn't we pouring in there..Unless there are a whole lot more U.S. forces there than our side says, 100 troops seems like a very small number. I Know we are bad *, but 100 against how many? In how big a country? Are we gonna let someone elce kick butt, then take credit for "saving the U.S.A.", then take over the spoils for thier own enrichment? Bull! lets get over there and give those worms what they asked for.

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keep lots of extra uppers for your ar..you can change often enough to keep the thing from over heating...what ever caliber fits the moment..~Secret Select Society of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets~

oneshy

We've never gotten the whole truth from the media, and we're not going to get it now. Bush as much stated that we will not know what's happening until after it has happned.

alledan

We should have large amounts of troops and heavy armor on the ground by now!Rocket propelled 155's should be sugically removing Taliban positions. Half of that country or more should be in our hands at this moment.All we are doing is coasting along and allowing the ememy to move about quite freely. This gives time for fighters from other countries to come to the aid of the Taliban. We have already shown the taliban that there is sanctuary in the cities because we will not bomb them.This whole shebang is off to a bad start and may cause us great harm in a long and protracted engagement [if it gets that far!]We should be in there moving hot and heavy keeping the enemy on the retreat and if he can't move fast enough then he dies under our wheels! He should be under intense attack from every direction fast and furious!NO MERCY SHOWN-NONE GIVEN!This whole thing stinks of another Vietnam! The russians found out the hard way in afganistan and we just might also![This message has been edited by alledan (edited 11-11-2001).]

badboybob

The worst thing we could do is get into a ground war in that God forsaken place. Support the opposition, arm them, bomb the hell out of the taliban and let the opposition finish the job.

travelor

BadBoyBob... please axplain you position with regaurds to your last comment...

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keep lots of extra uppers for your ar..you can change often enough to keep the thing from over heating...what ever caliber fits the moment..~Secret Select Society of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets~

badboybob

travelor:Getting bogged down in a land war half a world away in a country having no sea ports is idiocy. We got involved in a land war in Korea, and Viet Nam, both with sea ports. We lost both wars because our polititions did'nt have the balls to pursue the war to victory. More than 100,000 young Americans gave their lives in vain in those two wars. How many American youth are you willing to sacrifice to defeat a country just barely out of the stone age? I served and I med-evacked too many dead and wounded of these fine young men to want to see more of them torn asunder.

alledan

We have to get in there and do the job or it will look like we are cowards and the opposition forces will get credit for winning the war.This would not be any type of deterent for us. It would still be open season on America.We must send a true message to the islamic world of terrorist. One that says we will anniolate[sp] you and yours if you attack us again.Showing anything like fear or apprehension makes terrorist brave.I realize that we are using the northern alliance but we should not be following them-they should be following us.There was a time in this country when things smaller than the WTC meant a whole world of hurt for the aggressor.The only time in modern history that so many lives were lost in just a few short minutes/seconds other than the WTC was when we nuked japan. Over 5000 lives gone at the WTC. If we don't stomp the s##t out of these idiots for the terrorist world to see, some of those good young men and women could die anyway, There are too many large dams, too many nuclear plants,Too many tall buildings, too many huge stadiums that could be hit hard.You have to distroy the enemy and his ability to wage war even if it is on the scenario of terrorism.[This message has been edited by alledan (edited 11-11-2001).]

rodgerglide

To quote Gen.Curtis LeMay "BOMB THEM BACK TO THE STONE AGE!"

badboybob

I agree with your war spirit alledan. We can arm and support the opposition to defeat the taliban without commiting American troops. Have you forgotten that the Russians were defeated by the Afganistans largely by our aid? They don't need our American blood they only need our American aid and bombs.

Rembrandt

I applaud your spirit Alledan, but I think we are doing it just right, go back and check Slidder12's reports, who would you rather believe? him or the flakey media that look at this war as an opportunity to get higher ratings than their media competitors?The Administration is playing the media just right....why do you think all the media is pi$$ed off...they are not allowed access to what's going on because they jepordize security and compromise the safety of our troops with their "objective and unbiased" blabber mouth reporting. In order to come up with something fresh for the next "1/2 hour of news" or tommorrows news rag they add human interest and retired military anyalists to armchair quarterback senarios for us....watch the news carefully, notice how much is speculation?....not facts, speculation.Remember what history has taught us about winter offensives in war....Napoleon, Hitler at Stalingrad, Battle of the Buldge...transportation, logistics and weather problems for the Tailban can work to our advantage, cut off their supply lines, communications, etc....and starve them out into the open....have patience, we have some first class people running this show. I don't really care to know all the details....just the end results. Hang in there!, we all want the same thing.

Iconoclast

(1) A big part of the reason we're faced with this whole problem in Afghanistan is that we took the short & simple route 10+ years ago. As distasteful as it is, we absolutely must address the political aspects of this as part of the overall campaign. (2) And the comments about logistics are absolutely on point. It took months to build up the ground forces for Desert Storm, and we had friendly port facilities available. Ditto Korea and Vietnam as noted above. The difficulty of supporting a large ground force w/o such facilities in a harsh winter environment is mind-boggling. Even if we could put every aircraft in our inventory to that task, where would they land? From all reports, the landscape is rife w/ natural and artificial caves. It took months to dig the Japs out such positions in much smaller areas with enormous forces supported by unchallenged sea assets.It's a different situation in myriad aspects. The Northern Alliance was barely hanging on before we arrived. Now they are moving on Kabaul. From slidder's comments, the Taliban is getting hit a lot harder than the press is reporting. And the more enemy volunteers that come in from other places means - to me - that many fewer we'll have to root out of those places in the future and that many more targets for our guys, rather than more strength for the Taliban. Their numeric superiority on the ground doesn't seem to be doing them a lot of good against the Northern Alliance or our air campaign.JMHO, but I feel our political and military leadership is doing a good job, a very good job, of making sure this campaign is a success.

Lowrider

Anybody see Rumsfeld on Fox News Sunday?He was interviewed for half an hour and didn't give one straight answer. He did allude to the fact that the U.S. is trying to talk the Northern Alliance out of moving on Kabul for the time being. The reason? Some BS international politics. Pakistan doesn't like the idea right now. The southern Afghan tribes want to be in on it too, so the action should move down south, help those people out and then head back to Kabul afterwards. So as not to slight the Southern Afghans.The war strategy is beginning to be formulated by international committee.Exactly what George Bush said would NOT happen.I hope this changes. This is exactly what happened in Viet Nam. The politicians started telling the military leaders what to do and the war was lost.

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Lord Lowrider the LoquaciousMember:Secret Select Society of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets She was only a fisherman's daughter,But when she saw my rod she reeled.

fomoco73

BEING ACTIVE DUTY ARMY, I FEEL THAT WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING. JUST WAIT AND SEE, WE WILL BOMB THE HELL OUT OF THOSE BASTARDS THEN MOVE IN FOR THE STRIKE. AS FAR AS THIS THING BEING LIKE NAM, IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN. SURE THE RUSSIANS GOT THEIR * HANDED TO THEM. IF YOU REMEMBER RIGHT, IT WAS BECAUSE WE HELPED. NOW THAT WE ARE INGAUGED IN THIS WAR ON TERRORISM, WE WILL OVER COME AND PREVAIL. THE NEWS PEOPLE DONT KNOW EVERTHING THATS GOING ON. YOU CAN REST ASSURE THAT MORE IS COMEING. THE US WILL NOT TAKE THIS LYING DOWN....

Lowrider

I don't mean to say it will end up like Viet Nam, I'm sure it won't, but I don't want to see the war effort get hamstrung by a bunch of political crap.The fighting man is the one who always takes it in the * when that happens.

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Lord Lowrider the LoquaciousMember:Secret Select Society of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets She was only a fisherman's daughter,But when she saw my rod she reeled.