enhanced_deficit
10-21-2017, 08:36 PM
The "new Afghan war strategy" so far looks like nothing new, more like repackaging old failed policy of Bush era as "new"... more war to bring the enemy to the peace negotiations table.
Following was some customary non-news few weeks ago from the "keep the same old same strategy close to your chest" secretness of the non-oversight meeting.. not that "Congressional oversight" has amounted to much in recent wars:
'This is totally unacceptable': Pentagon leaders pressed for more details about Afghan war plan
Dan Lamothe
OCTOBER 3, 2017
The Pentagon's top leaders defended the Trump administration's new strategy for Afghanistan in detail Tuesday, saying it will last as long as is needed and includes provisions under which U.S. troops will be placed alongside Afghan troops at lower levels of command to provide them with better coalition air support.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, described the strategy in separate hearings before the Senate and House armed services committee as an effort to win, rather than not lose, a conflict that began 16 years ago. They faced skeptical lawmakers, including committee chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., who lambasted a lack of transparency by the administration about its plans.
"In the six weeks since the president made his announcement, this committee and the Congress, more broadly, still does not know many of the crucial details of this strategy," McCain said. "This is totally unacceptable. I repeat: This is totally unacceptable."
The hearings mark the first time that Mattis and Dunford have elaborated in great detail on what they call President Donald Trump's "South Asia Strategy." Trump announced Aug. 21 that he would continue U.S. involvement in the war in Afghanistan and send a few thousand more troops, even though his initial instinct told him not to do so.
Mattis said there are several signs that the situation on the ground in Afghanistan is changing. He cited a recent decline in the Afghan military's fatalities and a boost in U.S. airstrikes as examples, without providing specific statistics. The number of airstrikes, Mattis said, are higher than at any point since 2012, as the Obama administration's surge in troops there came to a close.
"That's a tactical effect that will make the Afghan army bolder, and it will give them more opportunities militarily to take the fight to the enemy," Mattis said. "And that would be the way, as we take the fight to the enemy, we convince the Taliban, 'You're not going to win this by killing.'"
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-afghanistan-troop-numbers-20171003-story.html
Their are serious gaps in the advertized rationale of the "new" policy:
"U.S. troops will be placed alongside Afghan troops at lower levels of command to provide them with better coalition air support."
[ This used to be the policy before insider attacks caused change in policy. Has vetting of/trust in Afghan troops suddenly increased?]
Mattis said. "And that would be the way, as we take the fight to the enemy, we convince the Taliban, 'You're not going to win this by killing.'"
[ But we will convince them by more bombings, more killing because they we are more exceptional than them? ]
"The number of airstrikes, Mattis said, are higher than at any point since 2012"
[That is sign of progress for sure after 16 years of war but are those new air strikes killing more than ever before or hitting empty fields/runways ?]
"Mattis said there are several signs that the situation on the ground in Afghanistan is changing. He cited a recent decline in the Afghan military's fatalities and a boost in U.S. airstrikes as examples, without providing specific statistics. The number of airstrikes, Mattis said, are higher than at any point since 2012, as the Obama administration's surge in troops there came to a close."
That claim by "mad dog" Mattis does not match with the reality based on following reports:
Car bomb kills 15 Afghan cadets, trainers outside Kabul military school (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-blast/car-bomb-kills-15-afghan-cadets-trainers-outside-kabul-military-school-idUSKBN1CQ0IF)
Reuters-10 hours ago
KABUL (Reuters) - A suicide attacker rammed a car full of explosives into a bus leaving Afghanistan's top military training center in Kabul on ...
Twin Mosque Attacks Kill Scores in One of Afghanistan's Deadliest Week (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/20/world/asia/afghanistan-kabul-attack-mosque.html)
More than 200 people, both civilians and security personnel, have been killed this week in Afghanistan in six attacks.
In-Depth-New York Times-11 hours ago
Afghan Army Unit Nearly Wiped Out as New Taliban Tactic Takes Toll
OCT. 19, 2017
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — An Afghan Army unit in the south of the country was almost completely wiped out on Thursday, defense officials said, in a Taliban attack that used what is becoming one of the group’s deadliest tactics (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/17/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-police-attack.html): packing vehicles captured from security forces with explosives and driving them into military and police compounds.
At least 43 soldiers were killed in the predawn attack, out of a unit of 60 based in Maywand District in Kandahar Pr (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/26/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-kandahar-slaughter.html)ovince (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/26/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-kandahar-slaughter.html), the Afghan Defense Ministry said in a statement. Only two soldiers were found unhurt. Nine were wounded, and six were missing.
“The whole base is destroyed,” said Gen. Dawlat Waziri, a ministry spokesman. “When the clashes started, they detonated a car bomb close to the base, then clashes continued for a while and then they detonated another car bomb. They also had Humvees packed with explosives.”
Two similar (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/17/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-police-attack.html) attacks (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/17/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-police-attack.html) on Tuesday inflicted heavy casualties on Afghan security forces. In those episodes, more than 40 police officers were killed in Afghanistan’s southeast, in the provinces of Ghazni and Paktia. Both involved insurgents’ taking captured vehicles, including Humvees paid for by the United States military, packing them with explosives and detonating them at the compounds.
Considering the number of such vehicles at the Taliban’s disposal, security officials and analysts fear this tactic will inflict heavier casualties on Afghanistan’s already struggling security forces (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/26/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-kandahar-slaughter.html).
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/19/w...-kandahar.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/19/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-attack-kandahar.html)
A new Taliban tactic is racking up a huge body count in Afghanistan
Oct. 19, 2017
The Taliban has been using captured US-made vehicles in deadly attacks on Afghan forces.
The group has had a resurgence in recent months, retaking territory and killing scores of police and soldiers.
http://www.businessinsider.com/a-new...nistan-2017-10 (http://www.businessinsider.com/a-new-taliban-tactic-is-racking-up-a-huge-body-count-in-afghanistan-2017-10)
Related
7 U.S. Soldiers Wounded in Insider Attack in Afghanistan
nytimes
Jun 17, 2017 - KABUL, Afghanistan — Seven American soldiers were shot and wounded by an Afghan commando on Saturday, the second such insider ...
DRAAR (D&R Across All Races) Impact
Latest US Air Force leadership direction that could potentially complicate advertized Afghan war escalation goals:
US air force personnel told to treat everyone with dignity and respect (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?515460-In-the-middle-of-global-wars-racists-told-to-leave-US-air-force&)
September 29, 2017
"Just in case you're unclear on where I stand on this topic, I'm going to leave you my most important thought today: If you can't treat someone with dignity and respect, then you need to get out. If you can't treat someone from another gender, whether that's a man or a woman, with dignity and respect, then you need to get out. If you demean someone in any way, then you need to get out. And if you can't treat someone from another race, or different color skin, with dignity and respect, then you need to get out."
Following was some customary non-news few weeks ago from the "keep the same old same strategy close to your chest" secretness of the non-oversight meeting.. not that "Congressional oversight" has amounted to much in recent wars:
'This is totally unacceptable': Pentagon leaders pressed for more details about Afghan war plan
Dan Lamothe
OCTOBER 3, 2017
The Pentagon's top leaders defended the Trump administration's new strategy for Afghanistan in detail Tuesday, saying it will last as long as is needed and includes provisions under which U.S. troops will be placed alongside Afghan troops at lower levels of command to provide them with better coalition air support.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, described the strategy in separate hearings before the Senate and House armed services committee as an effort to win, rather than not lose, a conflict that began 16 years ago. They faced skeptical lawmakers, including committee chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., who lambasted a lack of transparency by the administration about its plans.
"In the six weeks since the president made his announcement, this committee and the Congress, more broadly, still does not know many of the crucial details of this strategy," McCain said. "This is totally unacceptable. I repeat: This is totally unacceptable."
The hearings mark the first time that Mattis and Dunford have elaborated in great detail on what they call President Donald Trump's "South Asia Strategy." Trump announced Aug. 21 that he would continue U.S. involvement in the war in Afghanistan and send a few thousand more troops, even though his initial instinct told him not to do so.
Mattis said there are several signs that the situation on the ground in Afghanistan is changing. He cited a recent decline in the Afghan military's fatalities and a boost in U.S. airstrikes as examples, without providing specific statistics. The number of airstrikes, Mattis said, are higher than at any point since 2012, as the Obama administration's surge in troops there came to a close.
"That's a tactical effect that will make the Afghan army bolder, and it will give them more opportunities militarily to take the fight to the enemy," Mattis said. "And that would be the way, as we take the fight to the enemy, we convince the Taliban, 'You're not going to win this by killing.'"
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-afghanistan-troop-numbers-20171003-story.html
Their are serious gaps in the advertized rationale of the "new" policy:
"U.S. troops will be placed alongside Afghan troops at lower levels of command to provide them with better coalition air support."
[ This used to be the policy before insider attacks caused change in policy. Has vetting of/trust in Afghan troops suddenly increased?]
Mattis said. "And that would be the way, as we take the fight to the enemy, we convince the Taliban, 'You're not going to win this by killing.'"
[ But we will convince them by more bombings, more killing because they we are more exceptional than them? ]
"The number of airstrikes, Mattis said, are higher than at any point since 2012"
[That is sign of progress for sure after 16 years of war but are those new air strikes killing more than ever before or hitting empty fields/runways ?]
"Mattis said there are several signs that the situation on the ground in Afghanistan is changing. He cited a recent decline in the Afghan military's fatalities and a boost in U.S. airstrikes as examples, without providing specific statistics. The number of airstrikes, Mattis said, are higher than at any point since 2012, as the Obama administration's surge in troops there came to a close."
That claim by "mad dog" Mattis does not match with the reality based on following reports:
Car bomb kills 15 Afghan cadets, trainers outside Kabul military school (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-blast/car-bomb-kills-15-afghan-cadets-trainers-outside-kabul-military-school-idUSKBN1CQ0IF)
Reuters-10 hours ago
KABUL (Reuters) - A suicide attacker rammed a car full of explosives into a bus leaving Afghanistan's top military training center in Kabul on ...
Twin Mosque Attacks Kill Scores in One of Afghanistan's Deadliest Week (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/20/world/asia/afghanistan-kabul-attack-mosque.html)
More than 200 people, both civilians and security personnel, have been killed this week in Afghanistan in six attacks.
In-Depth-New York Times-11 hours ago
Afghan Army Unit Nearly Wiped Out as New Taliban Tactic Takes Toll
OCT. 19, 2017
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — An Afghan Army unit in the south of the country was almost completely wiped out on Thursday, defense officials said, in a Taliban attack that used what is becoming one of the group’s deadliest tactics (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/17/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-police-attack.html): packing vehicles captured from security forces with explosives and driving them into military and police compounds.
At least 43 soldiers were killed in the predawn attack, out of a unit of 60 based in Maywand District in Kandahar Pr (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/26/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-kandahar-slaughter.html)ovince (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/26/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-kandahar-slaughter.html), the Afghan Defense Ministry said in a statement. Only two soldiers were found unhurt. Nine were wounded, and six were missing.
“The whole base is destroyed,” said Gen. Dawlat Waziri, a ministry spokesman. “When the clashes started, they detonated a car bomb close to the base, then clashes continued for a while and then they detonated another car bomb. They also had Humvees packed with explosives.”
Two similar (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/17/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-police-attack.html) attacks (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/17/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-police-attack.html) on Tuesday inflicted heavy casualties on Afghan security forces. In those episodes, more than 40 police officers were killed in Afghanistan’s southeast, in the provinces of Ghazni and Paktia. Both involved insurgents’ taking captured vehicles, including Humvees paid for by the United States military, packing them with explosives and detonating them at the compounds.
Considering the number of such vehicles at the Taliban’s disposal, security officials and analysts fear this tactic will inflict heavier casualties on Afghanistan’s already struggling security forces (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/26/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-kandahar-slaughter.html).
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/19/w...-kandahar.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/19/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-attack-kandahar.html)
A new Taliban tactic is racking up a huge body count in Afghanistan
Oct. 19, 2017
The Taliban has been using captured US-made vehicles in deadly attacks on Afghan forces.
The group has had a resurgence in recent months, retaking territory and killing scores of police and soldiers.
http://www.businessinsider.com/a-new...nistan-2017-10 (http://www.businessinsider.com/a-new-taliban-tactic-is-racking-up-a-huge-body-count-in-afghanistan-2017-10)
Related
7 U.S. Soldiers Wounded in Insider Attack in Afghanistan
nytimes
Jun 17, 2017 - KABUL, Afghanistan — Seven American soldiers were shot and wounded by an Afghan commando on Saturday, the second such insider ...
DRAAR (D&R Across All Races) Impact
Latest US Air Force leadership direction that could potentially complicate advertized Afghan war escalation goals:
US air force personnel told to treat everyone with dignity and respect (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?515460-In-the-middle-of-global-wars-racists-told-to-leave-US-air-force&)
September 29, 2017
"Just in case you're unclear on where I stand on this topic, I'm going to leave you my most important thought today: If you can't treat someone with dignity and respect, then you need to get out. If you can't treat someone from another gender, whether that's a man or a woman, with dignity and respect, then you need to get out. If you demean someone in any way, then you need to get out. And if you can't treat someone from another race, or different color skin, with dignity and respect, then you need to get out."