And no political infrastructure. They need to be history, adios MF! They've caused the world enough grief -- particularly women.

 

This thing is likely to fall on the shoulders of combined Special Forces, or the spearheading of it at least. We shouldn't underestimate the difficulties of such an operation, no-one has successfully invaded Afghanistan in 2000 years.The terrain is just heart attack- inducing for all but the fittest individuals and the Taliban will fight to the last man. A retired SAS man was interviewed on TV earlier this evening and said that with Winter coming on the job is going to be all the more difficult and the Taliban will wage a fight, run, and hide campaign.The cost in American and Allied lives could well be awful. If on the other hand OBL's position was reliably known, he thought it would be a different ball game entirely. Let us hope so.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Moneeb

[B]

 

Well, ok, let me reinforce what I'm saying so no one knee-jerks their reaction, because I don't want to offend anyone (except extremist muslims). The objection that I took was to the notion that the Americans are partly responsible for the ideological fortitude of extreme Islamists in Central Asia. I don't think that the Afghan people are inherently evil. I tend to think that everyone is equally good and evil, until they exercise their volition to favor one end of the spectrum. Not to get too philisophical here, but I really want to dispell the idea that America, in pursuing its foreign policy against communist expansion, somehow "watered the seeds" of radical Islam. I just think its only fair to remember that when the Afghanis themselves were facing the Russian threat, they welcomed Bin Laden with open arms and without reservation. They are now suffering (or dead) because of thier mistake. The flaw to which I referred was their lack of foresight that eventually compromised their own spiritual and ideological and political integrity. Could they have defeated Russia without help from the Arab world? I don't know. I doubt they're much better off today than if they'd been conquered by (or a brokered peace arrangement with) Russia, though.

I apologise if my poor diction in the post above was insulting. I assure you that I have no illusions or prejudices about the suffering masses of Afghanistan. It is my firm belief that if America could liberate that country, marginalize the extremist dogma, install democracy, and get its agricultural situation under control, we would have a new friend in Central Asia. Wishfull thinking...

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Rowland
[B]This will be interesting.

I worked in Pakistan for 2 years and know that what the person in charge says is not necesarily what government does.

The ISI (Intelligence Service) pretty much is the one who really controls the country.

 

the president of pakistan has just made an adress to his nation to wisely make their decision and the he feels his decison to back up the U.S. (despite the fact that many support afganistan and taliban) is the correct on. it was very interesting

 

Musharraf has pledged his full "unconditional" support to the U.S.

I think America has to play its cards very carefully now. Already fundamentalist parties (whose members are armed to the teeth) in northern Pakistan are screaming bloody murder and threatening civil war. The U.S. needs to support Musharraf big time. Losing a country like Pakistan with its 150 million people and nuclear arsenal to the fundamentalists would be a disaster - both for the western world and for the people of Pakistan.

 

I would imagine that substantial intelligence and guidance from the Northern Alliance, as well as the 15K volunteers from that faction would be instrumental with knowing and understanding the country and terrain - from what I understand, Afghanis are fleeing key areas as much from the fear of an attack by the alliance as they are from the potential US attacks.

I don't think that the Soviet Union had the benefit of a northern alliance ally - did they ?

 

The thought of a flight of A-10 Thunderbolts or Apache attack helicopters annihilating a mountain stronghold sounds very appealing when locations are pin-pointed by aliance scouts ....

 

This is the Quote of the week! It is from George W. Bush

"When I take action I'm not going to fire a $2,000,000 missle at a $10 empty tent and hit a camel in the Butt."

I think that this says quite a lot about what's on his mind. I believe that he will appropriately use what is necessary to get the job done without going to extremes.

My .02 pence!

JRM