Fighting a hard, half-forgotten war (Afghanistan)

[sabra]

<<SNIP>>
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8309711/

Fighting a hard, half-forgotten war
Taliban resistance surprises U.S. forces in rural Afghanistan

QALAT, Afghanistan - When Spec. Nick Conlon and the other members of his infantry battalion learned they would be deployed to the Afghan province of Zabol this spring, many expected their worst enemy to be boredom. In preparation, Conlon stocked up on more than 20 DVDs, such as "Alien vs. Predator," "X-Men" and "Daredevil."

But in the three months since the battalion set up camp in this isolated, mountainous region of southeastern Afghanistan, Conlon has not had time to watch a single movie. Instead, the battalion has found itself at the center of a heated though somewhat forgotten war that is still underway 3 1/2 years after the extremist Taliban militia was ousted from power.

The Taliban forces, estimated at anywhere from 2,000 to 10,000 fighters, cannot hold territory against U.S. forces. But the battalion in Zabol has been attacked more than 10 times since March. During one bloody seven-hour clash in Zabol in May and in a series of pitched firefights across the south and east since then, the Taliban has revealed itself to be a hardy, resilient foe equipped with machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars.

U.S. and Afghan military leaders contend that most of the battles are products of an aggressive campaign they launched this spring to force Taliban fighters from their hideouts. In Zabol, the fighters appear wary of taking on U.S. troops directly after suffering heavy casualties, but they continue to ambush U.S. patrols with gunfire and improvised explosives -- such as one that claimed the battalion's first fatality, Pfc. Steven C. Tucker, 19, of Grapevine, Tex., on May 21.

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[DemBeans]

1. interesting

Notice how the administration doesn't crow about the success in Afghanistan and the media almost never covers it?

We pulled our forces out pell-mell to launch the misadventure in Iraq, leaving most of the countryside in control of warlords and Taliban. The government controls Kabul, and that's about it - which is why they can't stop poppy production.

Another fucked-up mess that belongs directly on the doorstep of George W. Bush.

[malmapus]

2. Its the small attention span of the American people

Up till October, I don't think Somalia was covered when I was there in country. Every so often my parents would mail me newspaper clippings they would cut out.

Haiti seemed like we were all but forgotton within weeks after we went in country (guessing the media wanted that invasion after all and lost interest when it didn't happen).

[LynnTheDem]

3. Not all of us...

US Military Fatalities: News

http://icasualties.org/oef/

[malmapus]

7. Aye, have to admit there are some who don't

But out of the millions of Americans. For the most part the people I talk to (that are non-DU'rs :) ) choose to remain blissfully ignorant on matters that don't directly affect them.

Only people I talk to who still know we are in Afgan are people who know someone who in currently in country. Otherwise its all Iraq, Iraq, Iraq. Otherwise if I bring up Afgan I get the "oh yeah, thats right," or "we're still there??" reaction.

[LynnTheDem]

9. Yep. And then they sit shocked & dazed wondering "Why do they hate us"?

When the blowback hits.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

5. Can't blame the American people when it's the media that decides...

...what the American people see and hear. And the media is controlled by the major corporate backers of the NeoCons.

[malmapus]

6. Media may decide what they want to show, but people don't have to let them

decide what they want to hear about. Its all about taking some initiative in life. Hence my view that the average American has a small attention span.

Especially with all the tools at your fingertips today, the information is out there if people want to know they can find out. But no, they'll choose to live their life, worry who the next American Idol will be. As long as they're not affected directly and remain blissfully ignorant.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

12. Why are you lecturing us about this? And I stand by my point....

...if the average American was getting the news he was supposed to be getting instead of the pro-NeoCon garbage, he would definitely be better educated on the issues.

Not every American is lucky to have access to the Internet, and/or have the time to do the research necessary to find out what's going on.

[acmavm]

4. Half forgotten war? Other than the bush** administration and the

republicans who's forgotten the war in Afganistan?

Oh, maybe the media. I guess that's what they mean.

[warrens]

8. Keep this one current

I plaster it around right-wing sites. Smirk was so desperate for oil that once he figured out that the pipeline they were dreaming about was a pipe dream, they couldn't wait to move on to Iraq, so they just washed their hands of the whole thing.

This is really screwed up. Afghanistan has the potential to be a pretty decent place. We got rid of an evil regime that WAS supporting and protecting terrorism, put a fairly decent guy in charge, then...nada. The place is almost certain to just devolve into anarchy, if it hasn't already.

Everything the Bush fascists touch turns to shit.

[Nihil]

10. One point you missed

Opium/morphine/heroin production from Afghanistan was far lower under
the Taliban than since the US/UK/coalition "liberated" it.

Now which country's security organisation has always maintained close
links with the drug smugglers? See eye ay?

[VegasWolf]

14. the "decent guy" is an ex American oil company executive. nt

[DeepModem Mom]

11. kick

[struggle4progress]

13. kick