BBC: Taliban Control 1/2 of Afghanistan

[JCMach1]

Just gave the information live. Things just keep going to hell there.

[SledDriver]

1. But, but...

I thought things were going "swimmingly"?

[philb]

2. PLEASE

i just heard that Sasquatch gave birth to a "live alien"


how cool is that?

[spinbaby]

3. And NATO is in charge of the other half?

I think that's what they said this morning, but I hadn't had my coffee yet.

[genie_weenie]

4. Control of countryside terrain is not the issue. US/NATO forces

never really controlled much of Afghanistan, save for Kabul, Kandahar, Mazar-e-Sharif, Herat and some other cities.

The plan as I recall was for a ripple effect with NATO forces controlling major cities and allowing the control of the surrounding countryside to extend out in a fashion similar to throwing pebbles in a body of water. This would be accomplished by having USAID, the UN and other nations rebuild the infrastructure, agriculture, locate/destroy the million+ mines scattered across the poor land and importing money and creation of jobs. Although the only job field which is growing is poppy cultivation.

Whether this will work or not is being decided, now...

[JCMach1]

5. Now NATO is solely in charge of things...

somoehow, I don't think it will make a difference.

[philb]

6. Nato is in charge

of only one thing and that is asking permission to be nato

[HughBeaumont]

7. "Freedumb in Afghanistan, Say Goodbye, Taliban . . "

"BUSH WAS RIGHT!" (neener neener neener)
"BUSH WAS RIGHT!"

Remember that little ditty from The Right Brothers?

Fuggin idiots.

[AlCzervik]

8. After watching Frontlines "Return of the Taliban" i am not surprised at

all.

[RaleighNCDUer]

9. Funny, I seem to remember the same headline from about

1992 or thereabouts.

And that was three years AFTER the invading superpower was gone.

Is it looking like they are coming back, stronger than ever?

[philb]

10. i forgot that we invaded afghanistan in 1992

lemme get on wikki and refresh my memory

[RaleighNCDUer]

11. It took three years after the Soviets pulled out for the Taliban to

establish themselves as much as they apparently have now, and we are still there. In fact, the Taliban never did gain complete control, as evidenced by the existance of the northern alliance as late as 2001. I suspect that this go-round they'll be even stronger.

[philb]

12. HELLO

is anybody in there??

[RaleighNCDUer]

13. ???