Taliban is Afghansitan

[Deleted]

Afghanistan is Taliban.
Canadian journalist tells of her captivity in Afghanistan. It sounds to me as if we arrived about 30 years to late.
www.vancouversun.com/news/Abducted+Afghanistan/4821838/story.html#ixzz1N69tuZ9C

[Deleted]

Wow, what a story!! And I read now that the US is trying to negotiate with the Taliban in Afghanistan. I'm thinking we will just leave and all the lives lost there will mean nothing as far as a change in the area. Can't imagine how the families of the fallen soldiers will feel then.

[Deleted]

I know. Had high hopes for Afghanistan but sounds to far gone. Our guys and what they are up against there.......

[Deleted]

Yeah. My daughter's best girlfriend just got out of the Army. She was in Iraq and Afghanistan. Is very glad to be home. She's getting ready to start college on the GI bill. I wish all the kids could be so lucky. I guess if it is a lost cause better now than later. Not sure people whose plans include getting married and then blowing themselves up are worth the lives lost of people that WANT to live.

[marshabar1]

I have a friend who hitchhiked all through that area of the world in 1970-71. Of all the country's he visited, Afghanistan, he said was the most backward and as far as he could tell every person he met was completely insane. He didn't speak any of the languages but managed good rapport and good communication with people all along the way. He got along alright in Afghanistan but he still came away with the absolute certainty that those people are totally, incurably insane. Just his impression but I've never forgotten it because the guy is like a saint. He could charm the birds out of the trees and he pretty much loves everyone he ever met.

[Deleted]

Glad she is home. Yes, is it worth it? Are there enough there that put any value on human life ? So many years of war just makes it meaningless? Warped religion makes life meaningless? To many questions and no good answers.

[deziloooooo]

May 22, 2011 20:52:08 GMT -5 @marshabar1 said:

I have a friend who hitchhiked all through that area of the world in 1970-71. Of all the country's he visited, Afghanistan, he said was the most backward and as far as he could tell every person he met was completely insane. He didn't speak any of the languages but managed good rapport and good communication with people all along the way. He got along alright in Afghanistan but he still came away with the absolute certainty that those people are totally, incurably insane. Just his impression but I've never forgotten it because the guy is like a saint. He could charm the birds out of the trees and he pretty much loves everyone he ever met.

I have a good friend John A and when younger he licked to travel, and one of his journeys was to India. He was there a few days and he was ready to move on and went to the train station, I don't remember the city, one of the major ones, I think Calcutta, but where ever, and as he was walking across the street he saw some one lying there, realized it was a body, the man had died, and the people, if they glanced at it , it was something, but no one was checking him out, calling the authorities, just ignoring, walking to wherever, no attention at all.

It freaked him out and when he got to his carriage, one of those compartments, you see them in th movies, the couple sharing it with him , older English couple, noticed he was upset and after a while he told him and how he was thinking of packing it in, just going home..not what he came for , the indifference of it all..couldn't understand it, not so much the dead body but the indifference, no interest , no concern.

They were either well traveled, lived in country, can't remember, but they then told him there were things , if he stayed , he would see , that would up set him, but if he kept his head about him, there were things he would see that he would marvel at, never forget for the rest of his life and things to see that he would never see again.

To make it short, he stayed and said they were so right. Some things he never got use to but the marvels, the mountains in the North, the rivers, land, farmlands, temples the food, people, villages, ceremony's, all the people, the bustle the life...as he told me, he still remembers them, some never seen again and this was many years after.

[Deleted]

12 children killed in NATO air strike.
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43209372/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/


New Taliban tactics: suicide bombings of government buildings.
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43209372/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/
Can we just go now please? I'm truly sorry for the good people still in Afganistan and have no doubt there are some, maybe the children we are now killing.
I don't think we can turn this place around no matter what we do. It has to be an inside job and if they don't have the strength or the will it's understandable really but where are we going here? Looks to me like nowhere and I want our men and women out of there.

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

<<< Of all the country's he visited, Afghanistan, he said was the most backward and as far as he could tell every person he met was completely insane. >>>

...perspective is everything, huh? ...people say this about us...

[Deleted]

Has to be some strategical reason for staying or Obama would be out of there by now. I don't think we can make a difference in that part of the world. I, also, would like to see our people brought home and put to work defending our country from within-- like the borders, where it is absolute FACT that extremists of any variety can just walk or swim right through disguised as Mexican peasants.

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

May 29, 2011 12:03:02 GMT -5 @krickitt said:

Has to be some strategical reason for staying or Obama would be out of there by now. I don't think we can make a difference in that part of the world. I, also, would like to see our people brought home and put to work defending our country from within-- like the borders, where it is absolute FACT that extremists of any variety can just walk or swim right through disguised as Mexican peasants.

...agreed... I wonder what his answers will be on the campaign trail?

[Deleted]

www.foxnews.com/world/2011/05/26/7-nato-service-members-killed-afghanistan/
7 Americans killed Thursday.
I hope you are right krickitt, strategical reason.
Why is the left so quiet on this? Drawing down in June or July? How many? How many staying? Do we know?

More dead kids
www.tnr.com/article/world/89015/afghanistan-united-nations-mazar-land-mines

[Deleted]

The left is quiet because they trust Obama. I see no reason for us to be there, that part of the world HATES us, but as long as Obama is in charge no one here will question it, and if you try to-- well-- you are racist, or some other name for people that don't like Obama.
Same people that wanted this war over years ago are silent now. Those of us that used to try to understand it but question it all these years later are powerless, and our reps are for the most part silent. Only ones that speak out are ones like Ron Paul, that, IMO, can't beat Obama.
If we get so loud they are concerned, the powers that be will pull Obama and replace him, but I think whatever this plan is will go on, until whatever it is THEY want is here.

[Deleted]

[Opti]

"The left is quiet because they trust Obama."

Not this lefty. I feel resigned to the fact we are in these wars. If I thought complaining to my
legislators and Obama would help get our people out of there I'd be emailing them now.

[deziloooooo]

May 29, 2011 12:03:02 GMT -5 @krickitt said:

Has to be some strategical reason for staying or Obama would be out of there by now. I don't think we can make a difference in that part of the world. I, also, would like to see our people brought home and put to work defending our country from within-- like the borders, where it is absolute FACT that extremists of any variety can just walk or swim right through disguised as Mexican peasants.

There is though draw down is coming, but the king pin here is NOT Afganistan but Pakistan...

[Deleted]

I'm so torn on this. I hate what is happening to people there and I hate what is happening to our military. I keep reading, reading, looking for some signs of hope, that it is worth it. So discouraging. I hope THEY do know what is best. It's unthinkable that an entire country is just hopeless but I can't find much to the contrary. www.tnr.com/article/world/88718/afghanistan-taliban-faryab-insurgents-karzai

www.tnr.com/article/world/88347/afghanistan-osama-bin-laden-taliban-united-nations

[Deleted]

May 29, 2011 20:02:38 GMT -5 deziloooooo said:

May 29, 2011 12:03:02 GMT -5 @krickitt said:

Has to be some strategical reason for staying or Obama would be out of there by now. I don't think we can make a difference in that part of the world. I, also, would like to see our people brought home and put to work defending our country from within-- like the borders, where it is absolute FACT that extremists of any variety can just walk or swim right through disguised as Mexican peasants.

There is though draw down is coming, but the king pin here is NOT Afganistan but Pakistan...

Apparently most of those fighting come from Pakistan. Is that what you are saying?

[handyman2]

I have a young solder friend who was there and he says the same thing. You never knew if they were telling you the truth or not so you never took your eyes off them. They may smile at you and may try to stick a knife in you the next time you turn your back. The hard part was you were never really sure if they were Taliban or not.

[Deleted]

May 29, 2011 20:23:57 GMT -5 handyman2 said:

I have a young solder friend who was there and he says the same thing. You never knew if they were telling you the truth or not so you never took your eyes off them. They may smile at you and may try to stick a knife in you the next time you turn your back. The hard part was you were never really sure if they were Taliban or not.

Or loyal to Taliban due to fear? I don't know how we can win there , isn't it unfair for us to even ask that of our military?

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

We're coming up on the 10-year-anniversary of when we invaded Afghanistan. At some point, enough is enough.

[deziloooooo]

May 29, 2011 20:07:52 GMT -5 @xmascookie said:

May 29, 2011 20:02:38 GMT -5 deziloooooo said:

There is though draw down is coming, but the king pin here is NOT Afganistan but Pakistan...

Apparently most of those fighting come from Pakistan. Is that what you are saying?

Xmass , got to ask, are you really interested? The reason is, I posted a explanation, naturally from what I have learned , but it was a bit long and when I went to post , zap, gone.

So be glad to do again, but if you really don't give a hoot...let me know.

[deziloooooo]

May 29, 2011 20:38:26 GMT -5 ❤ mollymouser ❤ said:

We're coming up on the 10-year-anniversary of when we invaded Afghanistan. At some point, enough is enough.

Believe the plan is till 2014...drawdowns start this summer, but no mention of how much..don't expect a lot is my thinking.

[Deleted]

I just heard-- again-- on TV yesterday, that the war in Iraq is over, which is nonsense since we still have troops fighting and dying there. Wonder if this is how Afghanistan will "end", also? Just say it is over, but keep fighting? Kind of like how we drop bombs in some other countries, but are not at WAR with them, as such. Al Qaeda is taking over Yemen. Wonder how long until we stop dropping bombs there and put boots on the ground?

[hello fromWarsaw]

Dems won't leave the hated Taliban in charge like Reagan and Bush....doesn't work out so good....TY for the usual mess...

[Deleted]

Oh, YEAH, War??? Then why is the Dem led military in talks with the Taliban?

[hello fromWarsaw]

Opposition in Yemen say they will fight AQ there, and the present guy exagerates their power 10x.Great job, Georgie!

[deziloooooo]

May 30, 2011 13:07:31 GMT -5 @krickitt said:

I just heard-- again-- on TV yesterday, that the war in Iraq is over, which is nonsense since we still have troops fighting and dying there. Wonder if this is how Afghanistan will "end", also? Just say it is over, but keep fighting? Kind of like how we drop bombs in some other countries, but are not at WAR with them, as such. Al Qaeda is taking over Yemen. Wonder how long until we stop dropping bombs there and put boots on the ground?

We just lost I believe five in the South, supposedly a group supported by Iran..very heavy influence there.

There is a article , if I can find it, discuss this situation that is facing Malicki, the PM, now, the pressure he is under to decide whether to have us stay in a role or just let us go and what the possibility would then be, Iran very influential and THEY want us GONE, and in my mind, if Iran wants us gone that badly, should we just say, "Hey you got it buddy, we is out of here".

We spent a lot of treasure and blood Kricket and if possible , would ask you to think about that sacrifice and to protect what we accomplished. Possible give thought to the after wards of us moving out.

I will try to find that article, and if so, suggest read it, answers so many questions as to why we might be better off having a presence there, a small one, yes with a cost , but anything worth doing has a cost.

At least read it and then come to your own conclusions , in fact not just you, but all who are interested in the topic, "Iraq, what now", as a header. LOL

[hello fromWarsaw]

Because the Taliban and Muslims are not a solid block of evil, like xenophobic Pubs think. Most Taliban just need some money, and many native Taliban just want a way out...

[Deleted]

news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110530/ap_on_re_mi_ea/memorial_day

Memorial Day comes as troops fight in Afghanistan

By JON GAMBRELL, Associated Press – Mon May 30, 7:29 am ET
KABUL, Afghanistan – U.S. troops fighting in Afghanistan paused Monday to remember the fallen in Memorial Day services, as a war nearly a decade old trudges on.
Some prayed and held flag-raising ceremonies at dawn to recognize the more than 1,400 killed in combat here since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks that triggered the war.
"We reflect on those who have gone before us. We reflect on their service and their sacrifice on behalf of our great nation," said Brig. Gen. Lewis A. Craparotta, who commands a Marine division in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province. "We should also remember those serving today who embody that same commitment of service and sacrifice. They are committed to something greater than themselves and they muster the physical and moral courage to accomplish extraordinary feats in battle."
In Iraq, an estimated 46,000 U.S. troops remain stationed there though officials say combat operations are over in a nation that saw more than 4,400 American troops die in combat. Under an agreement between Washington and Baghdad, the troops still in Iraq must leave by Dec. 31.
Black Hawk helicopters churned through the night sky Sunday as a strong wind coming over Kabul's surrounding mountains blew against the flickering candles that cast an orange glow on those gathered for a remembrance ceremony at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' headquarters.
Earlier in the day, those working there enjoyed one of their five days off a year from building police stations, dams and other projects in a nation torn by decades of war. Col. Thomas Magness, 47, of Los Angeles, California urged the more than 100 corps employees and U.S. troops gathered there to remember the meaning of Memorial Day — advice that could carry home to America.
"While we were playing volleyball today, no doubt some soldier gave the ultimate sacrifice," the corps commander said.
Memorial Day, instituted to honor America's war dead, will be observed Monday with a public holiday. This Memorial Day comes before the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, which ultimately brought U.S. troops into Afghanistan to unseat the Taliban government and hunt terrorist leader Osama bin Laden.
"Our country got attacked, and we're here to fight the war on it," said Roger Nowicki of the corps.
While Navy SEALs shot and killed bin Laden earlier this month in neighboring Pakistan, the U.S.-led war here continues. President Barack Obama plans to draw down U.S. troops beginning in July, while NATO has committed to handing over control of security in the country to Afghans by 2014.
In the meantime, the war grinds on toward its 10th year. The sharp pangs of loss are visible on some attending the event, like Maj. Erica Iverson, 33, of Vermillion, South Dakota. She spoke of serving as a casualty assistance officer after the 2010 death of Staff Sgt. Adam Dickmyer of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, who once served as a sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery.
Iverson's voice choked as she recounted how Dickmyer's mother fell off her chair in grief when her son's body returned to the U.S. His widow chased after the casket, screaming: "Don't leave me!"
"His wife has an empty house," Iverson said. "His entire unit came home today, and he didn't come with them."
Iverson said speechwriters for Obama called her in recent days, saying the president may honor Dickmyer in remarks on Memorial Day.
Increasingly skeptical American and Afghan publics question why U.S. and NATO forces remain there. The Taliban recently begun its spring offensive, as suicide bombings, roadside explosions and attacks in remote posts have returned with a frightening regularity.
"You don't get used to it because you're in a war zone," said civilian corps worker George S. Triggs, 54, of Louisville, Kentucky. "You learn to tolerate it and do the best you can."
Yet the worst stress, some acknowledged, is that of family members waiting at home for their loved ones to return. Lt. Col. Jon Chytka, 44, of Tabor, South Dakota recounted having to explain to his 5-year-old daughter why he had to leave.
He gave this answer: "I told her that before she was born, there were 19 people who killed 3,000."