Tag Archives: afghanistan

International, Opinion, U.S.

Taliban on the offensive, Obama lied again, our military leaders are in a state of denial

In March 2011, The Taliban (aka Leadership Council of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) declared another spring offensive (aka Operation Badar, after a Mujahideen leader killed in 2003) against all foreign occupiers, and locals they view as supporting the foreign forces.

“…I can report that thanks to the extraordinary service of our troops and civilians on the ground, we are on track to achieve our goals….But there is no question we are clearing more areas from Taliban control, and more Afghans are reclaiming their communities.”-President Barack Obama, December 2010

Not only did Obama claim the Taliban were on their way out, but so did the Western media.  Many U.S. and U.K. mainstream media outlets stated that the Taliban were on their way out because so many of their leaders had been killed or captured.  Some media claimed that the Taliban were in a state of “shock” from the relentless attacks by U.S. and NATO forces.  Mmmm, the current Spring Offensive shows otherwise.

Not only does Obama seem oblivious to the situation in Afghanistan, so do our military leaders:  In January 2011, USA (under U.S. grammar rules USA without periods stands for U.S. Army, just as USAF means U.S. Air Force, and USMC means U.S. Marine Corps) General David H. Petraeus said this about the Taliban: “The sheer losses that they’ve sustained are tremendous. That in and of itself is very significant, and it’s caused enormous stress on the central nervous system of the command and control structure.”

In a February 2011 USA Today (the USA in “USA Today” is actually, legally, a word not an abbreviation.  It does not mean United States of America Today.  If it did there would be periods behind each letter. But it can not because no one can legally use “U.S.A.” in their business name) interview USMC Major General Richard Mills said this about the Taliban: “This is really the heart of the insurgency. I believe they have been beaten.”

USAF Lieutenant Colonel John Dorrian recently brushed off the 2011 Taliban Spring Offensive as a “propaganda ploy.”

The latest casualty numbers prove it’s not a “ploy”:  In March 2010 the United States suffered 22 KIA (killed in action), in March 2011 the U.S. lost 24 KIA.

In April 2010 KIAs were 14, but this April U.S. KIAs hit 43.

For May 2010, U.S. KIAs were 31.  For 2011 KIAs are at 21, but there are a few days left in the month, and so far there have been attacks and explosions almost daily in the month of May.

For the whole year of 2010, U.S. KIAs in Afghanistan hit record levels of 44o (by the way that was the year the Obama administration claimed the Taliban were beaten back).  So far for 2011, KIAs are at 126, that’s almost the total for all of 2008.

Of course U.S. WIA (wounded in action) numbers are even higher.  While NATO troops are getting hit as well, it’s obvious by the casualty numbers that the Taliban are targeting U.S. forces.  This goes against the claim that the Taliban are on the run, or are afraid to take on U.S. troops (it’s also an indicator of the massive U.S. personnel presence, compared to NATO forces).

Even United Nations officials in Afghanistan are ignorant of the fact that Afghans have been at war for decades.  Ignorant of the fact that the Afghan people have sacrificed themselves for freedom from foreigners.  Ignorant of the fact that the Afghan people ARE the Mujahideen: “Our mission is to make sure that civilians and Afghan people are not affected by now 11 years of conflict. What we are worried about, and I think every Afghan is worried about, is whether the Afghan people and the Afghan civilians will be again the victims of a long conflict.”-UNAMA statement

The people of Afghanistan know full well they could be killed in the fight for independence.  This isn’t the first, second or third time Afghanistan has been in this situation.  The Taliban (who are Afghans) even warned the Afghan people about being collateral targets in the Spring Offensive: “All Afghan people should bear in mind to keep away from gatherings, convoys and centers of the enemy so that they will not become harmed during attacks of Mujahideen against the enemy.”-Taliban 2011 Spring Offensive Operation Badar statement

Silly Western thinking, leaders in Afghanistan aren’t viewed the same as in the West; as in “cut the head off and the body will die”.  Afghan leaders are only representatives of the Mujahideen, if one gets killed they’ll elect another one, and it definitively won’t stop any of their military action plans.

For the latest casualty numbers, for all coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, go here.

 

International, Opinion, U.S.

So much for the claim that the U.S. is creating wars to support their military industry: Pentagon buys Russian helicopters for the Afghans

“It is the first large contract Russia signed directly with the U.S. Department of Defense.”-Sergei Prikhodko, a foreign policy aide to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev

Many critics have claimed the War on Terror is just an excuse to provide new markets for an ailing U.S. military industrial complex.  But the latest arms deal might prove otherwise.

The United States has just signed a $300 million deal with Russia, to supply the Afghan government with Russian made Mi-17 helicopters.  The manufacturer, Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, has become involved in several Western helicopter programs, such as Eurocopter.

This might be the reason Russia suddenly changed its position regarding Gaddafi.  But, what should concern the people of the U.S. is; why in a time of economic upheaval for the working class, does the U.S. spend taxpayer money buying foreign military equipment for another country?

International, Technology, U.S.

U.S. military computers hacked by ?, weapons codes stolen

“Given the military targets, and that millions of compromised keys are in circulation, this is not over.”-Rick Moy, NSS Labs

Reuters reporting that several U.S. military contractors have been hacked.  The cyber attack might have snagged codes for high tech weapons being used in Afghanistan and Iraq.

ECM corporation admits that several of its RSA security keys were copied by hackers several months ago.  This played a role in allowing hackers to access dozens of contractor databases, possibly for weapons codes.  So far officials are not saying what the hackers actually did.

 

 

International

Karzai slams U.S.; says Iran, not the U.S., is more trustworthy

“Afghanistan places greatest trust in Iran, and the aid by the Islamic Republic of Iran for the reconstruction of Afghanistan has been practical and operational.”-Afghan President Hamid Karzai

On May 25, Karzai met with Chairman of the Iranian Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Alaeddin Boroujerdi.

Boroujerdi said Iran is ready to help Afghanistan become independent of the Untied States.  Iran has already helped with construction, and is the main supplier of refined fuel to Afghanistan.

International, U.S.

Obama threatens U.K. against leaving Afghanistan

British military commanders have confirmed that they have been given “blunt warning” from U.S. commanders.  The “warning”, call it a threat, is against the United Kingdom’s planned withdrawal from Afghanistan.

British military leaders say the United States has actually told them to ignore any orders from their U.K. government to withdraw from Afghanistan.

U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron wants to start drawing down U.K. troops in Afghanistan, starting in July 2011.  British media are reporting that U.S. generals have warned their British counterparts not to follow those orders.  This is another sign that the United States has no intentions of leaving Afghanistan.

One report says the British were told that they could not count on the U.S. to “bail them out” if they began withdrawing their troops.  Another report says British commanders in Afghanistan were told they needed to stay until at least 2014.

President Barak Obama is the Commander in Chief of the U.S. military.  If “his” officers are threatening the British it must be at his command.

International, U.S.

Afghanistan corruption linked directly to U.S. military

“[They] discussed the history of America and how it was built on the back of others, ultimately concluding that ‘fleecing the government’ was the American way.”-statement by prosecutors concerning corruption charges against U.S. military officers in Afghanistan

Recently an Afghan contractor plead guilty in U.S. court, to bribing U.S. military officers.  Those officers did not come forward with the crime, instead they committed the crime.

The prosecution is recommending one year for the Afghan contractor, because they say his bribery was typical, and he actually did a good job as a contractor.  But the case against the Afghan contractor is actually part of an investigation into corruption inside the United States military.

In most cases, U.S. military officers in Afghanistan decide what contractor will get the job.  Many Afghans have responded to complaints of corruption by saying they have to bribe the U.S. in order to get the job.

Currently two Illinois National Guard officers, and one USAF Sergeant, are facing corruption charges.  They were taking bribes from potential contractors in Afghanistan.  One of the National Guardsmen admitted to the crime.  Both Guardsmen were mailing the cash back home.  One of the packages was intercepted by Customs in the United Kingdom, upon inspection $10,000 was found inside.

Afghan contractors say one of the National Guard officers told them they were in Afghanistan to become rich.

 

International, Opinion, U.S.

Another U.S. soldier killed by Afghan Cop

Another case of Afghan government forces shooting U.S. forces.  This time a National Police officer shot four U.S. soldier, killing one of them.  Very little details are available. The shooting happened in Lashkar Gah.  Witnesses say it was an all out scuffle.

This is not the first time Afghan government employees turned their guns on U.S. forces.  Last month a career military pilot killed several U.S. personnel, before being killed himself.

As for police forces, this is one of several incidents involving police officers; In April 2011, a total of 11 U.S. personnel were killed by Afghan police. In January 2011, a U.S. Marine killed a police officer. In November 2010, an Afghan border police officer killed six U.S./NATO troops.

Not only do U.S. forces have to deal with the Taliban’s spring offensive, but they have to watch their back for fear of Afghan government police attacking them.

International, U.S.

A Clue that U.S. plans on staying in Iraq & Afghanistan: Romania

On May 11, the President of Romania got a visit from USAF General Duncan J. McNabb.  Was it because the Romanian government agreed to let the United States base a “missile shield system” in their country?  No, it was because, in a quietly done deal, Romania agreed to be used as a transit point for troops and supplies going to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Two bases shall be used for the “multi-mobile” operations.  General McNabb thanked President Traian Basecue for the agreement.

President Basecue hinted at U.S. money for Romania: “I am thanking you for the attention granted to Romania’s infrastructure.”

If the U.S. is supposed to leave Iraq at the end of 2011, and then Afghanistan in 2012 (as originally stated), then why do they need to establish new “multi-mobile” (quoting Gen. McNabb) bases to support operations in those countries?

International, U.S.

Afghan pilot kills U.S. troops, financial troubles might be the cause

“Suddenly, in the middle of the meeting, shooting started. After the shooting started, we saw a number of Afghan army officers and soldiers running out of the building. Some were even throwing themselves out of the windows to get away.”-Colonel Bahader, Afghan Air Corps spokesman

An Afghan pilot shot and killed eight U.S. troops and one U.S. contractor.   Witnesses say the shooting happened after an argument between the pilot and the troops.  The pilot was also killed. Five Afghan soldiers were wounded.

The pilot was a 20 year veteran of the Afghan government forces, and part of a unit that undergoes strict screening for loyalty.  So far no word on what the argument was about.  The brother of the pilot thinks the shooting was a result of stress aggravated by financial problems: “He was 48 years old. He served his country for years. He loved his people and his country. He had no link with Taliban or al-Qaeda. He was under economic pressures and recently he sold his house. He was going through a very difficult period of time in his life.”-Dr. Mohammad Hassan Sahibi, brother of the shooter