al-Qa'ida resurging in Afghanistan

[cpwill]

Hey, but remember, ya'll, GM is alive and Osama is dead.

Even as the Obama administration scrambles to confront the Islamic State and a resurgent Taliban, an old enemy seems to be reappearing in Afghanistan: Qaeda training camps are sprouting up there, forcing the Pentagon and American intelligence agencies to assess whether they could again become a breeding ground for attacks on the United States.


Most of the handful of camps are not as big as those that Osama bin Laden built before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. But had they re-emerged several years ago, they would have rocketed to the top of potential threats presented to President Obama in his daily intelligence briefing. Now, they are just one of many — and perhaps, American officials say, not even the most urgent on the Pentagon’s list in Afghanistan...

I predicted when he declared it that the President's strategy of undercutting his own surge by announcing withdrawal dates would cause it to fail.

How's that working out?

...The emergence of new Qaeda training camps comes amid a widespread erosion in security in much of the country. “In the second half of 2015, the overall security situation in Afghanistan deteriorated, with an increase in effective insurgent attacks and higher A.N.D.S.F. and Taliban casualties,” the Pentagon said in a report issued two weeks ago, using the initials for the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces.

General Campbell told lawmakers that the Pakistani-based militancy, the Haqqani network, remains an important “facilitator” for Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. The two groups, he said, share a goal of “expelling coalition forces, overthrowing the Afghan government, and re-establishing an extremist state.”

Rounding out the threats in Afghanistan, General Campbell told lawmakers that the Islamic State’s branch in the country was rapidly drawing new fighters with its “virulent, extremist ideology.”

“While many jihadists still view Al Qaeda as the moral foundation for global jihad, they view Daesh as its decisive arm of action,” he said, using an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State...

 

[anatta]

the little I've read on this shows Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. (ANSF) is effective, but restricted to holding outposts.
It can't really go on missions without US air/support.

The Taliban is resurgent -so I makes sense AQ would be too. While the Obama decision certainly accelerated this demise
what do we do? Do we just stay heavy there ? Now they're talking about keeping Bagram AFB open.

at some point..and it's been a long time - either the democratic gov't stands up by itself or not.
I really feel badly for the Afghanis they deserve better then the Taliban, and terrorism..but how do you get there?

 

[Montecresto]

We went to A-Stan 14 years ago to deal with the Taliban, AQ. Obviously this is not a problem for the Pentagon.

 

[Beaudreaux]

Hey, but remember, ya'll, GM is alive and Osama is dead.



I predicted when he declared it that the President's strategy of undercutting his own surge by announcing withdrawal dates would cause it to fail.

How's that working out?

When you give the enemy an end date for your willingness to fight, all they have to do is keep low until that date, then they're back in business.

Publically announcing a hard withdrawal was one of the most irresponsible acts the Obama Administration has made... one of them, being that there are many more.

 

[cpwill]

When you give the enemy an end date for your willingness to fight, all they have to do is keep low until that date, then they're back in business.

Publically announcing a hard withdrawal was one of the most irresponsible acts the Obama Administration has made... one of them, being that there are many more.

 

[Dragonfly]

How many active "fronts" should the USofA be fighting on?

Here's an idea - how about ZERO.

Many of us have been saying this, when you occupy a foreign country with military force, and when you wage war in that country killing thousands and destroying everything around, you create a never-ending supply of enemies. Remember those kinds of comments? Kill one terrorist, create 5 more? Sound familiar?

How long have middle eastern people been fighting with and killing middle eastern people? Why on Earth would you expect that behavior to change just because the USofA is involved?

The USofA can not "win" the "war on terrorism". It's an unwinnable war.

We should pull out and allow the middle eastern terrorists to go back to what they've been doing for thousands of years. Killing other middle easterners.

 

[Crovax]

the little I've read on this shows Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. (ANSF) is effective, but restricted to holding outposts.
It can't really go on missions without US air/support.

The Taliban is resurgent -so I makes sense AQ would be too. While the Obama decision certainly accelerated this demise
what do we do? Do we just stay heavy there ? Now they're talking about keeping Bagram AFB open.

at some point..and it's been a long time - either the democratic gov't stands up by itself or not.
I really feel badly for the Afghanis they deserve better then the Taliban, and terrorism..but how do you get there?

Why do you feel bad for a population that largely refuses to fight for thier own freedom or is happy to live uneder terrorist rule. They have brought this on themselves, we came in with an opportunity to free thier country from the 8th century and they have been mostly apathetic.

 

[Crovax]

How many active "fronts" should the USofA be fighting on?

Here's an idea - how about ZERO.

Many of us have been saying this, when you occupy a foreign country with military force, and when you wage war in that country killing thousands and destroying everything around, you create a never-ending supply of enemies. Remember those kinds of comments? Kill one terrorist, create 5 more? Sound familiar?

How long have middle eastern people been fighting with and killing middle eastern people? Why on Earth would you expect that behavior to change just because the USofA is involved?

The USofA can not "win" the "war on terrorism". It's an unwinnable war.

We should pull out and allow the middle eastern terrorists to go back to what they've been doing for thousands of years. Killing other middle easterners.

Yup Japan and Korea are our biggest enemies now

 

[Montecresto]

How many active "fronts" should the USofA be fighting on?

Here's an idea - how about ZERO.

Many of us have been saying this, when you occupy a foreign country with military force, and when you wage war in that country killing thousands and destroying everything around, you create a never-ending supply of enemies. Remember those kinds of comments? Kill one terrorist, create 5 more? Sound familiar?

How long have middle eastern people been fighting with and killing middle eastern people? Why on Earth would you expect that behavior to change just because the USofA is involved?

The USofA can not "win" the "war on terrorism". It's an unwinnable war.

We should pull out and allow the middle eastern terrorists to go back to what they've been doing for thousands of years. Killing other middle easterners.

Right, so even if you don't announce the end date, when you do eventually leave, the same resurgence will happen. You stay all out, or you stay all in. And I think most Americans oppose adding perpetual deployments of US troops around the world.

 

[Dragonfly]

Yup Japan and Korea are our biggest enemies now

WHAT??????

:doh

 

[joG]

Hey, but remember, ya'll, GM is alive and Osama is dead.



I predicted when he declared it that the President's strategy of undercutting his own surge by announcing withdrawal dates would cause it to fail.

How's that working out?

The Afghans and Iraquis really bungled their liberation, it would appear.

 

[Crovax]

WHAT??????

:doh

That was sarcasm... obviously. I was simply pointing out that the claim that nation building doesn't work is a false one and the US has done it successfully on several occasions.

 

[Thoreau72]

How many active "fronts" should the USofA be fighting on?

Here's an idea - how about ZERO.

Many of us have been saying this, when you occupy a foreign country with military force, and when you wage war in that country killing thousands and destroying everything around, you create a never-ending supply of enemies. Remember those kinds of comments? Kill one terrorist, create 5 more? Sound familiar?

How long have middle eastern people been fighting with and killing middle eastern people? Why on Earth would you expect that behavior to change just because the USofA is involved?

The USofA can not "win" the "war on terrorism". It's an unwinnable war.

We should pull out and allow the middle eastern terrorists to go back to what they've been doing for thousands of years. Killing other middle easterners.

Thank you for injecting truth and common sense into the conversation.

 

[joG]

Right, so even if you don't announce the end date, when you do eventually leave, the same resurgence will happen. You stay all out, or you stay all in. And I think most Americans oppose adding perpetual deployments of US troops around the world.

That is why I am so sad about Obama's performance. He has not driven ahead the internalization of security and responsibility to protect and has lost the momentum, as far as I can tell. So what is one to do. The Germans thought that their free riding strategy would last and stayed aloof of the fray. Then the US decided it would not take responsibility in Syria and Africa and the refugees poured in bringing the war into the country. That is the way security works in a non intervention world without a sheriff. And it will get worse, as regional and great player begin to see they are unopposed. We are in for very much more interesting times into the future and micht want to contemplate pre 1945 history to gain insight.

 

[anatta]

Why do you feel bad for a population that largely refuses to fight for thier own freedom or is happy to live uneder terrorist rule. They have brought this on themselves, we came in with an opportunity to free thier country from the 8th century and they have been mostly apathetic.

with due respect " refuses to fight /is happy to live under terrrorsit" is a total mischaracterization of the ANSF.
Kabul routinely misses paying them, it's a corrupt gov't -but even though Afghanistan is feudal in nature they do fight for their cause.

The article also mentions the Haqqani network -so it's a good bet Pakistan is allowing them to operate in order to take pressure off
their own internal politics.

The Afghan national police are to be commended, dieing at alarming rates to serve their country.
For that reason alone i'm reluctant to say "leave",but I can't see any real way forward unless it's with "heavy US boots"

 

[anatta]

The Afghans and Iraquis really bungled their liberation, it would appear.

sectarianism governing in Iraq -purging Sunni commanders, and in Afghanistan where the ANSF is a cohesive force
doesn't solve intractable internal political problems....

There really is no good way to nation build. The best we can do is counter-terrorism, and not counter-insurgency

 

[Crovax]

with due respect " refuses to fight /is happy to live under terrrorsit" is a total mischaracterization of the ANSF.
Kabul routinely misses paying them, it's a corrupt gov't -but even though Afghanistan is feudal in nature they do fight for their cause.

The article also mentions the Haqqani network -so it's a good bet Pakistan is allowing them to operate in order to take pressure off
their own internal politics.

The Afghan national police are to be commended, dieing at alarming rates to serve their country.
For that reason alone i'm reluctant to say "leave",but I can't see any real way forward unless it's with "heavy US boots"

I didnt say that some arent willing to fight only that the majority are largely apathetic to who is in power

 

[joG]

sectarianism governing in Iraq -purging Sunni commanders, and in Afghanistan where the ANSF is a cohesive force
doesn't solve intractable internal political problems....

There really is no good way to nation build. The best we can do is counter-terrorism, and not counter-insurgency

One would certainly appear to require methods that we cannot stomach, it would seem. In essence, this is what Putin and Assad are telling us: If you can't even handle enhanced interrogation, you certainly won't be able to do the things it takes to keep their people quiet.

 

[Beaudreaux]

Yup Japan and Korea are our biggest enemies now

Don't forget Germany, and Italy, and even England, just to name three more of dozens. I guess Cuba doesn't count... or does it now, since Obama and Castro are making nice?

 

[Soho gator]

Hey, but remember, ya'll, GM is alive and Osama is dead.



I predicted when he declared it that the President's strategy of undercutting his own surge by announcing withdrawal dates would cause it to fail.

How's that working out?

This is working out well the Taliban, AQ, a disaffected ISIS and opium warlords all fighting each other just as they've done thoughout history. Obama's strategy of telling them we are getting the **** out of here was brilliant.

 

[Soho gator]

Why do you feel bad for a population that largely refuses to fight for thier own freedom or is happy to live uneder terrorist rule. They have brought this on themselves, we came in with an opportunity to free thier country from the 8th century and they have been mostly apathetic.

I also find it odd that "conservatives" pine for us to fight for a culture where buggery of little boys by men is completely acceptable.

 

[MAGAnificent]

the little I've read on this shows Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. (ANSF) is effective, but restricted to holding outposts.
It can't really go on missions without US air/support.

The Taliban is resurgent -so I makes sense AQ would be too. While the Obama decision certainly accelerated this demise
what do we do? Do we just stay heavy there ? Now they're talking about keeping Bagram AFB open.

at some point..and it's been a long time - either the democratic gov't stands up by itself or not.
I really feel badly for the Afghanis they deserve better then the Taliban, and terrorism..but how do you get there?

By sticking around at some level long enough to get an afghan air force up to speed. This is not just about the security of the people of afghanistan. Our national security is at stake as well. The worst terror attack in history on American soil occurred on 9/11/01 in large part because we disengaged completely from afghanistan after helping them expel the Soviets.

 

[MAGAnificent]

When you give the enemy an end date for your willingness to fight, all they have to do is keep low until that date, then they're back in business.

Publically announcing a hard withdrawal was one of the most irresponsible acts the Obama Administration has made... one of them, being that there are many more.

Yep. Obama basically said: "We surrender...just be patien"t.

 

[MAGAnificent]

How many active "fronts" should the USofA be fighting on?

Here's an idea - how about ZERO.

Many of us have been saying this, when you occupy a foreign country with military force, and when you wage war in that country killing thousands and destroying everything around, you create a never-ending supply of enemies. Remember those kinds of comments?

We invaded Germany and killed and destroyed most everything around in WW2. Germany has been a staunch allie of the US for decades. That is because we did not just disengage after victory. We stuck around and helped rebuild.

Kill one terrorist, create 5 more? Sound familiar?

It's a very dumb slogan. The most successful recruiting tool for terrorists is their own success. That is why ISIS is still growing.

How long have middle eastern people been fighting with and killing middle eastern people? Why on Earth would you expect that behavior to change just because the USofA is involved?

Have to start somewhere.

The USofA can not "win" the "war on terrorism". It's an unwinnable war.

Many said the same about WW2. "We cannot defeat the nazis. It's an unwinnable war".

We should pull out and allow the middle eastern terrorists to go back to what they've been doing for thousands of years. Killing other middle easterners.

We were not at war with any middle eastern nation when they attacked us on 9/11/01 on our own soil and killed 3000. They are not satisfied with just killing each other. Read their manifest. Their ultimate goal is a world-wide caliphate. As any observant person has learned by now, leaving them alone over there does not prevent them from bringing their killing here. That did not work with the japanese and it will not work with terrorists.

 

[Soho gator]

As a patriotic American I applaud his decision to give up in Afghanistan.