Afghanistan

[M.Dancer]

Not to mention Saudi Arabia, France......

[jdobbin]

I said many weeks ago that the north of Afghanistan was increasingly turning violent.

This report came from the New York Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/29/world/as...sia&oref=slogin

Angry supporters of Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, the ethnic Uzbek strongman, clashed with the police in the northern town of Shiberghan on Monday, leaving at least seven people dead and 34 wounded, officials said. The government sent army units to the area, anticipating further unrest.

Supporters of the strongman Abdul Rashid Dostum protested Monday in Shiberghan, demanding the removal of the governor of Jowzjan Province. The rally turned violent, leaving at least seven people dead.

Suicide attacks have increased in the region around Shiberghan.

Also in the north, a suicide bomber attacked a convoy of foreign security contractors, killing himself and two Afghan civilians. It was the fourth such attack in the north in the past two weeks.

The bombings in the relatively peaceful north indicated a rise in insurgent activity, and the violence in Shiberghan was a reminder of how tenuous Afghanistan’s internal stability remains, with former militia leaders like General Dostum still capable of rallying armed supporters to settle local power struggles.

As the Germans and the Finns and the Norwegians will attest to: things are increasingly dangerous out there.

If even the pacified areas of the country start to go, what does that say about the government of Afghanistan ever being able to take care of itself.

[jbg]

It might happen even if Canada is there for decades. Does it mean a permanent presence there?

Quite likely. The choices are either to hermetically seal those areas off, occupty them, bump off their leaders with alarming regularity, or have the West at the whim of every random jihadi. Between the second and third alternatives, I prefer to bump off their leaders with alarming regularity, rather than occupy and hold, if that's possible.

I'll leave that choice to the professionals.

[jdobbin]

delete

[jdobbin]

It might happen even if Canada is there Quite likely. The choices are either to hermetically seal those areas off, occupty them, bump off their leaders with alarming regularity, or have the West at the whim of every random jihadi. Between the second and third alternatives, I prefer to bump off their leaders with alarming regularity, rather than occupy and hold, if that's possible.

I'll leave that choice to the professionals.

Bumping off leaders hasn't been a very successful venture for the U.S. I can't imagine it would be anymore successful now.

[jdobbin]

Helicopter shot down?

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...70530?hub=World

NATO helicopter has crashed in southern Afghanistan, killing the five-member crew and two military passengers.

The U.S. CH-47 Chinook helicopter went down at about 9 p.m. local time in Helmand province, NATO officials said.

A rescue team arriving at the scene was then ambushed by insurgents and called for an air strike.

A man claiming to be a Taliban spokesperson said militants shot down the helicopter, but that claim has not been independently verified.

Speaking to The Associated Press, supposed spokesperson Qari Yousef Ahmadi said everyone on board the helicopter died when it crashed in Kajaki district.

Guess we'll eventually hear if it was shot down. A few months ago, Iraq was beset with a lot of helicopter shootdowns. They had to change the tactics there because it was evident that the latest weaponry the insurgents brought into use was capable of taking down low flying aircraft.

[bush_cheney2004]

Guess we'll eventually hear if it was shot down. A few months ago, Iraq was beset with a lot of helicopter shootdowns. They had to change the tactics there because it was evident that the latest weaponry the insurgents brought into use was capable of taking down low flying aircraft.

The US has lost about 130 rotary wing aircraft (helicopters) during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Less than half were lost to enemy fire. Just to be a smart ass, Canada loses helicopters just by flying them (after 40 years on the airframes).

[jdobbin]

The US has lost about 130 rotary wing aircraft (helicopters) during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Less than half were lost to enemy fire. Just to be a smart ass, Canada loses helicopters just by flying them (after 40 years on the airframe).

Most of the ones lost in the last several months have been lost due to being shot down. You can look that up if you like.

As for the rest of your comment, it is what I've come to expect from you.

[bush_cheney2004]

Most of the ones lost in the last several months have been lost due to being shot down. You can look that up if you like.

As for the rest of your comment, it is what I've come to expect from you.

In your zeal to herald a dramatic tactical breakthrough for insurgents, you have missed the larger point of risk during helo ops. "Most of the ones" means what? Does it mean the same as "a lot of shootdowns"?

Comparison to total losses for all causes adds a little more perspective and balance. But I realize this is not your objective.

[jdobbin]

In your zeal to herald a dramatic tactical breakthrough for insurgents, you have missed the larger point of risk during helo ops. "Most of the ones" means what? Does it mean the same as "a lot of shootdowns"?

Comparison to total losses for all causes adds a little more perspective and balance. But I realize this is not your objective.

Your perspective and balance is well known. Your zeal for the fight in Afghanistan and Iraq seems limited to posting on a Canadian political board.

As for the loss of helicopters, it was reported today that most of the recent losses have come due to being shot down rather than accidents. You can take that for whatever you will.

[bush_cheney2004]

Your perspective and balance is well known. Your zeal for the fight in Afghanistan and Iraq seems limited to posting on a Canadian political board.

As for the loss of helicopters, it was reported today that most of the recent losses have come due to being shot down rather than accidents. You can take that for whatever you will.

I already did....don't post the latest "news" about American helicopters if you can't handle responses. Your contribution apparently wouldn't even be possible without the "American" helicopters or news.

[jdobbin]

I already did....don't post the latest "news" about American helicopters if you can't handle responses. Your contribution apparently wouldn't even be possible without the "American" helicopters or news.

Just about the response I expected from you.

[bush_cheney2004]

Just about the response I expected from you.

Yes..yes..yes...disdain noted. Please get over it and tee up another one.

[jdobbin]

Yes..yes..yes...disdain noted. Please get over it and tee up another one.

Please tell us how the war is going in Iraq. I always like to see how you spin that one.

[bush_cheney2004]

Please tell us how the war is going in Iraq. I always like to see how you spin that one.

The topic is "Afghanistan". Iraq is a different country invaded in March 2003. Doesn't really involve Canada at all, by choice. Except for the Canadian oil services companies at Himrin Field (Kirkuk).

[jdobbin]

The topic is "Afghanistan". Iraq is a different country invaded in March 2003. Doesn't really involve Canada at all, by choice. Except for the Canadian oil services companies at Himrin Field (Kirkuk).

No, it doesn't involve Canada. A blessing considering how it is dividing the U.S. right now.

Hopefully, Afghanistan will overcome its problems.

[bush_cheney2004]

No, it doesn't involve Canada. A blessing considering how it dividing the U.S. right now.

Hopefully, Afghanistan will overcome its problems.

Really? Let's see...the most recent "war" in Afghanistan has been raging since 2001, and it DOES involve Canada. But it's not "dividing" Canada...nosireee! Canadians back operations in Afghanistan 100% (at least until 2009).

[jdobbin]

Really? Let's see...the most recent "war" in Afghanistan has been raging since 2001, and it DOES involve Canada. But it's not "dividing" Canada...nosireee! Canadians back operations in Afghanistan 100% (at least until 2009).

Yup. Thanks to an extension by the Tories. Just like your Republicans, they will take probably answer for it in an election.

[bush_cheney2004]

Yup. Thanks to an extension by the Tories. Just like your Republicans, they will take probably answer for it in an election.

Better that then getting turfed just for Adscam. War in Afghanistan was OK for Chretien and Martin.

[jdobbin]

Better that then getting turfed just for Adscam. War in Afghanistan was OK for Chretien and Martin.

Yawn. Do you post here because you have been booted from American sites?

[bush_cheney2004]

Yawn. Do you post here because you have been booted from American sites?

No...I post here because two other Canadian sites have been shut down (CBC Forums and Politics Canada).

[jdobbin]

No...I post here because two other Canadian sites have been shut down (CBC Forums and Politics Canada).

And come here to promote Republicanism and the American way of life? And I'm still not sure of what your attraction is for the site or what you bring to the conversation.

[bush_cheney2004]

And come here to promote Republicanism and the American way of life? And I'm still not sure of what your attraction is for the site or what you bring to the conversation.

Shucks! No need to promote the American way of life in Canada....it thrives here all by itself. Even the anti-Americanism is imported from the States.

No....I'm just on patrol, fulfilling your expectation and stereotype of the "Ugly American", even as I force you to look in the same spotty mirror.

At least I take time to give a cynical damn, which is more than I can say for my Yankee brethren. There are others..like jbg...he knows my game.

[jdobbin]

Shucks! No need to promote the American way of life in Canada....it thrives here all by itself. Even the anti-Americanism is imported from the States.

No....I'm just on patrol, fulfilling your expectation and stereotype of the "Ugly American", even as I force you to look in the same spotty mirror.

At least I take time to give a cynical damn, which is more than I can say for my Yankee brethren.

It is certainly not a mirror you look at yourself.

Most of your responses are glib and not all that instructive. It certainly isn't apparent that you do give a damn. Most of your remarks seem to have very little to do with actual ideas or policy. They are just broad swipes that add little to the conversation.

[bush_cheney2004]

It is certainly not a mirror you look at yourself.

Most of your responses are glib and not all that instructive. It certainly isn't apparent that you do give a damn. Most of your remarks seem to have very little to do with actual ideas or policy. They are just broad swipes that add little to the conversation.

Au contrare...my pithy style and biting efficiency may not be to your liking, but I certainly make a contribution. I prefer photographs over paintings.