Taliban Take Back Some Dirt

Taliban war fighters are reported to be winning some key battles in Afghanistan.  This is shifting the power balance in the already hotly contested Helmand Province.  The Marines have taken too many casualties.  One is too many.  This push comes on the heels of news that a senior Taliban commander has been killed in a drone strike.

At first, the analysis of the situation seemed to indicate that this would fracture the leadership of the Taliban causing infighting.  Current analysis clearly reveals that it unified them instead.  Quick history lesson, the Taliban do not think like we do.  Going after leadership is a great strategy for conventional warfare, but those days are over.

They are not going to fight amongst themselves because they know it would be self-defeating.  Therefore, instead of polarizing the fighters, it actually drew them together for a common cause.  In the Eighties, it was the Russians.  Now, it is our turn to step into the blender.

The Mujahedeen, as they were formerly known, spent a lot of time handing the Russians their asses.  It should be noted that the Russian military is very good at what they do.  They have a warrior mentality hardwired from birth.  Back in the good old days, the U.S. was arming the Mujahedeen and bank rolling them as well.

At that time in history, we were more afraid of the Russians than the people who can walk on snow and ice barefoot.  The point is the Taliban are playing home field, in very mountainous terrain.  Expect more casualties, from the battlefield and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.  World War 3 is underway, and the Pakistani’s have nukes.

The Taliban is capable of toppling the Pakistani government and they are proving it by holding terrain in the Swat Valley.  To hell with the Pakistani government, they should be asking for our assistance when they are not.  Intelligence is not shared, and battlefield statistics are very difficult to come by.

 This war is like playing whack-a-mole, except this time, the mole is wearing a turban.  Technology will help us, but civilian casualties must be kept to a minimum.  Collateral damage is not acceptable if we are to win hearts and minds.  Luckily, George Bush, being the idiot he is, taught us this lesson in Iraq.

Many believe that he and his accomplice, Dick Halliburton, should stand trial at the Hague to face war crime charges.  Those two dim bulbs have done irreparable damage to this country and others.  Now there is an articulate, thoughtful man in the White House cleaning up the mess made by the three stooges.