Afghanistan war

This war is becoming more deadly, as shown by the deaths of 5 NZ soldiers within a month and increased deaths of US-led forces. 
The signs are there that the US is there to stay,

Afghan Soldier Kills Two US Troops in ‘Dispute’

US Spurns Afghan Govt. Claim Killings Were 'Accidental'

Anti-War,

27 August, 2012

An Afghan National Army soldier shot and killed two American soldiers in Laghman Province today following a dispute. The Afghan soldier was killed in return fire by other US troops.

Afghan government officials claimed that the incident was an “accident” and said the soldier tripped over his weapon and it went off killing the US soldiers. US officials termed the explanation “total bullsh*t.”

It is the 33rd “green-on-blue” attack so far this year, which has amounted to 42 NATO soldier slain, mostly Americans. The term “green-on-blue” is being deprecated by the Pentagon, which is trying to rebrand them as “insider attacks.”

And yet in this case, there is no indication that the shooter is an infiltrator of any sort into the Afghan military, and the shooting was the result of some sort of argument. Exactly what was being argued about is unclear.

This is from Pakistani media and represents a local point-of-view

The lost war in Afghanistan

the Frontier Post

28 August, 2012

US Army General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff had to flee the country to save his life when Afghan Taliban carried out attack on US’s controlled highly protected Bagram Air Base on August 21, 2012. General Dempsey escaped an attempt on his life but his aircraft which was directly hit got damaged.

The Dempsey immediately fled to some unidentified location in Indian Ocean or Middle East in another aircraft. The official statement from Pentagon claimed that strike was not aimed specifically at Dempsey’s plane. However, the statement admitted hitting of General Dempsey’s plane in which two personnel of the Air Base were injured while General Dempsey C-17 plane and an Apache helicopter were damaged.

A report by a local commander claimed that Bagram Air Base remained under Afghan Taliban control for more than five hours. General Martin Dempsey and group of senior officers were immediately airlifted to save their lives. This is not new that Americans have fled away from the battlefield to save their lives as even the US President George Bush went underground for complete ten days after 11th September attacks on Pentagon and World Trade Centre due to fear of renewed attacks.

Taliban’s spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid issued a statement immediately after the incident claiming that General Dempsey’s aircraft was targeted by Taliban using exact information about its whereabouts. After the attack, the morale of US forces in Afghanistan and Pakistan is ever low and there is lack of willingness by the combatants to serve in Afghanistan. It is pertinent to mention here that the personnel from 101 Airborne Division, Fort Cambell, 1 Armored Division, Fort Bliss and 10 Mountain Division, Fort Drum that will be deployed in Afghanistan within two months or so have shown reluctance to serve at the War Zones. 

Unconfirmed reports reflected that the personnel serving in Afghanistan were critical of lack of intelligence input against Taliban. Some personnel referred personnel serving in Afghanistan as blid sitting ducks. The criticism was brushed aside by the senior commanders but within their complaint proved to be correct when a barrage of missiles welcomed US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and made him to flee the country along with top senior officers.

If we recall, similar attacks were carried out during the visits of US President George Bush and Barack Hussain Obama. These attacks are the symbols of hatred towards Armed Forces and Governments of US and allied forces. In fact, there was a spark of renewed hatred for every foreign personnel in Afghanistan after the unfortunate incident of burning of hundred of copies Holy Quran at the US controlled Bagram Airbase. “Death to America” shouted the group of 8/9 years old Afghan boys. They shouted “We will kill every foreign soldier and war veterans who has killed our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and other innocent Afghan nationals. The Americans have disrespected our Holy Quran; we will take revenge as revenge is in our blood.” It is interesting to note that Pentagon, CIA and other Intelligence agencies have compiled a book, “No Easy Day” by Mark Owen, Penguin Group (USA’s) Dutton imprint, which will be released on 11 September 2012.

The book has focused on a number of allegations on Pakistan and Afghanistan and highlighted killing of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad. Although, it is open secret that Osama bin Laden was not in the house where US agencies claim to have attacked. Ironically, the video of Osama bin Laden in that house, which is claimed to be proof of Osama’s presence in that house is also not resembling him in physcique, age, style of beard, flesh on shoulders and hands, etc.

It is pertinent to mention here that in a recent conference held in the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, US Marine Lieutenant General Richard P. Mills, disclosed, “I can tell you that as a commander in Afghanistan in the year 2010, I was able to use my cyber operations against my adversary with great impact,” Mills said. “I was able to get inside his nets, infect his command-and-control, and in fact defend myself against his almost constant incursions to get inside my wire, to affect my operations.” The remarks have been taken as a joke because why a US General would try to take credit of an international offence which happened two years back and falls within the perview of his duty. Today, US has pulled out bulk of its combatants from Afghanistan and relying on Afghan National Army and Police. One wonders how can US and allies fight war against Taliban without involving its own combatants, who are sitting in Bahrain, Iraq, Australia and CARs states? It seems that the propaganda and drama of credits and discredits is almost over as US has lost the war. 

 

afshainafzal@yahoo.com