Afghanistan: Fighting In A "Hornet's Nest"

U.S. General Tells 60 Minutes More Soldiers And Assets Needed To Defeat Enemy

(CBS)  The MedEvac chopper arrived within minutes, and Vasquez was taken away to one of the main U.S. bases for surgery.

"That's the day we'll remember. It's the closest fight we've had," Barnes says. "They were pretty well armed. Most of the time when these guys hit, they hit from a position of advantage to them. They don't wanna fight you on even terms, because they'll lose."

At least 12 enemy fighters were killed that day.

"And what have you learned about the enemy that you're fighting from, you know, this attack and previous attacks?" Logan asks Kilbride.

"We're not fighting an inexperienced army," the captain replies.

Major General Jeffrey Schloesser says the enemy knows what they're doing. When Schloesser, Deputy Commander of all U.S. troops in Afghanistan, arrived at the base shortly after the battle, 60 Minutes pressed him on U.S. claims that the mission is succeeding.

"In 2005 I was told the same thing as 2006 and in 2007, 'Oh it’s not that the enemy’s stronger, it's that we're more successful,'" Logan remarks.

"Well, you know I'm not telling you that. I'm telling you that the enemy did increase from 20 to 30 percent this last year and you haven't asked yet but I'll tell you that they are doing more complex activities, which concerns me greatly. So I'm not here to blow smoke up anybody's dress. I'm not," Schloesser says.

A video Kilbride's men found in the cornfields shows an unscripted view of the enemy you never see, and it was surprising - from the enemy's discipline and organization to their many new weapons.

When Kilbride reviewed the tapes right after the battle, he counted over 50 heavily-armed fighters in the pictures. The gunmen had also filmed their own attacks and training.

Then, there was an eerie discovery: Kilbride found evidence the militants carried out video surveillance of U.S. troops on patrol, possibly even his own men.

"Seeing it is interesting - to see where they set up. Their vantage point," says Kilbride, who thinks the enemy is watching his troops every time they leave the gate.

[fightnirishman]

HOW TO DEFEAT THE TALIBANIN 5DAYS ?
HOW TO STOP THE TALIBANCOLD -ELIMINATE THEIR MOBILITY,AS THESE CIVILIAN DRESSED SCUM MURDER AND MAIM THE AIRBORNE AND US MARINES .SADDLED WITH MORONIC RULES OF ENGAGMENT?
THE TALIBAN SEEK TO DEPRIVE US OF BOTH MOBILTY ANS FIREPOWERWITH CONSTANT MINING OF THE ROADS AND TRAILS WITH IEDS

THE SOLUTION
WATER
NEUTRALIZE EVERY STREAM,LAKE WELL,CISTERN-USE AGENTS THAT INDUCE VOMITING-FEVER -DEHAYDRATION

MAKE THE CIVILIANS COME TO FIXED BASES FOR WATER -MAKE THE INNOCENT AND COMPLICIT WALK THE MINED ROADS FOR WATER-GIVE UP THE TALIBAN LOCATIONS -IDENTITY OR THE ''INNOCENT'' CIVILIANS GO INTO DEHAYDRATION
NO NAPALM- NO WHITE PHOSPOROUS NO AIR STRIKES FO FEAR OF ''COLLATERAL DAMAGE
OUR MEN LOSE THEIR LIVES AND LIMBS FOR WHAT?
NO TALIBAN CAN HUMP A LOAD OF RPG7S AND A 60 LB PACK AT 5000FETT WITH NO WATER
IF SECRETART GATES IS ''OFFENED'' BY APHOTO OF A VALIANT MARINE -THE SON OF A MARINE POST ALL THE WOUNDS TO IMPEL THE DEPRIVATION OF ALL-ALL -ALL WATER
THE SCUM WILL STOP IN A WEEK
GENERAL MC CRYSTAL WOULD DO WELL TO RE READ CESAR'S PUNIC WARS-EVEN GENERAL SHERMANS TACTICSAGAINST THE CONFEDERACY IN GEORGIA

ELIMINATE ALL WATER AND THE SCUM WILL FALL AND FAIL
JIM D BIG SUR CALIFORNIA

[samsel3]

The US needs to get out of Afghanistan. It is over. Iran, Pakistan & India have signed an agreement for the IPI Pipeline which circumvents Cheney s Big Pipe Dream.

Former Afghan President Karzai was protecting a US led consortium for the TAPI Caspian Sea Pipeline which will supply Southeast Asian markets. Additionaly, 1.6 billion barrels of oil,in the Afghan-Tajik Basin, and 15.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, in the Amu Darya Basin will be exploited.
The Taliban reneged on an agreement with Big Oil & Gas before the invasion holding out for a larger share of pipeline tariffs for their people. The US decided a regime change was a better choice.
Taliban leader Mullah Omar said: "There are thousands of security forces ... and it is clear that they are criminal, thieves, and the people can not trust the security forces at all,"
February 12, 1998 John J. Maresca vp of UNOCAL oil appeared before a House sub committee. The purpose of the meeting was to gain support for exploitation of oil & natural gas resources, for the rights purchased by BIG OIL in the Caspian Sea area.

In his testimony he stated, "The key question is how the energy resources of Central Asia can be made available to nearby Asian markets ".

The exploitation option stated : "One obvious route south would cross Iran, but this is foreclosed by American companies because of U.S. sanctions (with Iran ) . The only other possible route is across Afghanistan,

[jellolion]

vietnam war all over again. our technology doesnt help us in this place.

[jellolion]

so sad. so tragic. what a waste.

[jellolion]

Bin Laden was NEVER in Iraq. Taliban was NEVER in Iraq. The reason Taliban is strong now is because we beat them down in 2002-2003, then left without finishing the job. They went up to the mountains, regrouped, rebuilt their strength, learned how to fight us. Now they are in their best form-small bands of guerilla fighters taking advantage of the harsh terrain. They are fixing to do to us what they did to the soviets. If we had finished them off, and left sadam in power, things would be pretty good right now. With sadam there, the radicals couldnt get in to Iraq. Man did we screw up. All this for what? We will lose 2 wars, destroy 2 countries, lose lots of our soldiers, and become a hated nation around the world, and gain absolutely NOTHING.

[wogerwabbit]

Asked how he sees the purpose of his mission in Afghanistan, Sgt. Barnes says, "I tell you like I told my daughter when I left. She asked my why was I leavin'' again. And I told her, I said, ''I gotta go over, and I''m gonna help the good people. I''m gonna help their army. And I''m gonna try to get, you know, put their bad people away.'' And she was like, ''Okay.'' And that''s my goal, to help as many good people as I can help, to get rid of as many bad people as I can get rid of, and to take as many of mine back home with me as I can take."

Now that''s a soldier. If it wouldn''t insult him, I''d salute him.

And to you grasshopper,

Posted by Speakinup21 at 04:35 PM : Oct 20, 2008

if you''ve never been there, you''re talking out your a$$. You should keep your mouth shut and learn something when adults are speaking.

[mwashington8]

This is in response to speakinup21...Have you been to either battle ground? Do you even know what the hell you are talking about? Have you lost a loved one in Afghanistan or watch as the body of one of our fallen has come off the plane? If not, I sugguest you sit in your cozy home and reap the benefits of what these Soldiers do everyday or pick a weapon and join them so you know what your talking about!!

[hothot342]

What I want to know is why the U.S. taxpayers are having to pay for the $121million roadway project.If they want to blow it up let them blow it up.Haven''t we been screwed enough!

[rivermom1]

This was a very needed piece on the war in Afghanistan and good as far as it went with real info. To support our Soldiers in war zones - regardless of your views on the war itself- please check out AnySoldier.com., a strictly non-political site to show US troops that we, at home, care about their safety and well being.

[grouchyjohn]

Cry to your Messiah Obamma about it. He''''s the one who wants to wage war on Pakistan now.......

Posted by hillaryin012 at 12:28 PM : Oct 20, 2008





(sarcasm)

Obama wants to hunt down, fight, and kill al Qaeda terrorists, EVEN IF they''re in Pakistan?!?!

WHAT A VILLAIN!!!

Doesn''t he know that our military now exacts personal revenges, and is in the dictator removal business, AND NOT into chasing those that attacked us?!?!

(/sarcasm)