Afghan Insurgency Stronger Than Ever

CBS Evening News: Exclusive Video Shows Taliban Indoctrinating Extremely Young Men, Turning Them Into Suicide Bombers

(CBS)  The war President-elect Barack Obama is inheriting in Afghanistan includes an insurgency that's stronger than ever.

And it's creeping ever closer to the Afghan capital.

In a video obtained by CBS News, a U.S. convoy is attacked less than 20 miles from Kabul.

"I think in Afghanistan, we really dropped the ball for a long time," said Karin von Hippel of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

It's now widely agreed America's new president needs a new approach, CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent Lara Logan reports.

President-elect Obama's emerging strategy appears to shift focus to a regional solution to Afghanistan's problems.

"A regional approach really means looking at Afghanistan and Pakistan through a similar lens but also it should also mean bringing in China, bringing in India, bringing in Iran, bringing in the neighbors to make sure that everyone is part of the same solution," von Hippel said.

An exclusive video from Pakistan's tribal areas shows a group of young boys being indoctrinated. As Logan reports, this is the cost of not bringing in Afghanistan's neighbors.

According to the Taliban, the boys' fate is to become suicide bombers over the Afghan border. The teenage boy seen in the video is about to blow himself up.

The tape shows him saying goodbye to the men who packed his vehicle with explosives and heading off to find an American target.

The boy's mentors erupt in victory cries as they film the suicide blast.

Taliban attacks and U.S. casualties are the highest this year since the war in Afghanistan began.

The region is so connected, that any of Afghanistan's neighbors could facilitate peace and security - or, as has been seen, make the situation a lot worse.

[downsteamjim]

CBS can get info about the Taliban, but nothing on Obama past. Of course, why wouldn''t the Taliban work with thier friends.

[thehobman]

Taliban,

[ioweign]

CBS can get info about the Taliban, but nothing on Obama past. Of course, why wouldn''''t the Taliban work with thier friends.

Posted by downsteamjim at 08:08 PM : Nov 11, 2008


Why is Afghanistan even a problem now after 8 years under the Great Commander-in-Chief Boosh ???

[fahcup]

I must say I''m a bit disturbed that on all days of the year, you''d pick veterans day to broadcast footage of american convoys in flames. The teenage suicide bomber video was terrible, yet to show the impact on the humvee when the car exploded is tasteless and unnecessary. Shame on you. This is veterans day, try and show a little respect next time.

[hotpaulie]

downsteamjim - why hasn''t you almighty Bush figured things out in Afghanistan. Afterall, isn''t this what 9/11 is all about??? And how do you associate Obama with the Taliban?

[etowers2]

The Russians lost 50,000 soldiers to war deaths, suicides, and illness while using our current military tactics during their 11-year war on Afghanistan, against ragtag forces. But we are in a dead-end trajectory in a country named Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Afghanestan or The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan herein referred to as the I.R.A. fighting new generations and more to follow.

Who are we fighting, for what reason? What will we gain and what are the consequences of what we started? Do we really think we can build a democracy a word that we throw out and around the world, which means absolutely nothing to many nations? How long will it take? How much will it cost and how will we pay for it? What are the milestones? What is victory? Does continuing the war make us more regionally undesirables? Are we strengthening the regional radical fundamentalist in Pakistan and elsewhere leading to nuclear- armed hatred towards us? Will our military and their families continue to be abused with no cause and no end? Hopefully, we will not simply continue the same senseless dead-end trajectory because we think we have to win some undefined victory or become un-American.

[etowers2]

Part 2
Are we there to capture Bin Laden? His militant, religious, political terrorist cells were based in I.R.A. and not Iraq, as we were told by the fanatical neo-cons. Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. But by giving Bin Laden a 7-year reprieve, we are now fighting an even more empowered and unified Taliban militant religious movement, Islamic extremists, patriotic nationalists and drug lords that make the Mexican or Colombian cartels seem like boy scouts. They do not wear uniforms, and they do not need Al-Qaeda. They are surrounded by nations who despise infidel troops on their lands, who support them with weapons, manpower, logistics, and bases, and they don%u2019t need our money since they grow and supply illegal drugs. We have allowed them become stronger by our obsessive focus on the oil in Iraq.

If we somehow reasoned, after punishing the Taliban for hosting Bin Laden, that we could now bring %u201Cdemocracy%u201D to I.R.A., our political leaders, intelligence and military failed to tell our brave soldiers or the American people that I.R.A. could never be unified. I.R.A. has over 50 political parties, independent tribal and religious leaders and warlords, over 60 Pashtun tribes and 400 sub-clans. One may become the corrupted and anointed president of the capital Kabala, as is president Karzai, but that is provided one receives 50% of the vote. But who votes? The President of IRA only governs our new %u201CGreen Zone%u201D, Kabul, anyway.

[etowers2]

Part 3
The I.R.A. is about the size of Texas with treacherous mountains, occupied by 41 people per square mile, with geographical conditions where military hardware becomes irrelevant. Here in Afghanistan, logistical distances, rocks, mountains, caves and small guerilla units become the fortresses that defeated the massive Soviet Army, and helped bankrupt Russia after 11 years of fighting.

It%u2019s simply not intelligent to intervene or theorize winning conflicts rooted in liberation, integration, religion. Remember Vietnam? What we face now is worse, because it is religious extremism with no borders, and our worst nightmare since our closest ally and friend, the cruel dictatorship of neighboring Pakistan is now gone. The united opposition is supported by religious radicalism with nuclear weapons as their trump card.

In Iraq, the success of the %u2018The Surge%u201D is attributed to the addition of 30,000 troops to a country the size of California. But what really made this work was the funding of militias to the tune of $300 per head and the Sadr army sitting on the sideline. This is not a win strategy in IRA, because this not a Sunni against Shiite issue but a much more massive situation because of the separation of geopolitical identities, regional tribal loyalties and religious fervor.

[etowers2]

Part 4
What we need to achieve success in the I.R.A. must be the focused use of special operations. In addition, satellite imagery, drones, recruiting and building local ground intelligence, selected high altitude bombing, the payment of selected militias and the NATO training of an Afghan national army are the only means to a success is Afghanistan. We must not rely on a massive influx of our honorable and hard working military, already stretched to the limits in Iraq. If we don%u2019t learn the lessons of history, such as Vietnam and Iraq, we are doomed to repeat the mistakes that have cost the lives of thousands of brave and honorable military men and women. I, for one, am not willing to pay that price.

[summarex]

Even though I''m not Irish, I always did like the IRA. So could you please go back to calling these bozos Afghans.
Thanks

[lmartink]

It''s all quite simple really. While the U.S. was pulling a surge in Iraq, the Taliban did the same surge technique in Afghanistan.

[edward1975-2009]

Not to worry Obama will just change the location of troops from Iraq to Afghanistan, and won''t miss a beat. It''s a heck of a lot easier to bomb the heck out of the mountains. Iraq is winding down and Afghanistan is about to wind up. I guess Obama truly believes in that, no rest for the weary thing.

[missingamerica]

I must say I''''m a bit disturbed that on all days of the year, you''''d pick veterans day to broadcast footage of american convoys in flames. The teenage suicide bomber video was terrible, yet to show the impact on the humvee when the car exploded is tasteless and unnecessary. Shame on you. This is veterans day, try and show a little respect next time.

Posted by fahcup at 09:52 PM : Nov 11, 2008

I respectfully disagree; I think such videos should be broadcast EVERY Veterans Day, ESPECIALLY when we are not at war.

America''s politicians have very short memories; if the American people do not keep reminding them of what the nation owes veterans, they will yet again cut funding for veterans'' programs to the bone and beyond.

And the oh-so-chickenhawk Republicans will - as usual - lead the way.

[hermitdave]

You can bet one of their best recruitment tools is telling about the criminal illegal holding of Afghan cab drivers in Club Gitmo. What Americans should be asking is just how and why we are over in that country. The Afghan people Bush killed for revenge of 9/11 were totally innocent. Of course the Afghan drug lords think Bush is a God.

[harp1963]

I guess we''re going to have to bankrupt the USA like the Soviets did their country before we figure out these people are tough and very good at guerrila warfare. Oh well, as long as military contractors become unbelievably wealthy it''s o.k. if we bankrupt the American taxpayer.

[lemonskink]

Under the most unpopular commander in chief in the history of the nation one needs not wonder why. Sending troops to a concocted war in Iraq was the biggest blunder of all, but it was all about greed. It never had a thing to do with anything else but pocket lining.

[lmartink]

If Bush had stayed on target until Osama had been captured or killed, he would have been a hero, and his approval ratings would be much higher.

He could have still gone into Iraq, later, with a real coalition. He should have waited until one job was done.

He was just too eager to rewrite and re-fight his daddy''s war. Amazing!

[lemonskink]

One day history will show how criminal the Bush/Cheney Regime really was, and how a conspiracy took place to achieve all of what you see happening today.

[lemonskink]

This song was written to honor all those brave men in Washington who love war.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kqmNTk6ls0

[lemonskink]

They''re fighting over there so Palin''s medical records won''t be brought up ever again.

[allzwell]

We should all keep in mind that Afghanistan consumed the Soviet Union and spit out their bones. Do we really want to go there?

[inventagod2]

I wanted to take this opportunity to congratulate President Bu$h on his failed Afghanistan program.

[yongamerica]

The heart of terrorism is in Iran. The biggest battlefield of the war on terror is Afghanistan. GW Bush diverted the majority of America''s fighting forces to topple Sadam because "he tried to kill my daddy". At was cost was his personal vendetta?

[hermitdave]

IF anyone out there believes that video was from anywhere but CIA productions, please contact me right away in regard to BRIDGES and SWAMP LAND.

[airboatboy1]

I wish Obama would find out what effects nuclear weapons have on rough, mountainous terrain.

[frankfurt200]

Well since it was Clinton that started the whole damned thing, I guess you better go back and read up on some history.


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Posted by FromTexwLove at 02:43 AM

I don''t think the history book you read from is available to rest of the civilized world.

[frankfurt200]

Get a freaking clue!


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Posted by FromTexwLove at 02:50 AM

Please do.

[frankfurt200]

Posted by FromTexwLove at 02:57 AM

Never heard of the first President Bush or operation Desert Storm, did ya?

[frankfurt200]

By the way, Tex, the situation in Afghansitan has nothing to do with Iraq. It has everything to do with Bush going their to get Obama. That also had nothing to do with Iraq. And in case you haven''t noticed, Afghanistan doesn''t even border Iraq. So, I don''t think the Taliban which is till fighting the US in Afghanistan, ever got the message to come and fight in Iraq.

[gronamox]

The Taliban wants to kill off the youngest generation. Now that''s is planning ahead. How about we send some really old soldiers into the mountains and have them blow themselves up. These should be French soldiers. They have drunk so much wine over the years, they will do anything. Or. We nuke the mountains and go home.

[ramos937]

Several plain facts: (1) AQ, with the cooperation of the Taliban in Afans attacked us on 9/11 and not Saddam, (2) We had Afans virtually conquered. The Taliban was suing for peace. For bogus reasons, we turned our attention from Afans to Iraq, (3) Almost forgot, the CIA had Ben Linden cornered but needed some available US troops. The administration did not provide them for some unknown reason and Ben Linden escaped. Who was President then - George W. Bush and not Clinton.

[formrusmcsgt]

Seven years to accomplish absolutely squat - an absolutely disgraceful exhibition of stupidity and waste.

[sarcelle]

To Ben Laden, GW Bush and others...

How easily actual cowards
send real Warriors to their
deaths

[alphaa10000]

And Bush wonders what legacy he leaves behind? The debacle in Afghanistan comes first to mind, and owes all to the Bush obsession with Iraq and its oil

Bush long ago admitted his Iraq war began as a diversion to the original mission after 911 to Afghanistan, to take out bin Laden. Bush did not fight al Qaeda effectively in Afghanistan even when congress and the American people told him explicitly to do so.

In fact, Bush is the best friend Osama bin Laden ever had. Bush flew the entire bin Laden family out of this country immediately after 911 in a closely guarded series of chartered flights. Bush actually stopped fighting al Qaeda in Afghanistan to pull American units into place for Iraq. And Bush failed to pull the trigger when he had the best fix on bin Laden in years of effort-- and blew it.

Predictably, the years of Bush diversion in Iraq created a stronger al Qaeda in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan-- the real Bush "going away gift" to the American people.

[earache4]

Afganistan, the war America should have fought and finished...

[promaclaura]

Afganistan, the war America should have fought and finished...


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Posted by earache4 at 06:54 AM : Nov 12, 2008

Do you really think it would be finished? I don''t, the scenarios for that to happen would be: Pakistan rooting out the Taliban/al qaeda in the tribal regions, the Afghans becoming self-sufficient in a no-mans land region (they only grow poppies) and breaking the appeal of Osama Bin Laden their hero. To address the first issue of Pakistan we would have to go to war with Pakistan as they are corrupt and worthless, 2nd the Afghan''s lack of economy and rebuilding it is too big a bite for the American taxpayer and 3rd OBL''s hero status is deeply entrenched in that region.

I believe we cannot win this war and come home to ticker-tape parades. Let''s let the drones continue to take out the bad guys in Pakistan and demand more help from other countries. This is their fight too and I resent that American soldiers take all the brunt. I for one would not want to place our men on those mountainous trails. I''m glad we drew them out to the desert, easier pickings, now they have gone back to their caves which I hope they get buried in.

[petro49l]

Al Qada made a tremendous profit by trafficking narcotics from Pakistan. Junkies purchase tar heroin, methamphetamine, PCP, LSD, and powerful forms of hashish at any price. Drug Dealers transfer the money to Al Qada over the Internet. A.Q. invests the money in American corporations through online brokerages. Day trading has earned a substantial reward when share prices inflate. Al Qada freely buys corporate bonds and government T-bills for a stable return. Pakistan is a fine sanctuary for Al Qada to use the world wide web.

[sleepyric]

and after 8 years, the Poppy fields still grow. The source of Taliban money. Hose them with weed killer, and make them grow corn. They grow opium, sell it, it makes it to the usa, and we fight drug abuse here, and then we finance the whole operation, and still have to fight the Taliban. Stupid policy!

[jjp735i]

Anyone inform Bush? He''s always the last to know.

[britpatjax]

You know that when you blatantly make thousands of ten year old young boys orphans you hand them as twenty year olds right to the recruiters. Winning the war says Hannity and McCain and Limbaugh. They have no clue as to how to win a war on terrorism. Study the issues of the British Gov. concessions to the IRA. They had to ''talk'' to the bombers of Maggie Thatchers conference hotel in Brighton???

[actionnow1]

What is the goal in Afghanistan? Why is this different than Iraq? Our number of killed servicemen and amount of money will rise just as they did in Iraq?
I say we continue to train the Afghan and Iraqi military and leave all the other monetary support out of the equation.

[gmcnally2]

3 stories on CBS News.com all on the Afghanistan insurgency resurgency. I wish the people would wake up and smell the powers that be selling us another phony war to advance their financial interests. Hey CBS, how about trying to effect peace.

[get_it_str8]

Nuclear cleansing.

[rational_1]

The final embarrassment for Shrub Boy. His biggest failure.
Posted by FloydZeppd at 05:15 AM : Nov 12, 2008

I look forward to your analysis of Barry''s performance on this front in 4 years.

[omega40]

Richard Murphy, assistant secretary of state for Near East and South Asian relations during the Reagan administration, will later say, %u201CWe did spawn a monster in Afghanistan. Once the Soviets were gone [the people trained and/or funded by the US] were looking around for other targets, and Osama bin Laden has settled on the United States as the source of all evil. Irony? Irony is all over the place.%u201D [Associated Press, 8/23/1998] In the late 1980s, Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, feeling the mujaheddin network has grown too strong, tells President George H. W. Bush, %u201CYou are creating a Frankenstein.%u201D However, the warning goes unheeded. [Newsweek, 10/1/2001] By 1993, President Bhutto tells Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak that Peshawar is under de facto control of the mujaheddin, and unsuccessfully asks for military help in reasserting Pakistani control over the city. Thousands of mujaheddin fighters return to their home countries after the war is over and engage in multiple acts of violence. One Western diplomat notes these thousands would never have been trained or united without US help, and says, %u201CThe consequences for all of us are astronomical.%u201D [Atlantic Monthly, 5/1996]

Gee, who would have thunk it?

[get_it_str8]

autumn987 - you are a nutcase

[ajaxtheleast]

This is INDEED the beginning of the virus

warnings that you had best download,,,,

our U.S. military and it''s,,,,,

Mighty Haliburton Utility Tools Package,,,

TERRORIST BLASTER!!!

[actionnow1]

I seriously wish our elected officials would look forward and start planning correctly in order to alleviate the cost of both our people and money in this wayward Afghanistan conflict.

[gop_will_win]

Ofcourse they are. Since Obamas victory they have been filled with hope.

[qutlaw104]

We are fighting two no-win wars. The insurgents are playing games with us. The surge was working in Iraq they step up their operations in Afganastan. Pull toops out of afganastan they will move their operrations back to Iraq. I am retired military and I support our troops 100%, but not the cause. We can''t win both so it is time to quit and get out of both.