Taliban Gaining Firepower and Confidence

(CBS)  It took months before the Taliban agreed to show CBS News their operations.

This was not like our last encounter with the Taliban three years ago when they were open to our visit. This time only our local Afghan team was permitted, reports CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent Lara Logan.

CBS News Special Report: The Road Ahead

What they found was disturbing. Inside a vehicle was an Afghan policeman the Taliban had just captured.

Taliban fighters swarmed his police car, then drove it straight into the local town, parading their victory - masters in the art of propaganda.

Their commander, Amir Hamza, boasted that they've seized many hostages from the main road.

"I can show you if you want," he added casually.

And show us they did. One captured policeman's hand was shaking with fear as he was forced to hold up his ID card, the U.S. flag clearly visible. We don't know what happened to him but the Taliban have executed many policemen.

One main highway is fertile ground for their attacks. Supply convoys don't make it through. Seven fuel trucks torched - a massive blaze - and another show of Taliban force.

These days not even the Afghan capital is safe. Taliban fighters are able to blend easily with the local population here, moving in and out of Kabul at will. They're able to carry out spectacular al Qaeda-style attacks with sophisticated military backing that many here believe comes from Pakistan.

Commander Hamza told us his Taliban had only a few small guns when they started to fight back against the U.S.

"Now we control the main road, close enough to see the American base," Hamza said.

Hamza is part of what's known here as "old Taliban," one of those who grew up during the Russian occupation in the 1980's, when the U.S. was arming Afghanistan's holy warriors to defeat the Soviets. After the Russians limped home, Afghanistan descended into civil war. Five years later, the Taliban emerged out of the chaos - a radical, religious and political movement drawn from Afghanistan's biggest Muslim tribe, the Pashtuns.

By the September 11 attacks of 2001, 90 percent of Afghanistan was in Taliban hands.

Commander Hamza told us: "After 9/11, when the Americans attacked, our government collapsed, but our organization did not. We went home and waited for orders."

One of Hamza's young fighters - or "new Taliban" - is part of a new generation, driven to fight the Americans out of deep hatred. He claims U.S. soldiers killed his father and two brothers. Now, he says, he will fight "to the last drop of my blood."

It took two years, but al Qaeda fighters helped resurrect battered Taliban forces from the ashes of their defeat - arming and funding them. Now the two have the same goal of defeating the U.S.

"Absolutely right. Absolutely," said Abdullah Abdullah, President Karzai's main rival. "And they are depending on one another in such a way that one cannot survive without the other."

The fight against the Taliban has become inseparable from the war against al Qaeda.

The momentum now is on the side of the insurgents and terrorists. They're watching anti-war feeling in the U.S. grow and they smell victory.

More coverage on CBSNews.com:

Public's Views of Afghanistan War Have Turned Sour
Unplugged: Afghan War Strategy
A Soldier's Last Letter From Afghanistan
Afghan Election Recount Begins
8 GIs Killed as Afghan Strategy Debated
Wanat Probe a Reminder Amid Troop Debate
Zinni: Don't Delay Decision on Afghan War
Skelton, Levin Debate Afghanistan

[AOCGUY]

For what it is worth about what I view as credibility on this topic. Statements about conditions on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq for that matter really can only credibily be made by someone who is there or has been there. Everyone else is either guessing or passing on second hand info. That said discussion of why we are there and if we should or should not remain, to include expansion or reduction of operations, belongs to all of us as it is our (American) investment in American lives and capitol.

The flames, and drive by sniping I see on ths site remind me of Junior High School. Reasoned comments based upon logical analysis of the facts and personal observation are constructive and help all of us refine if not establish our views on the subject. The rest is pure noise.

[10th_MTN_DIV_Vet]

jefleshman-

Stay positive, you have the vets support back home that is all you need!!!

I was in 2nd Batt. 87th Inf. Reg. my first 3 years in the 10th... Was deployed in 2003 to Asasdabad, Afghan. (the only place we were at long enough to call home at first) for the first 1/2 of our tour, and then we went to Ghazni and set up the PRT... Yes, our Battalion built that PRT!

Then I went with 1st Batt 87th Inf. to Baghdad from '05-'06. Anyway, take care and watch your 6!

[10th_MTN_DIV_Vet]

Wow, I can't believe some of the ridiculous junk that people have posted to this article... I want to know, how many of you have FOUGHT in Afghanistan?!? How can you have an opinion if you have no idea what you are talking about unless you've been there?

I have fought in Afghanistan, and let me tell you, I am disgusted with the way this war is being protrayed by the media. When was the last time you ever heard anything positive about what we are doing over there?!? And the person that wrote this article has seriously questionable priorities... How about imbedding with the 10th Mountain Division, and write about how they are fighting the Taliban/Al-Queda AND providing for the Afghani's at the same time?

I blame the media for the public's distorted view on this war... Go ahead blame everything on Bush... what a joke.

People can't understand what it's like to fight in that country. The Taliban are everywhere. Once you roll into a village to search it, they disappear, only to reappear once we leave... This is NOT Iraq, and these dispicable Taliban WILL fight you to the death. They do not shoot and run, they fight and fight hard.

What the public does not understand, is that Al-Queada is there mixed in with the Taliban, except the major leadership is on the other side in Pakistan where we cannot go. They will be there until this Administration gets it through thier heads that we HAVE to send more troops, plain and simple. We cannot pull them in to the urban areas and focus there, for they will be waiting on the other side of the mountain...

We have to over-saturate the entire country, stacking troops along the border. Then work with Pakistan to let us into their country and push them in between...

Those of you that have not been there, and think you all the answers and that we shouldn't be there have no right; you have not shed blood in that country, have not watched your brothers in arms die next to you, with their dying breath pleading to for their deaths not to be for nothing.

As long as the Taliban are there, Al-Queda will return, the Afghani's will live in hell, and even more will die... The Taliban, yes, were once generally decent people who wanted thier freedom from the Soviets, but in the early '90's became radicallized as the Taliban we see today. They are ruthless and merciless, and an unfortunate thorn in the country's side...

Unless you have been there and truly know what goes on in that country besides the ONLY distorted view you get from the media, your opinion doesn't hold an ounce of worth... I lost to many brothers in that country than I care to remember, and they would do it again (and I still would) for the safety of Afghanistan, and the very AMericans who call our soldiers murderers...

**May my fallen brothers forever be remembered as heroes... You gave all, selflessly and courageously, and may this country not forget the price of freedom...**

[jefleshman]

Climb to Glory! CMOH SFC J. Monti!

[markj2]

Gee I guess the members of Congress who said we didn't have to fear the Taliban or worry about them,didn't read this article before they opened their mouths.Just goes to show everybody how ignorant some members of Congress are, GOD save the USA.

[ramos1129]

"I'm not gonna you know, put on a happy face and say, oh yeah, well, we'll get that done in a year or two," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said. "This is hard work. And it requires having a government that has the trust, the confidence and the loyalty of the security forces."

-----------------------------------------------

We have none of the things Clinton says we need nor are we likely go get them.

President Obama says that the principal reason we are in Afgans is to deny the AQ a safe haven to operate from. In the current Newsweek edition, a major Taliban figure is quoted as saying that AQ highly angered the Taliban by causing 9/11. Has anyone in authority questioned a credible source to see how the Taliban really feels about AQ? If not, why not? In view of what is involved, could we not do that?

My view - If the Taliban really blames AQ for the past 8 years, then why are we in Afgans? To keep the Taliban from taking over Afgans? Then would it not be the duty of the population to do that and not ours?

[AOCGUY]

If the Taliban were so incensed over Al Qaida's attacks and the subsequent 8 years, why wouldn't they have reponded to the US requests to turn over Bin Laden and his cronies back in 2001? As I have stated earlier, we initially went into Afghanistan in 2001 after the Taliban repeatedly refused to extradite the Al Qaeda criminals for prosecution in the US. Had they complied with the lawful request by the US government we would never have paid a visit to Afghanistan and the Taliban would most likley still be in power.

[jefleshman]

Earlier discussions were made in this forum about the reason the Terrorist was fighting and I quote.

He claims U.S. soldiers killed his father and two brothers. Now he will fight to the last drop of my blood.

The Taliban he is fighting for Injured almost 80 and killed 17 by the Taliban attack today in Kabul! And he fights for them? Hmmmm makes you think what will the 97 casualties families do? I wonder if this guy really knows who he is fighting for?

[finkfust]

by jefleshman October 8, 2009 10:14 AM EDT
The Taliban he is fighting for Injured almost 80 and killed 17 by the Taliban attack today in Kabul! And he fights for them? Hmmmm makes you think what will the 97 casualties families do? I wonder if this guy really knows who he is fighting for?
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Would you like to hear me turn EXACTLY the same logic onto you? I also await with interest your post next time American forces kill many innocent Afghans................

[jefleshman]

I am sure everyone is aware of the terrorist attack by now in Kabul. Very sad. Almost 80 x Afghan citizens injured and 17 x killed. It is a shame people still defend the Terrorist! Perfect example why I say we are in the right place! I do not want another 9-11 in the USA! SOURCE: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091008/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan


Just my thoughts. Thank you for reading.

[jefleshman]

Also. I do not consider my opinion as propaganda. Some may and that is fine. They are entitled to their opinion as well. I supply my thoughts and knowledge on things such as where to go to in order to find out more for yourself so you can make your own opinion. CBS has an opinion. Note the title of the article. Taliban Gaining Firepower and Confidence. And I disagree. It is a great thing to be an American and have FREEDOM of speech!

Just my thoughts. Thank you for reading.

[jefleshman]

WOW. Look someone is not happy that the truth is getting out. Thank you to all. As I was reading I was thinking the exact same thing what AOC clearly stated. If you never served in a combat zone you would not know what it is like. You work 24/7. So there is no such thing as off duty. Some days are filled more than others and when know when we can or cannot do things. I am fortunate enough to know my daily schedule well in advance. But things do pop up. What that means is time management! Ok enough of that. All of things I talk about are releasable I make sure of that as you have seen in previous posts as I supply the sources as well.
SOURCE: http://www.youtube.com/tfspartan
SOURCE: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Task-Force-Spartan/114841476833

Thank you AOC for your support and clarifying this for me while I was busy.

[finkfust]

Jerry - Your safety from prosecution depends ENTIRELY on the documentation....... CHECK IT CAREFULLY RIGHT NOW. You know as well as I do that it's only people at your level who go to jail. Would you like some further advice from someone who knows, to you simply as a person in a precipitous situation? I don't agree with your principles, but there are bigger fish to fry. You and I know that the OSDPA will drop you in the blink of an eye when the brown stuff hits the fan. I am happy to PM you if you want some advice. I have your email address, so just give the word.

[AOCGUY]

For those flamers and critics of posters such as jfleshman who are posting from a combat zone you either have nevers served in combat or have clearly forgot what it is like. Early on combat is often long periods of boring routine interrupted by intense and often very frightening activity. During those lulls soldiers throughout history have taken that quiet period to write down their thoughts either in journals or letters home. Technology now permits our warriors to converse directly through email and forums such as this.

As always OPSEC determines what can be said but these conversations are an essential element of stress relief and gives us on the receiving end a better understanding of what those that serve are experiencing.

For those that have read my previous posts know that my positions on a variety of subjects range from conservative to liberal. That goes to my positions on operations in Iarg and Afghanistan. That said the only inappropriate posts are from those flamers who feel it is their personal crusade to criticise and denegrate the positions of just about everyone else.

I really appreciate those posters that present reasoned and polite discourse. Those flamers however are a prime example of what is wrong with our current political discourse in the USA.

[finkfust]

by AOCGUY October 8, 2009 7:08 AM EDT
.....During those lulls soldiers throughout history have taken that quiet period to write down their thoughts either in journals or letters home. Technology now permits our warriors to converse directly through email and forums such as this.
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You are absolutely correct in that part. Leaving aside jefleshman for now....... would you agree that there is a fundamental difference between soldiers writing home in their spare time (which I agree is a critical part of recorded history) and the possibility that service personnel might be PAID and ORDERED to covertly write propaganda under that guise?