need to add title here

Combat in Afghanistan

September 6, 2009 4:35 PM

The enemy is on the rise in Afghanistan and Lara Logan's report from a forward operating base near Pakistan includes 60 Minutes footage of up-close combat.

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by nonac11 September 17, 2009 5:46 PM EDT
I,am from Denmark and the show was just on tonight over here.
As part of the coalition forces we have 500 soldiers in Afghanistan at the moment.
Anyway about 50% percent of the public here are against the war and the number is rising. I can see the same is happening in the US.
How meny young men have to be killed, because George Bush wanted to find Osama bin Laden ? And for what, revenge? Thought he read the bible every day, shame on him.
When will someone says enough ?
I love to see people in the streets in the US. like the Vietnam war.
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by origtartuffe September 15, 2009 2:49 PM EDT
YELLOW JOURNALISM the latest tactic to keep the Af-Pak conflict before the public. CBS and abc both featured the NY police rousting of a Pakistani apartment - finding nothing - with more innuendo than substance. (NBC not; to its credit.) The age-old "Have you stopped beating your wife?" query. They broke down his door late at night. No explosives were found. They could add a 1000 other no-finds. No opium was found. No white-slave girls. No contraband. No WMDs. No yellowcake. No federal health insurance for illegal aliens. Nothing but guilt implied by the 'planned' overexposure. The vaunted NYPD shat themselves for legitimacy on this one. Now the REAL bad guys will be extra vigilant.


Doubtless a sterling indicator of the end result of our misadventures in Iraq and Af-Pak. Lots of mayhem and grief with a net gain in enmity and enemies now or 20 years from now.


You don't have to be an arrogant ass but it seems to help. Ask Bobby Gates and Mikey Mullens. They both like to see (other people) fights. Is it considered a conflict of interest for Bobby and Mikey to hold MI stock shares? If not why not? Does Xe (aka Blackwater) and Armor (the gleeful deviants) give a kickback to these two merchants of death? See - yellow journalism queries are a piece of cake. Plants the seed though, what?
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by xghafla September 13, 2009 2:06 PM EDT
Americans will never win this war. It is a waste of resources and lives.The American must realize that their enemies cry after each battle, because they are still alive. They wish to die as martyrs,not like the American who loves their dogs and burgers.
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by Pukekaikoire September 13, 2009 1:50 AM EDT
That is a nasty mongrel accent she has, sounds like a South African trying to pull off a Pommy accent but crossed with a Yank or something. Interesting article however, respect to the soldiers out there doing the hard work.
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by jumpin-in September 10, 2009 5:54 PM EDT
This is the kind of news we need to see - what's really going on, and how our military cannot even make the decisions it needs to make. I am very disappointed to not here of any update or information or anything in the news re: Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl who has been held captive by the Taliban since June 30, '09. And, yes, while we celebrate other would-be-captives freed from the Taliban, shame on reporters, the gov. or any other U.S. citizen if we forget PFC. BOWE BERGDAHL. I pray he comes home soon!
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by Eli510 September 10, 2009 5:11 PM EDT
I understand all the Army wives/Families who are upset with this video. But this is the type of news that the American people need to see. We are all living in a country where lives are being lost on a daily basis due to the war. But we never see it and a lot of people take it for granted. Yes it is hard to see your family members in danger, but that is the reality , that is exactly what they are in. And it's about time that the general public sees what our Troops are going through. How every day they are putting their lives in danger fighting a war that we ignore. People live life unaware of the sacrifice that military families and military personnel are experiencing. All I have to say is "Thank You!!". Thank you to the Moms, Dads, Wives, Brothers, Sisters and Children who have had to see a loved one put on that Uniform and valiantly risk their lives and depart for a distant land. Thank you for giving up Birthdays and Thanksgivings and All types of Holiday and important dates to be out there. I can only hope that your lives become valuable to this government and may they bring you all back home soon. Also Thank you CBS for bringing reality back to the U.S. maybe after seeing this Americans can stop to think and urge the President to Bring Back the Troops and Stop deploying them to Far off lands to risk their lives.

Father In heaven I pray for all the Men and Women of the Armed Forces, guide them, give them Strength and Protect them. Cover and Shield them with your mighty Hands, and Please bring them all back to the loving arms of their families. And Stop this senseless war. Comfort and Watch over their Families, because while they are over sees watching others their families are back home, suffering the uncertainty that war brings.
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by jacoon September 10, 2009 1:11 AM EDT
Thank you 60 Minutes for airing what should be on television every night. If American's saw what war was really like I doubt we would engage in prolonged conflict. Please continue to report such vivid descriptions and let us hope that the future leadership of our country asks that we all sacrifice during times of war.
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by LarNKyl September 9, 2009 11:41 PM EDT
I appreciate the honesty of this footage. I WANT to know the TRUTH and I CAN handle this graphic peice. (I agree, there should have been a warning, though.) I don't appreciate the brief versions we get on the evening news. I will pray for our men and women protecting us and our country.
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by PVT-Winter-US-Army September 9, 2009 10:29 PM EDT
Now this is the kind of report that needs to come out of all telivison news stations instead of all the garbage that comes out all the time
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by flash46196 September 9, 2009 4:57 PM EDT
I would like to thank CBS and 60min for the report.

I am a Canadian Infantrymen, was in Kandahar last year and deploy a second time in under a month. I applaud 60min for the graphic footage, it is the reality. Some may not appreciate it, however you elected a government, they sent the Army to war, THAT IS WAR. For too long I feel the public has a serious disconnect with the soldiers situation.

For those that said it was one sided reporting, Please watch again. There was one fire fight with one US wounded, several Taliban killed. Followed by a IED blast killing four U.S. personal. That is another reality, IED's make up the majority of our losses. Not direct contact.

For those who jump all over our military contractors and suppliers, know that "good intentions" and yellow "support the troops" stickers dont stop Bullets or IED blasts, its Armor, Helmets, GM APC's, and Colt rifles shooting our bullets. I know you would all like a pre-Eisenhower era where Industry was nationalized for a war drive, however until that day returns we (the soldiers) need the tools of our trade, and they are made by private industry.
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by godi70 September 9, 2009 12:26 AM EDT
If women can be sent there doing this kind of job. Why do not send Children?
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by Airborne79 September 8, 2009 8:21 PM EDT
WOW!!!!! This is real positive true news about what is happening. Thank very much for showing what our men are seeing everyday in harms way. Please take the time and pray for our men and women who are fighting this conditions. Great job 60 minutes!!!!!
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by origtartuffe September 8, 2009 6:14 PM EDT
A five star positive from the Rendon Group, the Pentagon?s ranker of journalists and their stories, WHICH IN ITSELF IS A RANK ADMISSION MONITORING IS WARRANTED TO KEEP A POSITIVE SPIN ON THEIR GOAL OF SUSTAINING PERPETUAL CONFLICTS.

Spewing contrived MI oligarchy orthodoxy, reestablishing for public consumption, that they intend to continue their merchandising of death-for-profit for as long as the unaffected public will tolerate it. And by and large we?re too obtuse to demand anything different. Milgram?s paradox?

Live vicariously! Visualize the raucous frolicking about the Bahamas, yachting from island to island, visiting CEOs of Northrop-Grumman, Lockheed, Halliburton, Xe (aka Blackwater), and of course ArmorGroup. The latter knows how to debauch and then some.

Right now there are 250 thousand contractors fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

Records show the State Department has warned the ArmorGroup about security problems for at least two years, yet renewed its contract as recently as July.

Poor old Karzai. We accuse him of corruption (cause as experts we know it when we see it). He?s been taught by the best.

So these examples are just superficial. The billions squandered on war for fun-and-profit would probably pay for health care for China and India let alone the US. But we got our priorities. Ask Gates and Mullen.

We?re run by a ship of avarice ghouls. Death, cruelty, greed and of course some good ole Roman debauchery all in the mix and taken in stride. Patriots arise - and get naked.
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by proudarmymomm September 8, 2009 5:21 PM EDT
Id like to Thank all of the people who support and pray for our soldiers. Lets not forget them, the video should be shown on a daily basis just so we dont forget. Freedom has never been free and never will be. Stop blaming the war for the struggling economy, we were in trouble long before and didnt do anything about it. These men and women make so many sacrafices so you who complain about it do not! So lets not forget to pray for them, support them, and hopefully there will come an end to this war, so my son, and the other soldiers can come home. God Bless the USA and Our Troops!!!!
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by SBZWillis September 8, 2009 3:33 AM EDT
You really took us there, and that is a powerful reality check for us all.
It can only be good to know the cost of something you are paying for! I have so much admiration for the soldiers interviewed, to be so articulate, focused and determined in such a dangerously unperdictable landscape was stunning and encouraging in a sad way. I believe we need to pull out of Afghanistan Now. Bring our men and women home.
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by naturalv September 8, 2009 2:23 AM EDT
I truly appreciated the candid reporting of this war effort in the "wilderness" area of Afghanistan. Unfortunately, for me it depicted the fatality and futility of war. As much as weaponry has changed, this, to me, was very reminiscent of a fort in the wilderness holding off the indians. The Taliban were silently watching the soldiers every move as they knew the terrain much as the indians watched soldiers in forts in North America. The difference is the vast number of soldiers and settlers in North America were overwhelming. Our intent here is not to settle and call Afghanistan our home...I hope.
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by sgt-barney5 September 8, 2009 2:13 AM EDT
What are you guys talking about (crottsmom29,abi111122333, etc)!? Why shouldn't American citizens see the continuing cost of fighting in Afghanistan. I have the utmost respect for all Soldiers in Uniform, where-ever they are, but PLEASEEE.. America needs to see how Soldiers have to live on constant guard.. with eyes behind their backs.. just to survive their tour in a Combat Zone. I believe our Countries Citizens (the majority) have forgotten the Price of the Freedoms they so richly enjoy. "The Real Cost", not the watered down, Politician version (even though anymore, no body believes what comes out of their mouths). People in this Country need reminded.. Their, "freedom, is not Free", & honorable men, & women died, & are dying right now, for their right to be selfish, inconsiderate, & spoiled. I'm very sorry though you had to see it, because I'm sure your not one of those that need reminding. You have a husband (crottsmom29) is there doing (I'm sure) more then just his part.. as are my Brother, Sons, & several very close friends.

For the ones who say, "They were sickened by the footage". I say to you,
"BUCK UP, & QUIT BEING SELFISH"! Several Thousand of our Soldiers live that footage everyday, & If i had kids considering joining & going over into a combat zone, I'd want them to see what they were considering walking into. Not to talk them out of it, but to let them see the realities of War, & hopefully make them understand how important it is to, Stay alert, & aware of your surroundings. Something American Children have never been taught because, they've had cushy lives, up to entering a War Zone. Hopefully, the Military will train them in that skill better then I ever could, as a father.. and I know they do.. but, they need to be aware before they sign a 6 yr commitment.

I wish people would stop suggesting these kinds of video footage will, in some way, damage our resolve with wars, because I believe it does exact opposite.. strengthening our resolve to continue this fight until its won, taking the fight to any corner of the globe terrorist want to slither off to, like the worms they (IMO) seem to be.

I think 60 Minutes, & Ms Logan did a wonderful job reporting the "Truth" through the lens of a video cam. I thank her (Ms Logan & her camera person) for going where lots of Non-Military Americans wouldn't go, to let us see, up-close, & Personal, her factual reporting.
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by apple232323 September 7, 2009 7:17 PM EDT
"Responding to calls for more troops by U.S. commanders, President Obama has pledged to nearly double the number to 68,000 troops by this fall."

wow, what happened to all the campaign pledges that he was going to end all the fighting? now we are fighting in iraq, pakistan and afghanistan. incredible. where is all the money coming from to fund these wars? it's no wonder why our country is bankrupt.

it is becoming more and more clear that this is no difference between democrats or republicans because they are both working for the same team. they both represent the bankers, big business, the multinational mega corporations, especially Goldman Sachs...etc. our government has been taken over by a bunch of greedy self serving, gangster thugs that are bullying everybody, especially the american people.

i encourage anybody who's interested in learning the truth about who is really in control of our government to watch the alex jones documentary film The Obama Deception:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAaQNACwaLw&feature=fvst

"The Obama Deception is a hard-hitting film that completely destroys the myth that Barack Obama is working for the best interests of the American people.

The Obama phenomenon is a hoax carefully crafted by the captains of the New World Order. He is being pushed as savior in an attempt to con the American people into accepting global slavery.

We have reached a critical juncture in the New World Order's plans. It's not about Left or Right: it's about a One World Government. The international banks plan to loot the people of the United States and turn them into slaves on a Global Plantation."
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by origtartuffe September 7, 2009 1:49 PM EDT
Off topic - on sponsor. Is it true that Lipitor makes your sexual organs atrophy and ultimately wither away? Even drop off? Just trying to squelch this before it gets too much traction.
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by dblander September 7, 2009 12:43 PM EDT
It would have been nice to hear some acknowledgement of the Canadians sacrificed in this area. The 129th Canadian soldier just died in Afghanistan since the first Canadian troops came to this war-plagued nation early in 2002. Twenty-three of those deaths have occurred this year. 58 of Canada's deaths have occurred when vehicles drove over IED's. Six more Canadians died when they stepped on IED's during foot patrols. Another three Canadians died while trying defuse the homemade devices. Task Force Kandahar includes about 2,500 Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan and about 300 others in the region. About 1,000 U.S. infantry troops are attached to the Canadian task force.
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