| Tango01 | 27 Aug 2016 12:51 p.m. PST |
"Taliban insurgents overran a district in eastern Afghanistan, killing and wounding dozens of police and soldiers and threatening strategically important road routes to Pakistan, officials said on Saturday. Abdul Rahman Solamal, governor of Jani Khel district, in the eastern province of Paktia said that after heavy overnight fighting, security forces had pulled out of the district, which sits at an intersection linking eight districts and which connects Paktia with neighboring Khost province and Pakistan. "Our district was surrounded by Taliban for almost five days," he told Reuters. "Hundreds of them attacked our check posts overnight. "If we do not retake it soon then Taliban can easily move from one province to another and can undermine security in at least three provinces," he said…"
More here
link Amicalement
Armand |
| Mako11 | 27 Aug 2016 2:51 p.m. PST |
Is it Groundhog Day again, so soon? I think I'm suffering from deja vu. |
 Legion 4  | 27 Aug 2016 3:12 p.m. PST |
Just Another day in Afghanistan … |
| Lou from BSM | 27 Aug 2016 6:40 p.m. PST |
I spent a lot of time in those two provinces (Paktia and Khost)… really bothers me considering what we paid to take them in the first place. |
| Jcfrog | 28 Aug 2016 4:11 a.m. PST |
That it is Eastern Stan in media or politically correct ( saudi participation in capital) cannot at all be linked with Pakistani haven proximity. They just don't like to wake up with sun in their eyes. |
| Legion 4 | 28 Aug 2016 8:14 a.m. PST |
Just like in Iraq Lou. A lot of blood & treasure were lost. In both locations. And it appears again, the territory was lost by the lack of local militaries' abilities, etc.,. And I certainly can understand how you feel. I was not there but it upsets me as well. The losses the US and it's allies took for what seems a local populous and leadership that does not appreciate it. But I guess that is too much ask or think in that manner … When dealing with denizens of both regions … |
| Lou from BSM | 28 Aug 2016 11:17 a.m. PST |
I'm really getting a feel for what the 'Nam vets went through. Frustration, heartache, rage, all rolled into one. |
| Begemot | 28 Aug 2016 11:23 a.m. PST |
"We're from the US Government and we're here to help you." Guys, you weren't invited, so it seems unreasonable to expect the locals to like you, especially after you trashed their homes and killed their relations. If you were on the receiving end, I don't expect you would like it much either, no matter how virtuous the uninvited's motives were. Regrets for comrades lost in these foreign fields is natural and understandable. Maybe your ire shouldn't for those in those distant places who didn't invite you, but for the cold SOBs who used you like pawns. If you wear a uniform you're an expendable commodity. That's one of the reasons I left the service. |
| Mako11 | 28 Aug 2016 2:22 p.m. PST |
I suspect our people were far kinder, more respectful, careful, and welcomed by many there than the Talis are, Begemot. |
| Begemot | 28 Aug 2016 5:44 p.m. PST |
Mako – People don't like invaders, even if they're "kinder and gentler". Is that such an alien concept? To expect gratitude for invading someone's country is, well, naive. Maybe this kind of silly thinking is partly to explain why USA seems to be heading down hill. |
| Mako11 | 28 Aug 2016 6:46 p.m. PST |
When they hide/host people that plot to, and bring down tall buildings, killing thousands, or plot radical jihad against the West, stuff happens……… |
| Legion 4 | 29 Aug 2016 8:57 a.m. PST |
Regrets for comrades lost in these foreign fields is natural and understandable. Maybe your ire shouldn't for those in those distant places who didn't invite you, but for the cold SOBs who used you like pawns. If you wear a uniform you're an expendable commodity. That's one of the reasons I left the service.
I think we Vets all generally understand that and feel that way to some point. And yes, unfortunately for combat arms to be effective. We must be expendable at some level. But that should be limited by good junior officer and NCO leadership, etc., … And yes we know that is not always the case. If we couldn't go in harms way … we would have very limited uses. And you know as I and other Vets do. We took an oath to follow the orders of the POTUS, etc., … We can only hope those waaay above our paygrades will make the "right" decisions. And again, history tells us … that is always not the case. The US military must follow the orders of the legally elected civilian leadership. It's been that way since G. Washington … and it seems to generally work. But if you remember I have stated previously. To many times for some. That in 20/20 hindsight the US has made some errors.
*Support of the Muj vs. the USSR
*GWII
*Removing all troops from Iraq too soon
*And let me add a prediction – the Iran nuc deal I had served 10+ year in the US ARMY and would have continued to serve. If I was not RIF'd after the Cold War ended. Like so many others were. And I would have retired at 20-30 years. If I was not killed or maimed … It was my choice to volunteer for the US ARMY. Begemot you may have made the right choice for you to ETS ? Only you know for sure … |
