Are the Tuliban Getting Desperate?

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Two items from today's news:

The Tuliban have offered to negotiate with the Bush Administration on turning over bin Laden if they stop their bombardment. This was rejected outright. (Am starting to wonder if that $25M reward isn't having an impact.)

The Tuliban have called on the Northern Alliance to unite with them to fight America's unprovoked aggression against Afghanistan and Islam. (I assume this to mean the Tuliban still want to be in charge.)

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), October 14, 2001

Answers

Desperate no just playing mind games with bush and the Northern Alliance . Where is the delete key:)

-- binjr (bin@laden.com), October 14, 2001.

bin, jr.

If you are such a supporter of your dad, why aren't you over that sharing his cave or whatever with him. Gracious, he can't even walk outside to take a dump without fear of a 2,000 bomb being dropped on his ass. I say you are a coward to stay in the apparent comfort of your American-supported lifestyle while your Dad has to undergo such hardships. If you are blood, body and soul you should have bought a one-way ticket (you won't need the return half) on September 12th. Put up or shut up guy.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), October 14, 2001.


I don't think the Taliban are desperate at all. The first offer was simply an attempt to sway public opinion. "We offered to negotiate and the US refused. They want to continue bombing even though we offered to negotiate."

The second is much the same. "Join us to turn back the US aggressors against Islam."

It's nothing nore than propogandist rhetoric. Don't take it to be anything more than that.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), October 14, 2001.


Delaying tacticts while they lick their wounds?? Necesary side steps around frozen money??

-- Jim-mi (hartalteng@voyager.net), October 14, 2001.

Another indicator: Evening report is the anti-aircraft fire in Kubul (you know, where they park a truck with a 50 caliber or whatever gun in a residential neighborhood) is noticeably lighter than a week age. Are they running out of ammunition since their ammo dumps are now gone?

Another indicator: Northern Alliance has said they have noticed not one of their advances has been met with a counter advance by the Tuliban.

Little things like this add up. On the morning of the first strike I strongly suspected something was up when I heard the report the Northern Alliance had grounded all of their helicopters. Then a piece here and a piece there added up. Bush comes back to the White House hours earlier than expected. His top aides are not available for news comments as they have been. Hummm, something is up.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), October 14, 2001.



What's a Tuliban? Are they different from the Taliban??? Are we fighting two tribes?? Or are we just confused.

-- bruce (rural@inebraska.com), October 14, 2001.

No Bruse, we are just spelling challenged on occassion.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), October 14, 2001.

;)

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), October 14, 2001.

Ken I think I upset you. Dad is a big boy he can take care of himself. I dont think it is over yet.

-- bin jr (bin@laden.com), October 14, 2001.

The Taliban are not a single ethnic group (tribe). The are a group of many nationalities that are lead by a bunch of religious students. (In Afgan Taliban means student.)

-- Joe (CactusJoe001@AOL.com), October 14, 2001.


Bin jr. I just noticed that you're a member of the Countryside Friends website. Why do you spend so much time at homesteading sites? And if you're not just a teenage kid trying to stir up trouble, and actually have a logical argument to support your attitude, then why don't you outline it for us? If, on the other hand, you don't have anything intelligent to contribute, then I'm afraid I don't have any interest in anything else you have to say.

-- Leslie A. (lesliea@mm2k.net), October 15, 2001.

Thanks Leslie , I knew i should not have made the site public ! All types of trash can come in then .I for one have never seen Bin there and like it that way .Bin's a little turd with nothing better to do , I just hope someone flushes soon ! Still makes me made that are brave men and woman risks there lifes daily so an ass like this can enjoy all the freedoms we have to offer .And if he where such a proud son wouldn't he want to go join Daddy in alll his glory of beating the USA ? Go enjoy living like the scum you are .Oops all Daddy's assets are frozen , I am sure we will all chip in and send you on a one way trip home .No need to thank us.It would be are pleasure.

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), October 15, 2001.

May I humbly ask, Ken, that you delete this child's posts. If we're lucky he/she/it will go back to school and get an education. With luck he/she/it will grow up and realize what a fool he/she/it is.

-- Ardie from WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), October 15, 2001.

Well said Ardie!!

-- Jim-mi (hartalteng@voyager.net), October 15, 2001.

In watching the news reports, I get the impression the Taliban (did I get it right this time?) didn't expect the type of war being imposed on them. They expected a Korea-era type ground-force attack such as the Soviets used between 1979 and 1989. Those who held the high ground generally won or at least inflicted heavy casualties on their opponent. Now he who holds the high ground is just closer to the source of delivery for precision bombing.

The Soviets never have had a heavy bomber like the B-52 or B-l. The B-52 can carry 70,000 pounds (35 tons) of munitions. (I believe the B-24 carried about one ton of munitions.) 35 tons is the equivalent of 170 500-pound bombs placed in strings pretty well anywhere they are wanted to be placed. OK, you can't get me in my cave. Well, you get 35 tons of munitions dumped on the mountainside above you the cave may become your tomb. Subject to the approach, the U.S. has the capability to literally fly a missile into the mouth of the cave.

The Soviets didn't have precision munitions and the surveillance capability the U.S. has. The unmanned reconnaissance aircraft knows precisely where they are at due to the global satellite positioning system. It picks up a tank. Decision is made to take it out. A bomb on a high-flying aircraft is programmed with the coordinates, the bomb dropped and homes in on the target also using GPS. Result - one lost tank with no means to fight back as the aircraft is well out of the range of their AAA fire.

A group of Taliban fighters are sitting around a campfire having their evening ration of tea. The heat from the campfire can be picked up by heat sensing equipment in a reconnaissance aircraft and pinpointed. Or, a special forces unit simply gets the coordinates from their individual GPSs unit, calls them in and them backs off and wait for the fireworks.

According to reports this evening, AC-130 attack aircraft are now on station. I am somewhat familiar with them from by days with the Air Force Logistics Command. One mean s-o-b. They can circle a position and hit it with rapid fire, heavy caliber bullets or 105mm shells, the same ones once used in tanks. I think their motto was something like ‘death from above.’ They are well suited for taking out convoys of vehicles or personnel.

Sooner or later A-10s will be used. They have the capability to take out a tank, much less artillery pieces. I don’t remember the nickname the Iraqis gave them, but it was something like the ‘angels of death.’ In Iraq they would circle overhead like a buzzard, swoop down to take out a target, then return to circling overhead again.

If the U.S. wants an opposition force to attack, they can simply carpet bomb the front lines of the Taliban to clear the way. A B-52 flies too high to be seen. All of a sudden the world around them explodes.

This isn’t going to be a fun war for the Taliban.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), October 16, 2001.



I'm a retired Army person from the 'Nam era. I know we can't really do it but wouldn't it be nice if we could just get our leaders who want to fight and put them in a cage together and let them fight. All us Americans, Russians, Afganstans, Iranians, Iraqis etc. folks who just want to go to work, come home and life an normal life could just be left alone??? Don't get me wrong. I think GWB is doing what he has to do and I'm not an anti-war demonstrator. I'm just kind of day-dreaming. Eagle

-- eagle (eagle@alpha1.net), October 16, 2001.

eagle, I share your dream.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), October 16, 2001.

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