Who we are Fighting in Afghanistan

[KenESmith]

Just in case some may get the wrong idea about the Taliban - from todays International news in the Australian:

Taliban flogs, executes pregnant woman

* From correspondents in Herat
* From: AFP
* August 09, 2010 10:31PM



THE Taliban publicly flogged and then executed a pregnant Afghan widow by shooting her three times in the head for alleged adultery, police said.

Bibi Sanubar, 35, was kept in captivity for three days before she was shot dead in a public trial on Sunday by a local Taliban commander in the Qadis district of the rural western province Badghis.

The Taliban accused Sanubar of having an "illicit affair" that left her pregnant.

She was first punished with 200 lashes in public before being shot, deputy provincial police chief Ghulam Mohammad Sayeedi told AFP.

"She was shot in the head in public while she was still pregnant," Mr Sayeedi said.

The execution is a grim reminder of the Taliban's harsh six-year rule from 1996 to 2001 in Afghanistan.

The radical Islamists staged public stonings or lashings of those found to have committed adultery or sex outside marriage.

The then-Taliban government would also chop off the hands and feet of those accused of theft and robbery.

Local Taliban commander Mohammad Yousuf carried out the execution, Mr Sayeedi said, before the woman's body was dumped in an area under government control.

The man who allegedly had an affair with Sanubar has not been punished.

Head of Badghis provincial council Mohammad Nasir Nazaari confirmed the execution and said the Qadis district is entirely under Taliban control.

Civilised chappies aren't they? -
The trouble is we don't understand their culture and beliefs

[Twelvevolts]

I changed channels the other day form the New Zealand news broadcasts where everyone seemed to be suggesting New Zealand troops shouldn't be in Afghanistan, to the ABC news where they were showing a young women who was going from Afghanistan to the US for treatment because she had had her nose sawn off and just had a big hole in the front of her head. Seemed to me after watching that we should stay there.

[Cicero]

It's a terrible culture that can justify such actions,we are talking savages.

We see some of it here with treatment of children.

[Battleneter2]

lol KenESmith

You are really buying into the "we are there for there freedom" hero crap.

Every day thousands of people are either killed or raped in a number of African countries. Lets not forget the 10 of THOUSANDS of kids and people dying from starvation on earth "every" day.

This war is NOT about freedom, that's the crap that CNN has come up with to make the US public feel better about themselves, who wants to think they are killing Savilians for resources!

The war is about destroying the infrastructure of a militant group "Al-Qaeda" who are backed by a number of countries Iran, was Iraq, Syria to fight for regional and resource control. These countries realise they cannot fight the US head on. The US calls it "Terrorism", those countries feel the US is dominating there region with there military and influence.

[Cicero]

Always beware of those that have the answer.

[kenj]

With reference to the First Afghan War in 1842........

http://www.britishbattles.com/first-...l-gandamak.htm

To save you looking, I found these points of interest on this site.

"The First Afghan War provided the clear lesson to the British authorities that while it may be relatively straightforward to invade Afghanistan it is wholly impracticable to occupy the country or attempt to impose a government not welcomed by the inhabitants. The only result will be failure and great expense in treasure and lives."

"The British Army learnt a number of lessons from this sorry episode. One was that the political officers must not be permitted to predominate over military judgments."

The Russians found the same '1979-89

The CIA funded the Taliban to fight against the Russians.

The Americans are finding the same thing.

Strange bedfellows methinks!!

Ken

[Whenu]

"Savilians", must need saving, never heard of them

[johcar]

"Savilians", must need saving, never heard of them

They are inhabitants of Savilia.

Didn't you pass Geography, Whenu!??

[Cicero]

They are inhabitants of Savilia.

Didn't you pass Geography, Whenu!??

Understandable ,not many people know that

[KenESmith]

I am fully in agreement with the concept of destroying Al Quaida and its support base, wherever it may be, because militant Islamic terrorism will continue to be a thorn in the side of the United States and its allies, and pose a threat to the safety of civilians in western countries while Al Quaida and kindred organisations continue to exists. The USA and its allies don't need to apologise to anyone for taking such a stance.

In fact the rules of engagement should be relaxed so that the coalition is not constantly fighting with one arm tied behind their backs, because the other side have no problems with inflicting heavy collateral damage on their own peoples.

Perhaps some of the younger elements of society need reminding that there is no defence for moral cowardice, to sit by when attrocities are being committed, using the arguement, that it is no concern of theirs. All free nations and their peoples should be concerned, and this is not hand wringing concern, but having the guts to stand up and do something about it.

Nato rose to the challenge in Bosnia and Kosovo. It is tragic that the plight of Ruandans were ignored by the world, but hopefully the world and the UN in particular have moved on since then. Well some countries in the Western world seem to be capable of making a half hearted effort - but the UN, by and large no.