AP: Pace: Taliban Can't Take Back Afghanistan

[Eugene]

Pace: Taliban Can't Take Back Afghanistan

By FISNIK ABRASHI
The Associated Press
Friday, July 28, 2006; 6:53 AM

KABUL, Afghanistan -- The resurgent Taliban militia poses a tactical problem
for the U.S.-led coalition but it cannot not take over Afghanistan again,
a top U.S. general said.

Marine Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, was
visiting Afghanistan ahead of NATO's takeover of security operations in southern
provinces, where Taliban insurgents have stepped up attacks against U.S.-led
coalition forces.

The Taliban "may be a day-to-day tactical problem for us, but we are a long-term
strategic problem for them," Pace was quoted as saying Thursday by the Department
of Defense Web site. "They can pick and choose some battles, but they cannot take
over this country again."

Afghanistan is mired in its deadliest wave of violence since the 2001 U.S.-led
invasion that toppled the Taliban regime for hosting Osama bin Laden.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/28/AR2006072800250.html

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. "...we are a long-term strategic problem for them..."

Just how long, Mr. Pace? How long?

[LynnTheDem]

3. How long before they bled the Russians dry?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

7. 9 years.

[legin]

10. Also

The Russians went in with 80,000 troops, which climbed in time to 110,000. The article I read said the Russians would not have been successful with 3 times that amount.

A '20 per thousand' rule of thumb says a 27m population requires 540,000 troops.

The coalition have about 30,000 troops.

[LynnTheDem]

2. Karzai invited Taliban members to join his government...

...and is reinstating many of the most sickening of Taliban laws.

So what's yer answer to them thar facts, mr. pace?

[SensibleAmerican]

4. Thank you, Capt. Obvious

Now let's talk about Iraq ...

[tanyev]

5. OK...you keep telling yourself that, General.

[Demeter]

6. Riiiight. Yeah, Sure. Whatever

Did you get another medal for "Conspicuous toadying in the press' line of sight", General?

[MaineDem]

8. "...but it cannot not take over Afghanistan again."

An intentional double negative? Most likely a typo, right?

Reminds me of an old SNL skit with Ed Asner. "You can never add too much water to a nuclear reactor." Does it mean no matter how much water you add it's okay or that if add too much it will be a disaster? That was the question.

[Burma Jones]

9. The General may want to revise that statement to read:

The Taliban won't take over before my retirement........

[Canadian_moderate]

11. Should we just let Afghanistan deal with their own problem?

I support the fight against Islamic extremists in Afghanistan who want to take aaway the human rights that have been established for the people of Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban.

I don't understand how liberal-minded people are against fighting oppressive religious fanaticism. If nothing is done, the majority of Afghanistanis will suffer more and it will spread further.

I am and remain against the war in Iraq, but I will always support a war against oppressive religious fanatics.

[uppityperson]

12. I support the Afghanistan project with qualifications

IF there were enough people there to actually make it work, not just remain the poor step-sister of the Bigger Sexier War Against Terror in Iraq/etc. The Taliban were oppresive in many ways, but were better than the competing misc warlords who were running things before they took over. Those guys were worse. Strictly deposing the Taliban and opening the country up to these minor competing power hungry repressive groups is wrong. Why did the USA abandon Afghanis? I want the military in Iraq to get the hell out of there as soon as it is possible. Send a bunch to Afghanistan, work with people there and get it up and going in a better way. Otherwise, the Taliban are the least worst of the bunch.

Afghanistan is a good sized country that has not been united under 1 group, has not had a lot of what much of us take for granted. They have had wars going there for a long long time, with the civilian population suffering as usual. They need help nation building, truly nation building. How?

[maxrandb]

13. Wow! The Taliban sure went from "destroyed" and "defeated"

to "not strong enough to retake Afghanistan" rather quickly, didn't they?

Right..."Mission Accomplished" and all

[Strelnikov_]

14. That He Even Made This Statement Indicates How Badly The Situation

has deteriorated and underscores the complete incompetence that has been exhibited by the political leadership of this country.