What does NATO have to show for a 40,000 troop escalation and a year of record death tolls? Absolutely nothing, according to the military alliance’s most recent estimates.
NATO officials have confirmed that the alliance’s estimate for the size of the Taliban is 25,000 fighters, exactly the same number as a year ago. They insist that the estimates are “rough,” but the real story is that these “rough” estimates haven’t changed one bit.
The claim once again flies in the face of the Obama Administration’s claims that measurable progress is being made in the war, despite the ever rising levels of violence. If violence isn’t dropping and the insurgency isn’t getting smaller, how can there be progress?
The level reflects that even after a year in which NATO troops killed an enormous number of Taliban and Taliban-suspects, the organization was able to replace them. Indeed, with public sentiment against the NATO occupation getting worse and worse, it may be a wonder that the insurgency isn’t larger still.
Not unlike in WW II when the Nazis executed the Marquis others rose up in thier places, the Taliban like other Nationalist idealogues will increase in numbers the more they are killed.
The Taliban and their then other Aghan Mujahadeen compatriots of the Soviet era did exactly the same then and will do the same now. As was shown just recently MOST Taliban dont even KNOW about 9/11 they dont KNOW why the US has invaded their country, they just know that the so called infadels have done so. That the majority dont read makes it difficult to even inform them as to the reason why the US has attacked them.
This war whilst at its beginning was Just, in that it wanted to get rid of the AlQaeda and Taliban leaders, was turned into a farce when US troops were told to leave Tora Bora all those years ago. an additional farce was that the lowest of low soldiers of the Taliban were so called Co Conspirators of the 9/11 tradgedy to was just another stupidity of the Bush Administration, seriously did the Bush administration really think that a lowly Taliban member even KNEW what the twin towers were or even the Pentagon, just look at some so called educated Americans and ask them to point to countries on a map. We have seen it on US television Comedy shows and THEY get it wrong in the Majority. Palin thought that Africa was a country enough said.
It is time for a different approach time to explain to the Taliban why the US is fighting them. Simplistic it may be, but has it actually been tried.
Shoddy analysis, if the surge did not occur the Taliban would have been 50,000 strong, so holding the Taliban at the previous years 25000 level is a major victory.
That Palin is an idiot there is no doubt. She's got a lot of company, though. I think politicians should fill the ranks of the next draft. Increase the average IQ of the country by a good 30 points, and get rid of some of the dead wood.