Comments on: Resurgence of Taliban and al Qaeda http://www.captainsjournal.com/2008/02/18/resurgence-of-taliban-and-al-qaeda/ News & Commentary on Warfare, Policy and Counterterrorism Sat, 30 Aug 2008 09:34:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Herschel Smith http://www.captainsjournal.com/2008/02/18/resurgence-of-taliban-and-al-qaeda/#comment-24938 Herschel Smith Tue, 19 Feb 2008 03:22:23 +0000 http://www.captainsjournal.com/2008/02/18/resurgence-of-taliban-and-al-qaeda/#comment-24938 Your position is similar to the Army command talking points. It is dissimilar from Admiral Mullens' position, who holds that there is a "growing insurgency." Gates tows the line somewhere in between. I'm closer to Mullens. I happen to disagree that there were no tactical successes by the Taliban in 2007. The very fact that they control the countryside is statement enough. Your position is similar to the Army command talking points. It is dissimilar from Admiral Mullens’ position, who holds that there is a “growing insurgency.” Gates tows the line somewhere in between.

I’m closer to Mullens. I happen to disagree that there were no tactical successes by the Taliban in 2007. The very fact that they control the countryside is statement enough.

]]> By: TMLutas http://www.captainsjournal.com/2008/02/18/resurgence-of-taliban-and-al-qaeda/#comment-24936 TMLutas Tue, 19 Feb 2008 02:32:06 +0000 http://www.captainsjournal.com/2008/02/18/resurgence-of-taliban-and-al-qaeda/#comment-24936 Last year the Taliban were supposed to have a fearsome spring offensive. They suffered a lot of casualties for not a lot of practical gains. Why are they going to do any better this time? There's danger but I don't think it's coming from a spring offensive in Afghanistan. It's more likely to come from the Taliban peeling of the NWFP from Pakistan and petitioning for admission to Afghanistan. Karzai could not turn that down as it's been a long-term Afghan goal of all parties for over a century. All of a sudden the Taliban come in as provincial rulers, democrats, and genuine nation-wide popularity and get themselves voted in to power. That's the real nightmare scenario. Last year the Taliban were supposed to have a fearsome spring offensive. They suffered a lot of casualties for not a lot of practical gains. Why are they going to do any better this time? There’s danger but I don’t think it’s coming from a spring offensive in Afghanistan. It’s more likely to come from the Taliban peeling of the NWFP from Pakistan and petitioning for admission to Afghanistan. Karzai could not turn that down as it’s been a long-term Afghan goal of all parties for over a century. All of a sudden the Taliban come in as provincial rulers, democrats, and genuine nation-wide popularity and get themselves voted in to power. That’s the real nightmare scenario.

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