Operation Lightning Freedom. 18000 American Troops enter Afghanistan. (from ATSNN)

This is quite a substantial move in my opinion. 18000 American Troops will be sent in to eliminate whats left of the Taliban. Will this be the end of Bin Laden? Will this result in another major western terrorist attack?



18000 troops! That�s a lot of men up in them mountains, that certainly is some persuasion. I will be very interested in the outcome of this. As in any stand off there can be some desperate moves, I hope it�s none of us that suffer the consequences.

Related News Links:
www.khal eejtimes.com
seattletimes.nwsource.com

Operation Thunder Freedom to run in conjunction with Operation Lightning Freedom

www4.army.mil...

Maj. Duke Davis, reiterated that Thunder Freedom is not just a �combat� operation, and it involves a wide array of assets, including reconstruction projects and security assistance programs.

The destruction of the Taleban does not mean the end of AQ/OBL. They are not the same thing. It is interesting when you consider who helped the Taleban into power however.

Get some. They should have done this along time ago. I'm not sure why they did'nt. Maybe the goverment wanted the taliban to grow an outstanding crop of opium for them. Then go blast them.

We never should have pulled out of there in the first place. Troop numbers in Afghanistan should have been the same as what we have in Iraq all along untill OBL was captured dead or alive. Bush doesnt want OBL caught or he would have done this. It is obvious to quite a few people. We wouldnt be in the mess we are in if this would have happened.

Originally posted by Die Trying
Get some. They should have done this along time ago. I'm not sure why they did'nt. Maybe the goverment wanted the taliban to grow an outstanding crop of opium for them. Then go blast them.

Just a little side note. The Taleban were responsible for the reduction of opium growth. The production of opium when the Taleban were in power was reduced by ALOT. Now the Taleban have been for the most part removed, opium production has increased dramatically.

Originally posted by Kriz_4

Originally posted by Die Trying
Get some. They should have done this along time ago. I'm not sure why they did'nt. Maybe the goverment wanted the taliban to grow an outstanding crop of opium for them. Then go blast them.

Just a little side note. The Taleban were responsible for the reduction of opium growth. The production of opium when the Taleban were in power was reduced by ALOT. Now the Taleban have been for the most part removed, opium production has increased dramatically.

Spot on. I was about to to reply with something along those lines myself until i scrolled down and saw someone already had. For those who are interested, and require supportive links, search Afghanistan opium trade on google and you will find many credible sources.

Damn, I should have looked into that. Thanks for the info.

[edit on 30-12-2004 by Die Trying]

It's amazing that Bush isn't interested in the man who ran the world trade attacks and is more worried about oil in a different country.

Originally posted by theghost88
It's amazing that Bush isn't interested in the man who ran the world trade attacks and is more worried about oil in a different country.

Oil, drugs, and geopolitical conquest.

Originally posted by Kidfinger
We never should have pulled out of there in the first place. Troop numbers in Afghanistan should have been the same as what we have in Iraq all along untill OBL was captured dead or alive. Bush doesnt want OBL caught or he would have done this. It is obvious to quite a few people. We wouldnt be in the mess we are in if this would have happened.

i think it was bad planning and underestimation, nothing more, just look at iraq, its a trend with rumsfeld in control.

Does anyone else feel that drugs is a big thing in the middle east. I keep hearing about Iran, Iraq. having huge problems with heroin. Kids around fifteen are going from nothing to heroin addicts. They skip alcohol and weed and just go straight to the hard stuff. Lots of money to be made off a country thats addicted to heroin.

What interests me the most is the capture of OBL, and the fight between the Taliban and the US, it�s fascinating given the history. Also the worrying event that when an animal [Taliban] is cornered it becomes its most dangerous self.

oops

[edit on 1-1-2005 by kode]

I think drugs are a huge part of almost any war. Remember the opium wars of way back when?w

even cornered animals ultimately are exterminated!

Interested in the fact that Bush cares more about oil than BinLaden?
Whats more interesting is the fact that when Clinton had the opportunity to get BinLaden for the first WTC attack, and USS Cole, and there were others during Clintons reign, he was busy gettin busy with interns! Dont get me wrong, I liked Clinton, but I dont assume Bush is any worse (well sort of)

what is up with these dorky, cheesy names,all with freedom in them? how much more blase and corny can u get? Freedom Tower, Operation Iraqi freedom, ect.......and aint none of it have # to do with freedom.

God, with names like that, they are destined to fail anyway.

Freedom for the US to kick your ass! I like that. Thats good. Can't wait for the US to destroy the Taliban and get everyone home. Yes the opium wars who can forget. A bit rusty on the info but did'nt China wan't to stop Britan trading in opium. China destroys British merchant ships full of opium, Britan declares war on China. How funny nothing stops a Brit getting his drugs.

Sorry I posted the above twice. My bad

[edit on 4-1-2005 by Die Trying]

Originally posted by Skadi_the_Evil_Elf
what is up with these dorky, cheesy names,all with freedom in them?

Lightening, followed by thunder? Dorky? I dunno. They're primal forces of nature that go hand in hand. Quick response, rolling power flashed and trembles. Seems liek a decent name. I guess it is pretty cheesy, since two reinderr are named lightening and thunder, Donner and Blitzen.
As for the Freedom bit, well, since people objected to things with the word Crusade in them, I guess it means that people are affected by the names, so why not influence them positively?

kriz
The Taleban were responsible for the reduction of opium growth. The production of opium when the Taleban were in power was reduced by ALOT

Keep in mind that their methods are unnacceptable to the west. If the US used thier methods then there'd most certainly be an outcry. Heck, I am almost certain that some people would insist that they be allowed to continue with their 'traditional agricultural practices', and at the least be re-imbursed, offered subsidies for not growing opium.