Targeted killing is new U.S. focus in Afghanistan

Targeted killing is new U.S. focus in Afghanistan

www.msnbc.msn.com

WASHINGTON — When President Obama announced his new war plan for Afghanistan last year, the centerpiece of the strategy — and a big part of the rationale for sending 30,000 additional troops — was to safeguard the Afghan people, provide them with a competent government and win their allegiance.

Eight months later, that counterinsurgency strategy has shown little success, as demonstrated by the flagging military and civilian operations in Marja and Kandahar and the spread of Taliban influence in other areas of the country.

Instead, what has turned out to work well is an approach A

(visit the link for the full news article)

Yay!

More killing. More sketchy killing at that. All them "terrorists" that they kill which we never hear about, and if we do it's along the lines of:

"Taliban #2 and #3 assasinated today by American Forces, stay tuned for tomorrow when we announce who took their place and how they were killed".

This is getting out of hand. Perhaps they will stop protecting the poppy farms then?

No, I would suppose the CIA still needs the money.

Judging that they have gained some leverage over the Taliban, American officials are now debating when to try to bring them to the negotiating table to end the fighting

Yeah, let's just bribe em' all, that's far better than actually attempting to implement democracy or anything like that.

Thougths?

www.msnbc.msn.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

[edit on 8/1/2010 by tothetenthpower]

It's no different than taking on the role of bonfire builder/lighter during a witchhunt.

That's what the US is doing? That's what we want our kids doing?
Targeted killing, with no justice at all?

I know, I know, it's war.

Or IS it? Is this REALLY an American WAR?

It costs like three, it looks like one...but it's not looking like it is being waged like the Americans of yesteryear would wage war.

So what has changed? The people? The govt? The law?

My wife and i was just sitting her and reading this. She asked me, what is up with these Americans. Why do they have to go all the way to Afghanistan to to help their families? When their families probably need them a lot more at home in the US. If a soldier dies in Afghanistan what good have he/she done for their family?

My wife dont see the personal gain for a family in all this. But neither do i.

Could this be a reboot to the counterinsurgency policy from the Vietnam Era, the Phoenix Program? That was one of the most controversial military operations the United States ever had. It was responsible for a wide array of violations. Back then it was a means to neutralize the Vietcong insurgency in South Vietnam. Moreover, allegations of brute force, torture, and unsanctioned killings took place.

This could be another assassination campaign and on the list this time are the Taliban and potential Taliban sympathizers? This recent policy shift and strategy may be a clear idea that the US military and its NATO partners have found themselves in an awkward situation. Just last month it was reported as being the most violent month during the Afghan War. Some 66 service members were killed.

July becomes deadliest month for U.S. troops in nearly nine-year Afghan war

With the deaths of six troops on Thursday and Friday, July has become the deadliest month for U.S. forces in the nearly nine-year-long war in Afghanistan.

The casualties keep mounting and the Taliban are getting more aggressive by the day. The Karzai government is on the ropes and riddled with corruption. Furthermore, we have a significant command shift with the sacking of General Stanley McChrystal for General David Petraeus. Most importantly, what is the objective? That is something I have been toiling over in my mind since 2001? We will have to wait and see if this new strategy has any affect on the situation in Afghanistan? If this program is abused and violations occur, it will only bolster the Taliban and the West will lose the hearts and minds of the people. With out support from the people any military operation is dead in the water. Perhaps this Soviet general sums up Afghanistan the best when briefing his soldiers before the invasion in 1979.




[edit on 1-8-2010 by Jakes51]

It sounds a little desperate. Obviously they need results and they need them quickly.
The Dutch are going home, Canada is to follow.

But I doubt, that "targeted killing" will find much support in the public.

Probably they even make more countries doubt in the sense of this all.