More than 1,700 Taliban give up their arms

More than 1,700 Taliban give up their arms

www.google.com

WASHINGTON — More than 1,700 former Taliban combatants have turned in their weapons to join a reintegration program started by the Afghan government nearly a year ago, the NATO general in charge of the program said Thursday.

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Looks like peace might just break out in Afghanistan. This story is likely to see a lot of attention in the coming days. Not many people were aware of this program let alone know that they would see thousands of Taliban giving up their fight.

First Osama Bin Laden is killed and now the Taliban is surrendering. Someone has handed Obama a pretty big chip in the game.

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

link shortner to the rescue

How many of those are really giving up? Seems like a good way to get on the inside to cause problems down the road. Also is 1700 all that many?

Oh this will get pushed so hard in the Obama campaign ... I'll repeat so hard!

Sounds great to me!

1,700 is a good start - I wonder how many they are in total though?

1700 really isn't that much.

During the Civil War 1700 men was hardly a single brigade, and many of those were captured or forced to surrender on both sides during various campaigns.


There'll be 17,000 more behind them who aren't turning their guns over, ever. You can count on that.

Originally posted by Chevalerous
Sounds great to me!

1,700 is a good start - I wonder how many they are in total though?

If its all Taliban and not other militia, its a good chunk.

Taliban fighter numbers were estimated last year to be over 30,000.

reply to post by anon102


All the world is a stage for these folks. They look at the world as a grand chess board. Someone sure dealt Obama a nice hand for the election so far.

I was watching the BBC last week and they interviewed "Taliban Fighters" who seemed to be nothing more then old farmers. One of them said that the US government recently started to offer them cash in exchange for cooperation. Of course, they took the money, which an article I found online made me think might of been printed up specifically to be given out during the war for this purpose. I have no doubt in my mind there must of been money in exchange for these weapons they turned in and it must of been enough to make it worth it (i.e. buy another gun that's cheaper) and thats only if these people even are Taliban at all and this story is really true. What is surrender if it's not for the right reasons? Just my 2 cents.

Maybe if they surrender the US will leave and they can get on with their lives again.
I doubt it though, they're too mineral,flora rich a region.

Originally posted by g146541
Maybe if they surrender the US will leave and they can get on with their lives again.
I doubt it though, they're too mineral,flora rich a region.

The Chinese are already buying up the mineral rights.

They screwed us out of the oil in Iraq the same way and may be doing it in Libya as well.

If it's true that they got cash to "surrender" every farmer and worker in the country is suddenly Taliban.

Reply to post by MikeboydUS

Care to elaborate on how the Chinese screwed us out of the oil in iraq? Maybe (this is a stretch) we are doing their bidding? One could say we have a symbiotic relationship economically.


Posted Via ATS Mobile: m.abovetopsecret.com

Originally posted by watchedbyskulls
Reply to post by MikeboydUS

 

Care to elaborate on how the Chinese screwed us out of the oil in iraq? Maybe (this is a stretch) we are doing their bidding? One could say we have a symbiotic relationship economically.

 

Posted Via ATS Mobile: m.abovetopsecret.com

 

Here's some examples:

Iraq Signs Oil Deal With China Worth Up to $3 Billion (2008)
www.nytimes.com...

Iraq will double exports to China to satisfy thirst for oil (2009)
business.timesonline.co.uk...

As Iraq Stabilizes, China Eyes Its Oil Fields (2009)
www.nytimes.com...

China becomes biggest oil player in Iraq (2009)
www.perthnow.com.au...

China reaps benefits of Iraq war (2010)
www.msnbc.msn.com...

China picking up lots of oil in Iraq (2010)
www.chron.com...

reply to post by wayouttheredude


Yep, Obama will be the president that "gets us out of Afghanistan" right in time for the 2012 election. We know the drill.

Just in time for a Libyan ground war

reply to post by Skerrako


Based on the rate of development, NATO ground troops will be in Libya before the next elections.

At the rate things are going in Afghanistan, NATO will end up in Pakistan's tribal regions also before the next elections.

Keep any eye on Syria.

I think Taliban just means "person who lives in Afghanistan". They seem to call everyone that, especially when they shoot them.

A couple of weeks ago Frontline did a piece on this redemption program.

It wasn't looking good.

Relapse rates were extremely high and anyone found turning themselves over to work with the government was shunned by the villages.

That in itself wasn't so bad. What was bad is that the Afgan government wasn't there to support their new allies.

Left hungry, homeless and poor many returned to the Taliban side within a couple of months.

That number isn't fixed. Of 1700 defects how many went back or will go back to the Taliban eventually?


Posted Via ATS Mobile: m.abovetopsecret.com

Taking weapons out of the hands of the possible enemy is always a good thing... But Afghanistan is entrenched with Taliban and sympathizers. If you are a simple farmer with your aging AK-47 from the soviet era you are left in a very difficult situation.

Cooperate with the US forces and accept money and "protection" from those forces occupying your lands, stomping through your agricultural fields, killing your livestock and forcing entry into your homes... Or side with the taliban who, in most documentaries I see, seem to respect your household/women, will hold fire to let you extract your injured family members from the area, and may even provide stability more then western forces (as hard as that is to believe). It is a struggle for the hearts and minds of the local people... Side with NATO/US and be shunned by your community/risking having your throats cut by the taliban... Or have your house levels/shot in your fields by infidels.

These people have seen occupying forces come and go. It is easiest just to play both sides. Turn in your guns when you are to old/lost some will to fight. Appease the americans and take their money. Meanwhile, continue to support the local taliban, provide intel on troop movements and food/shelter to taliban... Let your younger sons continue to fight the infidels.