"Taliban rebels have overrun a district centre in western Afghanistan as fighting took place in a nearby area captured earlier this week," Reuters reports. "The Taliban have massed in unusually large numbers in the last week in the west and near the main southern city of Kandahar, challenging assertions by Afghan government and foreign troops that they can rout the rebels in any direct engagement
National Journal Group Inc,
2007-11-01 07:43:49 · 12 answers · asked by pacer 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
With Iraq looking very much like a lost battleground for Al-Qaeda, they're throwing more support behind their allies in less favorite base of operations, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
In all 3 locations, Al-Qaeda (and in the latter two, the Taliban) have already lost most of their seasoned warriors. The new leaders have yet to learn that they will lose when they gather forces. They are desperate though and prima facie, it would appear to them that they can discredit the government by taking some towns. In the end, it serves the good guys well as the Taliban in this case, is destroyed in greater numbers!
BTW: Popular support for Al-Qaeda is down worldwide, including in both Iraq (significantly) and Pakistan (significantly). The Afghanis never really liked them but put up with them because they needed the money.
2007-11-01 08:05:14 · answer #1 · answered by John T 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
So that means it is not so easy for Afghan government and foreign troops to rout the rebels in any direct engagement. Remember, the Taliban have weapons they once received from the US...
2007-11-01 15:30:53 · answer #2 · answered by Avner Eliyahu R 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There gathering like rats on a sinking ship, as the ship goes down they all head for whatever is above water.
They are re-grouping cause they have run out of places to hold a gathering. Now if we could only get the white house lawyers to allow the military to take em out with one of those $85,000 laser guided missiles from an un-manned plane, then hey, things might quiet down so that others can go to the shops to buy food and get electricity back.
2007-11-01 16:33:41 · answer #3 · answered by Sgt Big Red 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What's the mystery? The quote you gave us answers your question. They're massing in order to 'challenge assertions by Afghan government and foreign troops that they can rout the rebels in any direct engagement'. It's called 'saber rattling'. It's the Taliban's way of saying 'our penises are bigger than yours!'.
What part of this is difficult to understand?
2007-11-01 14:51:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
They are not 'massing.' They pull brief stunts like this to make people think that they can do something.
Notice that the article very carefully left out how long they held this district center and how many of then survived the experience?
2007-11-01 15:25:25 · answer #5 · answered by MikeGolf 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It may be a diversions tactic or hopefully a grand last stand, so they can be dealt with en mass.
Either way, perhaps an assessment can be make whether this barking dog, does just bark or is capable of a real bite.
2007-11-01 17:20:21 · answer #6 · answered by bluebird 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are they massing in the shape of a Bulls Eye?
Maybe they are about to commit mass martyrdom.
Won't that be nice?
2007-11-01 15:06:48 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think its part of the Lord of the Rings ritual, oppps! thats Orcs are gathering!!!
2007-11-01 15:53:12 · answer #8 · answered by conranger1 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Great..! Get 'em all clustered in one place and blast the living sh*t out of 'em.
2007-11-01 14:51:52 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Cool a daisy cutter should take them out then.
2007-11-01 14:48:52 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋