New Documentary: Behind Taliban Lines

New documentary from PBS Frontline "Behind Taliban Lines" shows the challenges faced by the U.S. in Afghanistan. Najibullah Quraishi, an Afghan journalist, was able to infiltrate the Taliban and get a glimpse of life in Afghanistan in areas outside of the control of U.S. troops. The U.S. is losing the battle for hearts in minds in some parts of the Country, although the West has tribal support in others... but in many areas not physically held by U.S. troops & where the Taliban has found shelter, such as in Southern Afghanistan, the U.S. faces an almost impossible situation.

There is a reason why they call Karzi the Mayor of Kabul... because that is the only place where the Afghan government has effective control. The central leadership is poor due to corruption, tribalism, the lack of resources, and the ongoing insurgency. Outside of the Capital, the federal governments presence is spotty. Even in areas where the Karzi government has a presence... officials have been either compromised, corrupted or killed.

Luckily the U.S. is now on the offensive... but the hearts and minds battle is still a problem. The film raises questions about Afghanistan's future and its ability to stand on its own. It would probably require a strong NATO commitment of 5-7 more years (minimum), and billions more in American tax dollars. With all the other challenges faced by the U.S., I don't know if this kind of commitment is sustainable.

Republican Party Spokesman Calls for the Death of Captured American Soldier

On Faux News over the weekend, Right Wing mouthpiece Ralph Peters called for the Taliban to execute captured Army Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl. I have seen a lot of nonsense by the Right...but this made my heart skip a few beats (not for any good reasons either). I thought I was imagining things... that maybe Rachel Maddow (who pointed this out on her program) was somehow playing tricks on me... but I went online and retrieved the video and replayed it just to make sure that I didn't lose my mind.



Peters has jumped to a lot of conclusions....mainly assuming that Pfc. Bergdahl abandoned his post. The latest reports that I have read have suggested that this soldier may have been drinking and may have wandered off too far.

Here is what was reported by the Taliban on one of its own websites, from July 6th:

"Five days ago, a drunken American soldier who had come out of his garrison named Malakh was captured by mujahedeen. ... He is still with mujahedeen," said the report. The short Web message did not elaborate on his whereabouts....

Either way.... Ralph Peters is out of line.

1. No matter what the circumstances are... this is an American. Period. The U.S. should do all it can to find him and bring him home alive.

2. This young man is/was the responsibility of his senior enlisted comrades (NCO's) and his commanders...regardless of the circumstances. It was their job to take care of him....especially if he was under the influence or for some other reason was not making good decisions for himself. He's a Pfc. for crying out loud! Even if he did something worthy of disciplinary action... he's still the responsibility of his NCO's and commanders. It is their job to make sure he gets home to his family. The same is true for any soldier. Even if they are under the supervision of MP's... They should still be brought home to their families.....and to face disciplinary action if appropriate.

3. It is way out of line for a pundit, a reporter, and especially a Right wing mouthpiece to call for the death of an American soldier being held captive. Especially when the family is panicked about their loved one. Isn't Ralph Peters, with the help of Faux News, collaborating with enemies of the United States by asking them to kill an American soldier? What Lt. Col. Peters did is sickening. His retirement status should be reviewed IMO.

Is The U.S. Winning The War On Terrorism?

Hear a great discussion on how well the U.S. is doing in the war on terrorism.

I have stated many times that troops, tanks, warplanes, missiles, and ships cannot defeat terrorism. Conventional war and occupation cannot defeat an ideology. Conventional military power cannot stop a group of individuals from obtaining Visa's with false ID, getting onto a jetliner and entering the U.S. or crossing the open Mexican or Canadian border to do God knows what. Military power can't stop that kind of threat. It's like using a shotgun or sledgehammer to kill a fly. In fact, war only creates the conditions that make it easier for groups like Al Qaeda to recruit.

Listen To Discussion Here

I wish Bruce Hoffman and Stephen Van Evera, and analysts like Stephen Cohen could work in an Obama Cabinet. (Are The Obama folks even listening to these brilliant men?). They would make great advisors, because they "get it".

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Wars Increased Terrorism

Intelligence Community Reports that Wars are Complicating War On Terrorism

The War On Terrorism Explained

U.S. Failures in Afghanistan

Resurgence of the Taliban

How the War In Iraq Has Impacted Ordinary Iraqis

An Interview With Ahmed Rashid - On U.S. Failures In Afghanistan

Pakistani writer Ahmed Rashid talks about his book Descent into Chaos: The US and the Failure of Nation Building in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. Hear how U.S. taxpayer dollars are being diverted to the Taliban, and how Pakistan has become an obstacle to progress.

The U.S. failed to follow through with promised economic development and reconstruction in Afghanistan. Therefore, efforts to get farmers to stop using their land to grow opium failed. The money that the farmers were being offered did not come close to the amount of money that they could get from growing the poppy plant. And since there were no jobs being created, farmers resumed growing their old crop. Much of the revenue from the opium trade goes toward funding the Taliban.

Hear/Watch Interview

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Previous Related Blog Entries

Return of the Taliban

Chaos in Afghanistan

Progress slipping in Afghanistan

Pakistan assisting anti-U.S. militias in Afghanistan