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If you’ve been following the news from the latest McChrystal “Victory-in-Afghanistan” maneuver, you may be confused. I know I am. Yesterday, day one, headlines reported everything from “Surprise tactic in Afghanistan offensive befuddles Taliban” and Key posts seized in Taliban stronghold to
Afghanistan war: Marjah battle as tough as Fallujah, say US troops along with the inevitable The mistaken killing of 12 Afghan civilians prompts U.S. apology. (Update: Five Afghan civilians were also killed by a NATO airstrike in neighboring Kandahar province today. )
As Joshua Foust of Registan writes: (h/t Steve Hynd)
In other words, even the reporters there, on the ground, directly interacting with and personally interviewing the military are getting contradictory reports of what’s going on. Chandrasekaran and Phillips, for example, both datelined their stories from Marjeh, and they couldn’t be more different: Chandrasekaran says it’s less than 4,000 troops encountering heavy and unexpected resistance, while Phillips says it’s almost 10,000 troops experiencing light and expected resistance. Making matters worse? They both quote the same Lieutenant Colonel, Calvin Worth. There’s not even the excuse that they’re reporting from different parts of Marjeh.
All of which means that on day two of the offensive we have no idea what’s going on. So many reporters have been given so many contradictory ISAF talking points that nothing makes sense.
Perhaps instead we should listen to Afghan hero Malalai Joya . . . who does make sense: (h/t Russ Wellen)
“It is ridiculous,” said Malalai Joya, an elected member of the Afghan parliament. “On the one hand they call on Mullah Omar to join the puppet regime. On another hand they launch this attack in which defenceless and poor people will be the prime victims. Like before, they will be killed in the Nato bombings and used as human shields by the Taliban. Helmand’s people have suffered for years and thousands of innocent people have been killed so far.” Her fears were confirmed when Nato reported yesterday that a rocket that missed its target had killed 12 civilians at a house in Marjah…
Joya, suggesting that local uranium deposits, notes that the claims that phase two of the McChrystal plan are ridiculous as well:
Operation Moshtarak is described as an inclusive offensive, depending for its longer-term success on involvement of Afghan forces. But Ms Joya said: “The Afghan police force is the most corrupt institution in Afghanistan. Bribery is common and if you have money, by bribing police from top to bottom you can do almost anything. In many parts of Afghanistan, people hate the police more than the Taliban.
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Today’s news – as mentioned in the update – includes the report that 5 Afghan civilians were killed in an airstrike – in Kandahar – when a NATO patrol saw them digging near a path and assumed they were planting IEDs. Instead of investigating, they called in an airstrike.
I assume McChrystal will again express our deepest regrets.
“So many reporters have been given so many contradictory ISAF talking points that nothing makes sense.”
Obviously a deliberate disinformation campaign by the army. Not very surprising, if you think about that. Taliban have internet access, too.
I didn’t understand the bit about the uranium deposits. Could you expand on that?
Also, an analyst on Dylan Ratigan said that Moshtarak is a Dari word, not smart for a name for an operation in Pashto country, and also noted the Afgan army along for the ride has few Pashtuns.
Siun, you do need to clarify the sentence about uranium deposits, for, as it is , it makes no sense. Surely, there is something missing?
DW
Aloha, Siun…! While everybody’s distracted by Moshtarak, Karzai is solidifying his grip on power…! 8-(
I just wrote a quick diary on it…!
Karzai’s Power Grab
Thanks, CTut, looks like he has learned his lessons well,becoming Americanized, and blatant, which is all the rage, these days, ‘twould seem.
DW
Geez. Thanks for highlighting it. Send a link to Amy Goodman. Sounds like the kind of item she might want to cover.
Reminds me exactly what Maliki has been doing in Baghdad…! Pisses me off to no end…! We just seem to be doomed to relive history over and over again with the same dismal results…! *gah*
Oh I think we are soon to experience some exciting “new” chapters, at least “new” for Americans.
Interesting days ahead.
Full steam into the breech!
Ours not to question why … etc. etc.
History redux. But with more consequence.
DW
Excellent post, CT.
On the Uranium question – Malalai Joya suggests, in her comments to the Independent, that the reason this area was picked for special attention is that it has uranium deposits.
Interesting that is was buried deep in the WaPoo…! I’m surprised that they even published it…! ;-)
Mahalo Ya’ll for the kind remarks…!
Interesting suggestion, but the more obvious answer is what’s growing above the ground
This entire military operation is being done because this is an election year, and Obama wants to change the subject away from the failed health care “reform” effort. Warfare is great for taking over the news cycle.
Siun, Registan and Joshua is one of my first reads daily…! ;-)
Too true, Seymour, too true.
It is the political equivalent of the Super Bowl …
Unless it remains on the front page over long …
But some shiney object …
And, amazingly, it always works, until it doesn’t.
And at some point, sooner I suspect, rather than the proverbial “later”, it won’t work, but by then calamity will have come home, with catastrophe looming on the horizon …
Ain’t it all such a pip?
DW
I think the more parsimonious explanation is the alignment of Jupiter and Mars in combination with the current phase of the moon.
It’s the only industry we have left…..build/get others to build military toys and go play war…don’t worry about healthcare, or your mom and dad getting kicked out of their houses…no no…feel sorry for those poor poor banks, and then we gots to bring democracy to those devilish dark people
wow, 18 comments. firepups sure are deeply concerned about immoral war under a Democratic Administration, aren’t they?
kudos to Siun for being a consistent moral voice.
under a Republican Administration, dozens and dozens of commenters would chime in about how their delicate moral sensibilities were offended by this or that outrage from Bush, Cheney or Rove – Guantanamo, ubiquitous surveillance, the tragedies and wasteful stupidities in Iraq.
apparently, all a charade. the same things perpetrated by a Democrat provoke only collective yawns and avoidance. Didn’t Sarah Palin just say something mockable? well, 175 comments over on that thread.
So this aimed at who? Not your usual fare, seeing as how you usually use the generic ‘D’ party moniker.
Perhaps this was aimed at the site, or rather, the commenters AS commenters, instead of the generic ‘D’.
Which would make you what?
Media weighs in on how this will impact the effort of joint force
http://www.newsy.com/videos/afghan-civilian-deaths-put-nato-offensive-in-question
Thanks, chelsea: no shit, eh. They never seem to be able to change their SOPs even when they say they are.
Thank You, Siun & CTuttle. Following this is important to me and these posts are very helpful.
Malalai Joya is a modern hero. Very much appreciate the inclusion of her voice here at FDL.