[Plantagenet]

US spending in Afghanistan jumps to 2.1 million dollars per year per soldier.

2.1 million per soldier

This can't be over soon enough.

[Graeme]

The Shrinking “Oil-Spot Strategy”

When push came to shove for the U.S.-led military efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq, some experts urged the adoption of a so-called “oil-spot strategy” as a way of doing more with less. Instead of placating the entire nation all at once, it called for the establishment of small, secure areas that would gradually grow over time as counter-insurgency successes in the initial zones oozed outward and ultimately connected.

It made sense, at least at first glance. But now, a key monitor of U.S. success in Afghanistan is warning that the opposite is, in fact, happening: more and more of Afghanistan is becoming insecure as the U.S. and its allies leave the country. In other words, the “oil spots” are shrinking, surrounded by growing areas of instability.


“Even if these alternative means are used to oversee reconstruction sites, direct oversight of reconstruction programs in much of Afghanistan will become prohibitively hazardous or impossible as U.S. military units are withdrawn, coalition bases are closed, and civilian reconstruction offices in the field are closed,” Sopko warned.

Since invading Afghanistan on Oct. 7, 2001 — in retaliation for the safe haven the Taliban government provided Osama bin Laden to plot the 9/11 attacks — the U.S. has spent close to $100 billion on reconstruction efforts inside the country:

– $54.30 billion for security
– $24.70 billion for governance and development
– $6.92 billion for counter-narcotic efforts
– $2.67 billion for humanitarian aid
– $7.99 billion for operations and oversight

The war’s total cost to U.S. taxpayers is approaching $700 billion, and, to U.S. families, 2,191 lives.

time

[Plantagenet]

Things have reached a new low in Afghanistan.

The US forces capture Taliban terrorists and turn them over to our "allies" the government of Afghanistan.......who then release them so they can go out and attack US forces again.

Afghanistan releases 65 dangerous Taliban detainees in spite of strong US objections

It makes you wonder whose side Karzai is actually on.....

[Keith_McClary]

It makes you wonder whose side Karzai is actually on.....

What are the "sides" exactly. Afghanistan and USA?

[Plantagenet]

Big battle between Taliban and Afghan forces going on outside Kabul

hundreds-of-taliban-fighters-battle-afghan-forces-near-kabu

I hope they've got the helicopters warmed up to take the last Americans off the roof of the embassy in Kabul when the taliban walk in. It won't take long after Obama pulls the US soldiers out for Afghanistan to collapse into war like Iraq has done since Obama pulled the last US soldier out there----In fact, Afghanistan may collapse before we can even leave.






Jeez, what a waste of time, money and people.

[Keith_McClary]

Big battle between Taliban and Afghan forces going on outside Kabul

hundreds-of-taliban-fighters-battle-afghan-forces-near-kabu

This has been ignored by US and other "Western" online media (except the "wire sercices"), although "Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Inc." covers it:

Some 700 Taliban fighters are reportedly involved in fighting with Afghan government forces in the Logar Province, south of Kabul.

The governor of Logar, Niaz Mohammad Amiri, on August 19 cited the figure of 700 Taliban and said the militants appear ready for a long siege in the province.

Logar Province police chief Abdul Hakim Esaaqzai said the Taliban fighters were armed with heavy machine guns and were attacking in the Charkh district.

Charkh council chief Abdul Wali said some 20 Taliban militants had been killed in fighting in the district so far.

Wali said hundreds of Taliban fighters attacked checkpoints in the district late during the evening of August 18 and continued fighting with security forces through August 19.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the group was attacking on Logar.
http://www.rferl.org/content/afghan-tal ... 39555.html

[M_B_S]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34377565

Taliban seize part of Afghanistan's Kunduz city

Hundreds of Taliban fighters have seized parts of the strategic northern Afghan city of Kunduz, reports say.
There is fierce fighting after militants launched a surprise attack from several directions. There are casualties on both sides, police say.
Taliban fighters have taken government buildings in the city centre.
Monday's attack appears to be one of the most significant mounted on a provincial capital by the Taliban, correspondents say.


*************************************

The Afghanistan War is lost it was useless!

Every historian knows it. The Afghans hate invaders.

M_B_S

More / Russian view

http://www.rt.com/news/316718-taliban-k ... ghanistan/

Aljazeera

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/09/t ... 34732.html

Afghan Taliban fighters, who launched an assault on the country's northern provincial city of Kunduz, have hoisted their white banner over the main square, according to a witness and two security officials quoted by the Reuters news agency

[M_B_S]

Kunduz residents should not be worried about their lives and property. They should continue as normal without any tension'
The Taliban's new leader, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, celebrated the Islamist militants' capture of Kunduz, saying in a statement that residents had nothing to fear.

https://news.vice.com/article/us-launch ... -of-kunduz

The Taliban Warrior

Behind The Taliban Mask: The Other Side Of Afghanistan's Front-line
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OI8Y0jjM0k

[Plantagenet]

The Taliban Warrior

No worries. Obama had already backtracked on his pledge to withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan. Now after this attack Obama is sending in US airstrikes to drive off the Taliban and retake Kundus. Remember---unlike Iraq Obama was all in favor of invading Afghanistan. This is probably just a temporary setback in what Obama calls "the good war."


The American Warrior

[M_B_S]

Battle of Kunduz
How the Taliban bounced back; the BBC Paul Adams explains in five simple steps
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34398371
Heavy fighting is continuing in the Afghan city of Kunduz, one day after government forces launched a counter-attack to reclaim it from the Taliban.
Two US air strikes on Tuesday halted an attempt by insurgents to seize the airport, the army's stronghold.
Afghanistan's spy agency says the strikes killed the Taliban leader in the province and his deputy, but the Taliban has denied this.
The capture of Kunduz represents the militants' biggest victory since 2001.
*********************
In street to street fight the Taliban could defend if not totally cut off supply lines.

Will the US use massive air firepower (gunships) and destroy the local capital city of 300.000 ?

We will see ...

More:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-taliban ... 1443569574

[M_B_S]

Taliban repelled Afghan government counter offensive!

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan lawmakers called on President Ashraf Ghani to resign on Wednesday over his government's "shameful" handling of the battle for Kunduz, the northern city which has fallen to Taliban insurgents in their biggest victory so far in 14 years of war.

The Islamist militants seized control of Kunduz after an audacious assault on the city on Monday, and the promised counter-offensive from Afghan forces has yet to materialise.

Instead, thousands of exhausted Afghan police and soldiers are holed up at the city's airport waiting for reinforcements from other parts of the country.

"It is shameful how they (the government) have dealt with the situation in Kunduz," said Iqbal Safi, a member of parliament from Kapisa province, during a televised session of parliament.
***************

This smells like full victory for Taliban.....

M_B_S

[Plantagenet]

There are now US troops involved in the fight for Kunduz.

nato-forces-bolster-afghan-troops-battle-kunduz

Reportedly the US airstrikes were called in by the US special forces troops fighting the Taliban with the afghan government forces who fled to the Kunduz airport

[M_B_S]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 74286.html



Taliban celebrate their victory in Kunduz which they take in a "Tet-Offensive" style in only 24 hours.

A former head of the Afghan intelligence, Amrullah Saleh, who served under Mr Karzai and for the first months of President Ashraf Ghani’s administration, said the scale and effectiveness of the Taliban attack on Kunduz was proof of Pakistani support for the insurgents. “A Tet-style offensive is beyond the capacity of village mullahs to plan and execute. This offensive is the work of years of training that the Pakistan army has been giving to adversaries of US and Afghanistan, the Taliban.

[M_B_S]

Flip Flop Night Day Battle

A Night Counter Offensive bringing Afghan special forces parcial victory in Kunduz

Afghan forces say central Kunduz retaken from Taliban
Special forces commander says operations are ongoing to take total control of strategic city attacked three days ago.
01 Oct 2015 06:59 GMT | War & Conflict, Afghanistan, Taliban, Asia

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/10/a ... 23100.html

[M_B_S]

Flop

After Taliban lost controle last night they retake controle over the center of Kunduz again.


http://www.channelstv.com/2015/10/01/af ... of-kunduz/

Residents say the Taliban has once again advanced into the heart of the city, and that there are fierce clashes over the Governor’s office.

[Plantagenet]

US blows up Afghan hospital run by Medicin san Frontiers near Kunduz---possible war crime

kunduz-hospital-bombing-

What a strange and horrible thing to happen. With an arsenal of laser guided missiles and "smart" bombs the US can't claim this bombing was accidental---US bombs only go where they are targeted. Clearly the Obama administration specifically targeted a bomb on this hospital. But why? Was some high value target being treated there? What could possibly excuse the US blowing up a hospital?

Just 7 years ago Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize---now he is being accused of war crimes in the US bombing of a hospital in Afghanistan!


KA-BOOOM!! Ooopsies!

[M_B_S]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/07/world ... .html?_r=0

Disputing U.S. General, Afghans Say Taliban Control Kunduz
By ROD NORDLAND and NAJIM RAHIMOCT. 6, 2015

KABUL, Afghanistan — Reports from Afghan security officials and local residents in Kunduz on Tuesday sharply contradicted testimony by the American military commander, Gen. John F. Campbell, that most of the city had been retaken from the Taliban.

By the end of the day Tuesday, according to local residents, the Taliban’s white flag was once again hanging on the flagpole over Chowk Square, and half of the city was again under Taliban control. The insurgents continued to fight pitched street battles against Afghan forces, and pressed into service armored Humvees and pickup trucks they had seized from the troops.
***************************************

The US bombing hit the wrong target a hospital very hart....

What a disaster!

M_B_S

[Plantagenet]

The US bombing hit the wrong target a hospital very hard....

What a disaster!

This is nothing new.

The US drone war has been going on for years. The US has been blowing up civilian targets like weddings, motorcades, farm houses, etc. for years. The excuse given for these attacks on civilian targets is that there was an evil al Quaida person somewhere in the target area.

The US has even killed US hostages by blasting the buildings they are in. Clearly the US actually doesn't know what it is bombing.

I really don't see the difference here from the prior US attacks on civilian targets.----this time the US is claiming there were Taliban fighters in the hospital so they had to blow it up. Its not quite clear if US personal had reported the Taliban in the hospital or if the Afghanistan military said there were were Taliban in the Hospital. But either way, the US then decided to target the hospital and blasted it for about 30 minutes.

The US position on blowing up the hospital is really about the same as it always is when a civilian target is bombed by the US and mass civilian casualties result.

[M_B_S]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/14/world ... .html?_r=0

Taliban End Takeover of Kunduz After 15 Days
By ROD NORDLANDOCT. 13, 2015

Why Kunduz Is Critical to the Taliban
The Taliban’s takeover of the northern Afghan city of Kunduz gives the insurgency control over a crucial corridor, and potential to further its reach. By EMMA COTT on Publish Date October 2, 2015. Watch in Times Video »


Continue reading the main story
KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban announced that they had withdrawn completely from the northern city of Kunduz on Tuesday, ending their first takeover of any Afghan city during the last 14 years of war.
*************************

The flop for Obama "Tet Offensive" II for USA

A political victory for Taliban but not a military.

M_B_S

[Plantagenet]

Obama just announced his latest war plan for Afghanistan. Now he is reneging on his promise to withdraw all US troops and instead is committing to extend the war and keep US troops in Afghanistan through the end of his presidency.

So, after 8 years of President Obama we will still be at war in Afghanistan. We'll also be involved in a new war in Iraq, and Obama has also started a new war in Syria. If that was't more than enough, as a bonus Obama has restarted the cold war with Russia.

What ever happened to all that Hope and Change Obama promised in 2008? Whatever happened to his promise to end the wars?

SHEESH!


Hope the next President isn't a big liar like obama has turned out to be.........