Afghan insurgents 'on brink of defeat'

[headhuntersix]

Missions by special forces and air strikes by unmanned drones have "decapitated" the Taliban and brought the war in Afghanistan to a "tipping point", the commander of British forces has said.

CHRISTOPHER PLEDGER
A member of 2 Scots acquires a personal escort as he patrols the town of Lashkar Gah, in Helmand province
The new "precise, surgical" tactics have killed scores of insurgent leaders and made it extremely difficult for Pakistan-based Taliban leaders to prosecute the campaign, according to Brig Mark Carleton-Smith.

In the past two years an estimated 7,000 Taliban have been killed, the majority in southern and eastern Afghanistan. But it is the "very effective targeted decapitation operations" that have removed "several echelons of commanders".

This in turn has left the insurgents on the brink of defeat, the head of Task Force Helmand said.

[240 is Back]

Last week, we heard that Al-Q in iraq was almost gone.
This week, we hear that Taleban is on brink of defeat.

IMO, this sounds like a coordinated effort to lay down the groundwork for a second "mission accomplished" where Bush can declare victory in October and take the war out of the Nov 2008 election issue pile.

Remember, 18 months ago, the Pentagon released that memo about declaring victory in October 2008.  We talked about it here on getbig.  Some of you bastards said that was crazy talk, that Bush would actually politicize the war. 

[headhuntersix]

Its funny but u have no facts to prove otherwise. U get ur stuff from the net or TV. In any event we're not talking about millions of soldiers. If u kill 100 of these guys a month, thats a huge number of combatants. We're only talking 4000 hard core dudes and maybe another 2000 part time guys. If u kill a ton of full timers the part timers loose interest.

[Dos Equis]

Good news.   

[240 is Back]

I don't follow all of that - obviously you know miles more of the numbers and real life situation than I do.

My point is that over a year ago, all the crazy CT sites made a big deal about it, saying it was proof that the war would be dragged out, then ended fast at the end of his term.  Heck, it would make mccain look good - "I've been behind the war the whole time, and we won!  Bush said so!"

If it ends in October, you'll have to at least consider the possibility it was timed for political purposes, not military, right hh6?

[headhuntersix]

We've killed some major guys in Iraq and we got lucky in Afghanistan. The main guys in Af don't come out much but the SBS got a big fish last month. Whether its politics, luck or we're getting very good...I don't care. Dead shitbags means we all get to come home. We won't be done by October and the Taliban will be going back in the caves by early nov anyway. Its all about Iraq.

[240 is Back]

We've killed some major guys in Iraq and we got lucky in Afghanistan. The main guys in Af don't come out much but the SBS got a big fish last month. Whether its politics, luck or we're getting very good...I don't care. Dead shitbags means we all get to come home. We won't be done by October and the Taliban will be going back in the caves by early nov anyway. Its all about Iraq.

Well, even though you can label them nutbags, the CT sites were right about a few things, and I think this will be another.  If Bush does declare victory in both places in October, will you wash my truck?

[headhuntersix]

Yes....since with these guys, even 1 left means u still have an insurgency. I will be happy to wash ur truck, Smart Car or whatever u happen to be driving by October.