Afghan Taliban leadership splintered by intense US military campaign (Tribal elders & villagers say)

[Turborama]

Source: The Guardian

The US military onslaught against the Taliban in Kandahar has dealt a major blow against insurgent commanders who have been forced to flee areas they used to control and reduced two of the most senior insurgent field commanders to squabbling over footsoldiers, residents in the critically important southern province say.

Tribal elders and ordinary villagers living at the centre of Barack Obama's military surge in and around Kandahar city say it has severely damaged the Taliban's capability, with senior commanders and foreign fighters quitting the key districts of Zhari, Panjwai and Arghandab altogether.

Local fighters have been promoted to leadership positions and left to fend for themselves and continue attacks against coalition forces. But local people say that, cut off from their leaders, local Taliban have shied away from fighting.

"Two months ago the Taliban were everywhere," said Malim Juma Gul, a tribal elder from Zahri district. "They were attacking Nato forces every day and they were searching people and arresting anyone whom they suspected of working for the government. But after the big operations began, the commanders all ran away and the local fighters now just stay at home, or they work as day labourers and even on US cash-for-work schemes."

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/22/us-military-make-taliban-flee

[notesdev]

1. you missed the most important part of the story:

"But most analysts remain highly sceptical about Nato success stories, particularly after similar claims were made earlier in the year about operations in the Helmand town of Marjah that were later shown to be almost completely wrong."

As this story will be. You can bank on it. I've been bombarded with enough war propaganda in my life to recognize its stench when it wafts past my nose.

[Turborama]

2. No, I can only post four paragraphs

Doesn't mean I didn't rad the article.

Everyone has their most "important part of the story".

I found the conclusion quite important...



Even if Kandahar is only enjoying a temporary drop in Taliban activity, Nato believes it can use the winter months to bolster local security and prevent insurgents returning.

It is a view shared by some locals, including Malim Gul, the tribal elder from Zahri: "If the security forces hold these areas for longer we believe the Taliban won't come back. Local Taliban won't fight and will not be able to communicate easily if their commanders are away.

"I am sure local Taliban will eventually give up fighting if Nato and Afghan forces hold territories for longer."

[bemildred]

3. Right.

"Hey Mister, where's my $50 bucks?"

[Skink]

4. Great the Taliban is out of leaders.

mission accomplished.