Comments on: Marines in Afghanistan have “routed” Taliban: NYT

By: J_Gocht

J_Gocht — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 06:30:36 +0000

You youngsters will never ever know how proud we olde soldiers and marines are proud of your service to our country.

We love all you very brave guys and gals…so very, very much!
Hoooaah…!

By: tomk59

tomk59 — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 05:45:52 +0000

J; must have been my dad. He was in your time. I didn’t get in till ’78, so far once, I’m innocent of all charges!

By: J_Gocht

J_Gocht — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 05:42:07 +0000

tomk59 on June 4, 2008 at 1:22 AM

Thanks “jughhead”…!

I mean that in a really “good way”
God Damit I wish I’d punched you first in that bar at Yaha!

By: tomk59

tomk59 — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 05:22:59 +0000

Hey, J- Gocht; from a former force recon Marine, the 82nd kicks ass . Semper Fi, bro.

By: J_Gocht

J_Gocht — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 05:13:48 +0000

joewm315 on June 3, 2008 at 11:56 PM

Hey “315” I spent a bit-o-time in the 127th Infantry in the 82d Airborne before transitioning over to “Smoke Bomb Hill”.
Heckler and Kochs…!

By: joewm315

joewm315 — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 03:56:14 +0000

God bless, J_Gocht! All respect to the Army, my dad was with the 82nd airborne.
Thanks for your service!

By: J_Gocht

J_Gocht — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 03:03:25 +0000

Hey joewm315, I’ve never in my whole military experience… ever seen firepower laid down by an Marine Expeditionary Unit !

We used to duct tape M16, 30 round magazines back to back so we could flip them over under duress.

That was early Vietnam 1962-1966.

We never had ear protection.
Eye protection.
Night vision.

Marines Rock!

Olde soldier sends!

By: joewm315

joewm315 — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:09:45 +0000

The infantry battalion heading up the MEU in Afghanistan is 1/6, the same battalion that cleared and held central Ramadi just prior to the surge mid 06-mid 07, thus turning it into the theme park it is today.
Trust me, they’re kicking ass, no caveats or further analysis required.

By: Gwillie

Gwillie — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 23:54:36 +0000

Well another spring offensive down the tubes

By: Kevin M

Kevin M — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 23:30:38 +0000

I’m not saying Marines are superheroes, but one time we got trapped under a pile of 200 automobiles after an earthquake, and a marine showed up and made those vehicles fly away like he was Magneto. Saved our lives, he did.

True story, as far as you know.

By: J_Gocht

J_Gocht — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:50:52 +0000

“It shows that the lessons of counterinsurgency applied in Iraq work in Afghanistan as well, and validates the forward strategy of fighting radical Islamist terror.”

Ed, I find your enthusiasm for our most positive progress in Afghanistan curious considering the posts of others in earlier threads? RMC1618 on June 2, 2008 at 9:50 PM …and Robert Spencer on June 3, 2008 at 7:10 AM I would further question what lessons [learned elsewhere] of any counterinsurgency applied in Iraq has been successful to date?

By: BillyRuffn

BillyRuffn — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:22:43 +0000

…or it could be that with a weak-kneed government in charge in Pakistan he’s marshalling his forces for what he sees as easier pickings. Is the next step a full blown “insurgency” against Pakistani sovereignty in the northern tribal territories? The Pak army and political elite are easier opponents to vanquish than the US military.

By: THE CHOSEN ONE

THE CHOSEN ONE — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:14:04 +0000

We are now seeing the Dems and the Libby Press embracing the “routes” and “surges”, because their obvious success only highlights their call to failure such a short time ago.

By: Jaibones

Jaibones — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:57:08 +0000

If they are indeed regrouping in Pakistan then it is … bad news. …Pakistan may be the one to fall.

Gaurav on June 3, 2008 at 9:51 AM

Knowing absolutely nothing of the border geography and other details, it’s easy to lament that we were unable to position our forces to prevent their escape to a safe haven.

Dead would have been better.

By: techno_barbarian

techno_barbarian — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:50:15 +0000

According to the top Democratic leadership, U.S. Marines continue to impede the peaceful retreat of Taliban forces from Afghanistan.

Hening on June 3, 2008 at 10:01 AM

Heh. Thanks for the grin.

By: GarandFan

GarandFan — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:41:06 +0000

When Obama gets elected, we’ll surrender immediately.

By: crosspatch

crosspatch — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:30:10 +0000

Well, considering that the Islamists lost control of Somalia, have been soundly defeated in Iraq (not completely wiped out, but soundly whipped), and are being decimated in Afghanistan after having been chased all over the Hindu Kush this past winter … it would stand to reason that the rhetoric of the terrorist leadership would begin to ring hollow.

The NYT could be right. These people might just be sick and tired or they might be reorganizing for one last spectacular fight. Wonder what all that Iranian talking to al Qaida is about.

By: bayam

bayam — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:41:30 +0000

Could Mehsud have decided that the Afghanistan operations are too costly and brought his forces back into Pakistan for shelter? If so, what would that mean? He may be looking to consolidate power in Pakistan rather than bleeding his forces unnecessarily in Afghanistan

Captain, I can’t believe that you’re watering down the success of US troops. Can’t we let the NYT article stand on its own without trying to portray the defeat of the enemy as some kind of “strategic decision” on the enemy’s part? It sounds like the NYT is becoming more pro-military than you, given the way you’re describing these events.

By: The Thunder Run

The Thunder Run — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:58:03 +0000

Web Reconnaissance for 06/03/2008…

A short recon of whats out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day…so check back often….

By: moxie_neanderthal

moxie_neanderthal — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:22:09 +0000

I’d rather have the bad guys trying to gut it out on the battle field so they can be destroyed.

If they flee back into Pakistan we need to find a way to pursue and destroy.

By: Chuck Schick

Chuck Schick — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:08:34 +0000

Obviously they’re fleeing the imminent invasion of botanists and agriculture PhDs.

Thank you future-President Obama!

By: HotAirJosef

HotAirJosef — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:04:59 +0000

The photo on the home page linking here isn’t of US Marines in Afghanistan but of what appears to be Belgian forces. Of course, I welcome Belgium’s contribution as much as anybody else who loves liberty, but…

For official USMC photos, try going HERE instead. Just make sure to click “photos” after you put in the search terms you want.

One last thing: Damn, I am very, very proud and inspired by our troops and their partners out there!

By: Beagle

Beagle — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:57:09 +0000

They answered your question in another article. Taliban Leader Flaunts Power Inside Pakistan Obama was right about bombing Pakistan. If he renews that call he gets my vote.

By: jukin

jukin — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:39:11 +0000

Thank goodness that Iran let us win another one.[/pelosi]

By: profitsbeard

profitsbeard — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:31:39 +0000

Hammering mercury. If they can retreat into a safe haven in Pakistan and no one follows and destroys them there, this is about the same winning strategy as Nam. LImited warfare rescues the enemy from real defeat.