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Slims · 07-17-2010, 06:07 AM

It is a bit of a side topic, but regarding previous statements in this thread about the Northern Alliance:

I have had the pleasure during the past couple of days to speak with a Northern Alliance commander who has continued to work with the Americans following our entry into the conflict. I asked him specifically about the future of the Northern Alliance had we not entered the war when we did. Keep in mind that this is his opinion, but I trust him and do not think he had any reason to claim we were 'necessary.'

Basically it boiled down to this:

He told me the NA was more or less confined to Panshir Province, which was historically their stronghold. They had made inroads else where and had pushed as far south as Bagram with isolated areas of resistance in Laghman, Nangarhar and a few other provinces.

He told me that the progress they had made was going to be short lived. He explained that to be in Panshir at the time was a slow death sentance as the Taliban, having been unable to invade directly had decided to lay seige instead and used their superior numbers to cut off food and water which was depriving the people who supported the Northern Alliance of the bare necessities.

He explained that when Massoud was killed they were basically left leaderless with each element trying to fend for themselves rather than work together for survival. In his opinion, even had Massoud not been killed the NA would have only been able to hold out for another year or so as they simply could not get the resources necessary to sustain resistance.

It isn't hard documented fact, but it is the opinion of someone who was a participant and he definitely did not feel as though they were winning.

I wanted to share this because from his perspective (and that of many other Afghans) had we not gone to war they would have had no hope for any success or (relatively) moderate governance.

I also asked the Afghan Commander who we work with day to day (a different person) and he told me that as bad as things are now they are not nearly as bad as they were during the heyday of the Taliban. He was apparently imprisoned and beaten unconscious because he did not have a five-finger length beard and has no shortage of stories about Taliban Atrocities.

In my opinion this conflict is no longer about 'us' but rather supporting the people who have made a stand against extremism and whose lives depend upon bringing this conflict to a favorable resolution.

07-17-2010, 06:07 AM	#91 (permalink)
Slims Eccentric insomniac Location: North Carolina	It is a bit of a side topic, but regarding previous statements in this thread about the Northern Alliance: I have had the pleasure during the past couple of days to speak with a Northern Alliance commander who has continued to work with the Americans following our entry into the conflict. I asked him specifically about the future of the Northern Alliance had we not entered the war when we did. Keep in mind that this is his opinion, but I trust him and do not think he had any reason to claim we were 'necessary.' Basically it boiled down to this: He told me the NA was more or less confined to Panshir Province, which was historically their stronghold. They had made inroads else where and had pushed as far south as Bagram with isolated areas of resistance in Laghman, Nangarhar and a few other provinces. He told me that the progress they had made was going to be short lived. He explained that to be in Panshir at the time was a slow death sentance as the Taliban, having been unable to invade directly had decided to lay seige instead and used their superior numbers to cut off food and water which was depriving the people who supported the Northern Alliance of the bare necessities. He explained that when Massoud was killed they were basically left leaderless with each element trying to fend for themselves rather than work together for survival. In his opinion, even had Massoud not been killed the NA would have only been able to hold out for another year or so as they simply could not get the resources necessary to sustain resistance. It isn't hard documented fact, but it is the opinion of someone who was a participant and he definitely did not feel as though they were winning. I wanted to share this because from his perspective (and that of many other Afghans) had we not gone to war they would have had no hope for any success or (relatively) moderate governance. I also asked the Afghan Commander who we work with day to day (a different person) and he told me that as bad as things are now they are not nearly as bad as they were during the heyday of the Taliban. He was apparently imprisoned and beaten unconscious because he did not have a five-finger length beard and has no shortage of stories about Taliban Atrocities. In my opinion this conflict is no longer about 'us' but rather supporting the people who have made a stand against extremism and whose lives depend upon bringing this conflict to a favorable resolution. __________________ "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - Winston Churchill "All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dream with open eyes, to make it possible." Seven Pillars of Wisdom, T.E. Lawrence