Article

2017-07-16 Afghanistan

'Land, kill and leave': How Australian special forces helped lose the war in Afghanistan

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Posted by Besoeker 2017-07-16 12:25|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [1786 views ] Top
File under: Taliban

1 An upsurge in "direct action" operations began to distract from efforts to secure the population. By 2010, much of the task group was solely focused on so-called "high-value targeting"...

Where could they have possibly come up with that sort of strategy? 'No Vacancy' at GITMO ?

[Sarc off]

Posted by Besoeker 2017-07-16 12:29|| 2017-07-16 12:29|| Front Page Top

2 I dunno. Who were the leaders of Australia and the US in 2010?

Posted by Pappy 2017-07-16 12:38|| 2017-07-16 12:38|| Front Page Top

3 Exactly! The JPEL didn't just fok'n happen, it was an orchestrated strategy initiated and score-carded by the Klingons, with responsibility for execution tasked to JSOC and associates. 'Big Army' became grounds keepers and logistics pogs assigned to meaningless sectors and AOR's while the executors of direct action (DA) missions knew no such boundaries or coordinating requirements.

Blaming the Auzzie SAS or other coalition SOF is a cheap shot. BTW, some of the coaltition SOF were NOT invited to participate and were shunted off to remote locations in support of the grounds keeping mission. I can give you Albanian SOF as a one example.

Posted by Besoeker 2017-07-16 12:48|| 2017-07-16 12:48|| Front Page Top

4 A blow has been dealt to the prestige of Australia's special forces with in-kind damages likely to follow for the reputation of the Australian Army as a whole.
"Tut-Tut, I say! Harrumph! Blood bad show, what?" ...Or something like that. I doubt the author would be happy with anything the military does in armed conflict more violent than handing out lollypops and rescuing kittens from trees.

Posted by magpie 2017-07-16 13:11|| 2017-07-16 13:11|| Front Page Top

5 the 'plan' was that the Afghan army and police would do most of the 'hold' and the Afghan govt would do most of the 'build'

it is incomprehensible that the Australian force which never got above 2000 at any one time, could have done the 'hold' and 'build' without a large and competent Afghan presence also

Posted by lord garth 2017-07-16 13:24|| 2017-07-16 13:24|| Front Page Top

6 ABC Auz is the downunder version of Al-Grauniad

Posted by Frank G 2017-07-16 13:32|| 2017-07-16 13:32|| Front Page Top

7 it was an orchestrated strategy initiated and score-carded by the Klingons

To be fair, the bois and grrls at 1600 Penn. had a lot to do with it.

Posted by Pappy 2017-07-16 15:43|| 2017-07-16 15:43|| Front Page Top

8 To be fair, the bois and grrls at 1600 Penn. had a lot to do with it.
Posted by Pappy

Respectfully, I believe we've moved into the realm of circular logic, puppets, puppet masters, etc. Or, amirung ?

Posted by Besoeker 2017-07-16 16:21|| 2017-07-16 16:21|| Front Page Top

9 Let me see if I got it right: the author's heart is broken because he discovered special forces actually kill people?

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2017-07-16 16:40|| 2017-07-16 16:40|| Front Page Top

10 Respectfully, I believe we've moved into the realm of circular logic, puppets, puppet masters, etc. Or, amirung ?

Possibly. Tinfoil hats make my head itch.

The Klingons have a long, historical habit of digging in their heels when they disagree with the occupants of the WH. Obviously they didn't from 2008-2016, for whatever reason.

So... a suggestion... an agreement... mutual benefits...

Posted by Pappy 2017-07-16 17:39|| 2017-07-16 17:39|| Front Page Top

11 COIN lover?

Posted by Skidmark 2017-07-16 19:56|| 2017-07-16 19:56|| Front Page Top

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