Srecked,
<< ...the bombing emboldened the Taliban and made them braver. >>
I believe so. They never broke and ran in response to weeks of unbelievably intense bombing, which as Secretary Rumsfeld pointed out, actually caused rather minimal casualties. You and others on this thread may not want to accept this fact, but it comes as no surprise to me, nor (I suspect) to Secretary Rumsfeld and all those in the military and the administration who know a thing or two about war---thank God.
The Taliban were defeated in the North and now the central and western regions the same way every enemy force has always been defeated in wars: advancing troops. Advancing troops did what bombing could not, and I am glad the NA finally mounted an offensive. If not for that, the Taliban would still be dug in and in control of the country, bombing or no. Advancing troops inflicted more casualties on the Taliban in a single day than 5 weeks of bombing could accomplish. That is how you win a battle. And you win a war by repeating that process again and again in a methodical, strategically sound manner until the enemy controls less and less territory, has less and less resources, and less and less alternatives to surrender or total destruction. Carpet bombing or any other kind of bombing never accomplished this in the history of warfare. Ever. My main point all along has been that because the foregoing has historically been true, it is only reasonable to presume that it remains true.
<< Sounds like you want us to lose. >>
Completely wrong. You couldn't be wronger if you set out to do so. See above, as well as numerous previous posts on this thread.
<< You are completely full of crap here.....Wish there was a way to bet on this so I could take some of your money instead of just having to read your pessimistic views on our mission and our chances of success. >>
Your views don't upset me. I really have zero desire to convince you of anything, and doubt it would be possible in any case. I'd have more fun inserting hot anthrax-infected needles in my eyes.
Your beliefs do not threaten me one bit, and you are more than welcome to express them again and again, even though I don't share them. Still, I hope your views turn out to be more accurate than mine. But it is difficult for me to understand why my views upset you.... who is it that you are trying to convince, me or yourself?
But if you really need the money, let me know and I'll be happy to send you a care package.
Why not aim all that animosity in a direction where it might actually be constructive? Thought about joining the Army and volunteering for duty in Afghanistan?
....just a thought.
Regards,
Walkingshadow |
