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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: FaultLine who wrote (32568)	6/18/2002 9:00:47 PM
From: frankw1900	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Yeah, sure. We knew about it in November. I posted this and some other stuff at the time: saag.org

To: FaultLine who wrote (32568)	6/18/2002 9:17:56 PM
From: epsteinbd	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

"If its true (Kunduz airlift)how to quell my anger ? It sure sounds true. Bush had to negotiate back in September, when Musha was telling us all he didn't make up his mind with whom to dance. Remember him : "Bases ? Airfields ? In My country ? etc, We'll see it we give you right of overfly. But I don't trust you any more:last time you abandoned Pakistan after a crisis and didn't keep your promises. America, Your promises! Shame! then, Body bags of Pakis returning ? I had some eggs there. Ok, here is what I'll do, we'll let you see them all, later, after we let them run, but we'll get their identity." What else could Bush say, in September, but deal ?

To: FaultLine who wrote (32568)	6/18/2002 9:29:51 PM
From: LindyBill	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

FL, I think the reason we did not see any reports in the majors on this is that Hersh will publish with one source. The majors will not. The idea that the Paks wanted to get some of their people out, that we agreed, and that it got out of hand, sure sounds plausible.

To: FaultLine who wrote (32568)	6/18/2002 9:59:37 PM
From: JohnM	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

We discussed the Hersh New Yorker article in rather great detail when it was published, FL. It was one among several of his articles in which we discussed both the event and Hersh's reporting. Sources, etc. I don't recall whether it appeared in the Times or the Post or some other place. But Hersh is Hersh and you take his reporting on the basis of what you think of his reputation.

To: FaultLine who wrote (32568)	6/19/2002 2:18:33 AM
From: arun gera	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Konduz Airlift. I remember that the New York Times reported it. Arun

To: FaultLine who wrote (32568)	6/19/2002 9:44:28 AM
From: PartyTime	Respond to of 281500

SI Post 32569 is absolutely amazing. But, most of all, Hersh provides a logical answer to the question of what happened to all of the Taliban/Al Qaeda who were supposedly trapped at Kunduz. I remember watching closely what would happen when it was first reported all of those troops were trapped. And I vividly recall a stong sense of wonder as to why, when the battle ended, so few surrendered and so few were found dead from the battle. I always thought that Plan B for the Taliban/Al Qaeda would be to enter the lawless zone of northwest Pakistan. But what I didn't think would happen is that the United States would help 'em get there.

To: FaultLine who wrote (32568)	6/19/2002 10:48:00 AM
From: tekboy	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Is it true? I put the question to an expert I trust who has researched the Afghan campaign thoroughly and knows about as much as it is possible to know without access to classified sources. Here's his response: "I am dubious about the Pakistanis' escape story because by November we would have been in a position to interdict a lot of air traffic in and out of Afghanistan, and would have had a strong interest in doing so to prevent bin Laden and other top leaders from sneaking out of the country. On the other hand, we did overlook their potential means of escape at Tora Bora, so maybe we just got sloppy with the airlift thing (though I doubt it). Or maybe we thought the Pakistanis who were purportedly escaping weren't hard-core Taliban or al Qaeda so we didin't really care (though I doubt it). Bottom line: I don't really believe Hersh, but also don't think I have any smoking gun to refute him." tb@askMrWizard.com