US, NATO gather largest offensive in years

Sat Feb 06, 2010 12:59 pm » by **Timewarp**

America is set to ask its NATO allies to send thousands of extra personnel to train Afghanistan's new army and police force. The U.S. says the aim is to stabilise the troubled country, but at the same time is planning to launch the biggest offensive since entering eight years ago. Defence ministers from NATO member nations, are meeting in the Turkish city of Istanbul. The U.S. wants around four thousand extra troops from them, on top of the nine thousand already pledged. America is sending 30 thousand extra combat troops of its own. But locals fear more troops will mean more Taliban attacks.

And your children are trying to be recruited.

Sat Feb 06, 2010 6:27 pm » by **Govtslave**

I have a basic question that so far I have seen no answer for in the media. Where does the Taliban and Al Quaida get their weapons and explosives? :think:

It seems to me that increasing the size of troops and expanding the war is because the so-called terrorist element continues to grow as well. If they don't have explosives, guns, and money to fight, there would be no war, right? :headscratch:

One could theorize about this quite extensively. For example: Is Saudi Arabia supplying them? Perhaps the Chinese or Russians. :look:

Wouldn't the best way to fight this conflict be to find out who is financing and supplying the Taliban and cut them off? It takes a lot of money to fight the U.S. military . Why not follow the money? Perhaps I'm thinking too simplistically.

Sat Feb 06, 2010 6:38 pm » by **Aragajag**

govtslave wrote:I have a basic question that so far I have seen no answer for in the media. Where does the Taliban and Al Quaida get their weapons and explosives? It seems to me that increasing the size of troops and expanding the war is because the so-called terrorist element continues to grow as well. If they don't have explosives, guns, and money to fight, there would be no war, right? One could theorize about this quite extensively. For example: Is Saudi Arabia supplying them? Perhaps the Chinese or Russians. Wouldn't the best way to fight this conflict be to find out who is financing and supplying the Taliban and cut them off? It takes a lot of money to fight the U.S. military . Why not follow the money? Perhaps I'm thinking too simplistically.

Do not think the scanners are searching for a brain anomoly now.

Sat Feb 06, 2010 6:49 pm » by **Samkenman**

Thats an easy question to answer.....
The "terrorists" are getting their money from the sale of opium. Opium production in Afghanistan has skyrocketed over the last few years....I heard a stat the other day that said "as much as 17% of the land in Afghanistan in dedicated to opium growth and production."
They then take the money and buy whatever weapons they can off the black market....and the black market has no country... so to speak. They buy their guns from whomever is willing to sell or trade for opium. With opium being one of the most common drugs...there are plenty of takers!

Sat Feb 06, 2010 8:02 pm » by **Govtslave**

samkenman wrote:Thats an easy question to answer.....
The "terrorists" are getting their money from the sale of opium. Opium production in Afghanistan has skyrocketed over the last few years....I heard a stat the other day that said "as much as 17% of the land in Afghanistan in dedicated to opium growth and production."
They then take the money and buy whatever weapons they can off the black market....and the black market has no country... so to speak. They buy their guns from whomever is willing to sell or trade for opium. With opium being one of the most common drugs...there are plenty of takers!

So then, I guess we're burning the poppy fields, right? .............. :nope:

Sat Feb 06, 2010 8:23 pm » by **Crunchy**

you can also add extortion and threats of violence to the list of sources that the taliban are using to gain fighters and money ....
an interesting interview from Bill Moyers Journal 01-15-2010 (second half) with a man who is building schools in afganistan ..... although its mainstream media there is some interesting info from another perspective.

documentary can be found here http://www.ninjavideo.net/cat/2261 (need to run NinjaVideo Helper(red link at top of page)before clicking the video link or video will not load)

Sat Feb 06, 2010 8:31 pm » by **Kingz**

govtslave wrote:I have a basic question that so far I have seen no answer for in the media. Where does the Taliban and Al Quaida get their weapons and explosives? It seems to me that increasing the size of troops and expanding the war is because the so-called terrorist element continues to grow as well. If they don't have explosives, guns, and money to fight, there would be no war, right? One could theorize about this quite extensively. For example: Is Saudi Arabia supplying them? Perhaps the Chinese or Russians. Wouldn't the best way to fight this conflict be to find out who is financing and supplying the Taliban and cut them off? It takes a lot of money to fight the U.S. military . Why not follow the money? Perhaps I'm thinking too simplistically.

samkenman wrote:Thats an easy question to answer.....
The "terrorists" are getting their money from the sale of opium. Opium production in Afghanistan has skyrocketed over the last few years....I heard a stat the other day that said "as much as 17% of the land in Afghanistan in dedicated to opium growth and production."
They then take the money and buy whatever weapons they can off the black market....and the black market has no country... so to speak. They buy their guns from whomever is willing to sell or trade for opium. With opium being one of the most common drugs...there are plenty of takers!

This will also explain a lot I believe:

Sat Feb 06, 2010 8:48 pm » by **Trenker**

govtslave wrote:I have a basic question that so far I have seen no answer for in the media. Where does the Taliban and Al Quaida get their weapons and explosives? It seems to me that increasing the size of troops and expanding the war is because the so-called terrorist element continues to grow as well. If they don't have explosives, guns, and money to fight, there would be no war, right? One could theorize about this quite extensively. For example: Is Saudi Arabia supplying them? Perhaps the Chinese or Russians. Wouldn't the best way to fight this conflict be to find out who is financing and supplying the Taliban and cut them off? It takes a lot of money to fight the U.S. military . Why not follow the money? Perhaps I'm thinking too simplistically.

They (Afghans) have weapon caches left over from the Russian invasion according to a BBC Despatches doco aired recently.

Sat Feb 06, 2010 8:50 pm » by **Wallys1111**

" The pioneers of a warless world are the youth who refuse military service" Einstein

Without sleeping people there is no game to be played.
Anways I was listening to this song by Alpha Blondy called Interplanetary Reveloution and well it was just so fitting I thought i would recomend checking it out..if you like reggae.
peace and love

Sat Feb 06, 2010 9:06 pm » by **Newearthman**

govtslave wrote:I have a basic question that so far I have seen no answer for in the media. Where does the Taliban and Al Quaida get their weapons and explosives? It seems to me that increasing the size of troops and expanding the war is because the so-called terrorist element continues to grow as well. If they don't have explosives, guns, and money to fight, there would be no war, right? One could theorize about this quite extensively. For example: Is Saudi Arabia supplying them? Perhaps the Chinese or Russians. Wouldn't the best way to fight this conflict be to find out who is financing and supplying the Taliban and cut them off? It takes a lot of money to fight the U.S. military . Why not follow the money? Perhaps I'm thinking too simplistically.

CIA=Crooks In Action