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Thursday, March 1, 2007
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Why suicide terrorism is different in Afghanistan
While Iraqi suicide bombers target civilians and soft targets in order to sow destabilization and provoke/respond to sectarian violence, nearly all Taliban suicide bombings -- and in Afghanistan, resistance to the presence of foreign forces and the Karzai government is overwhelmingly Taliban -- are focused on Afghan or U.S./NATO security forces. The two researchers assess that unlike the Iraqi insurgents, al-Qaeda or Shiite militias, the Taliban has to cleave the population away from the Karzai government, but in the process must "avoid losing the battle for the hearts and minds of the Afghan people by needlessly killing civilians." posted by Dan on 03.01.07 at 11:15 PM Comments: Gee, it's almost as if someone *taught* them how to fight against a larger, better-equipped foreign invasion force. Wait... The slow-motion resurgence of the Taliban is being totally lost in the shuffle over Iraq. While the possibility of AQ bases in Iraq remains, we know how the Taliban feel about AQ. We must do everything in our power to empower the Karzai government and send a message to the Afghan people that the U.S. and the world will spend much blood and treasure to make sure that the Taliban never come back. Our credibility in this part of the world is nil, and the people will voote with their feet if circumstances on the ground seem to indicate that the Taliban will be back in power in 5 years. If you were an Afghani, and you thought the Taliban were coming back in power, would you want to have been the first guy on your block to have stopped supporting the U.S. or the last? posted by: adam l on 03.01.07 at 11:15 PM [permalink]Al Qaeda is not too disimilar to a modern day multi-national corporation [MNC], with fully or partially owned subsidiaries. Oh, one more thing, Mr.Drezner. Taliban = Pashtun, Sunni. Kabul, seat of govt., Mostly Pashtun population. If Kabul were in Hazara zone, and Hazara had substantial political power, we'd see plenty of suicide bombings targeting these Shiites. posted by: Karl on 03.01.07 at 11:15 PM [permalink]Karl - The Hazaras, Tajiks etc are realtively [considering their population] powerful in Kabul. That redeployment in 2003 was a good idea. Come stick you're head through this fence. posted by: Babar on 03.01.07 at 11:15 PM [permalink]Post a Comment: |
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