Afghanistan

Downthestretch55 · #1 12-09-2006, 09:40 PM

I only put this up for informative purposes. It seems that Iraq has dominated the news lately. Afghanistan seems to be at a "tipping point" also.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...home-headlines

skippy3481 · #2 12-09-2006, 09:47 PM

Its so hard to fight a gorilla warfare type enemy. Because short of total and complete occupation, they are always going to springing up and no matter how many you kill, more just seem to find their way in. Just sucks period.

GenuineRisk · #3 12-10-2006, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skippy3481

Its so hard to fight a gorilla warfare type enemy. Because short of total and complete occupation, they are always going to springing up and no matter how many you kill, more just seem to find their way in. Just sucks period.

"Guerrilla," not "gorilla." Gorillas are peaceful vegetarians, King Kong notwithstanding.

And yes, I agree with you that it's just about impossible to win against gurrillas. They know the terrain and they have no interest in "rules" of warfare. The colonists were accused by the Brits of being guerrillas, and the colonists did quite well in that war, I believe. You're right; it sucks.

I'm pretty sure humans kicked the gorillas' asses in Rwanda and the Congo, though. Doubtful they'll make it to the 22nd Century.

GenuineRisk · #4 12-10-2006, 11:03 AM

Though in the interest of self-correction, the Brits couldn't have called the colonists "guerrillas" exactly, as the word wasn't in use yet. Here's the origins:

Guerrilla

One might assume that this term is a 20th century one. After all, warfare in this century has often been characterized by guerrilla combat. Guerrilla warfare is the choice of the oppressed seeking to throw out foreign oppressors, and the 20th century has seen lots of colonial wars. The term, however, is much older.

It dates to the Napoleonic campaign in Spain (1808-1811). The earliest English usage cite is by the Duke of Wellington in 1809. The adjectival use dates from 1811.

In Spanish the word is a diminutive of guerra or war; so guerrilla is literally little war, and that is its origin.

skippy3481 · #5 12-10-2006, 05:06 PM

thanx for the correction, thats what happen when i type late at night.

GenuineRisk · #6 12-10-2006, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skippy3481

thanx for the correction, thats what happen when i type late at night.

Oh, believe me, I'm queen of making typos myself (and not just late at night!). The gorilla-guerrilla one just happens to be one of my favorites, because I always get a mental image of a bunch of gorillas with AK-47s slung over the backs, and bananas in their hands.

Downthestretch55 · #7 12-10-2006, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skippy3481

Its so hard to fight a gorilla warfare type enemy. Because short of total and complete occupation, they are always going to springing up and no matter how many you kill, more just seem to find their way in. Just sucks period.

Skippy,
I figured out what you were saying.
I agree that this won't be an easy one. IMHO, although some US universities are attempting to provide crops other than opium, and because the Taliban continues to gain strength, I'm not sure that the outcome of this one will be at all good.

Downthestretch55 · #8 12-10-2006, 06:07 PM

Wow! Read this...
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/1210-01.htm