Lt. Gen. David Richards demonstrates that he has no idea of how the jihad ideology will render futile the efforts of a "people-friendly force." From the BBC, with thanks to JE:
The Nato commander in Afghanistan has pledged to use new tactics to win over the support of disenchanted Afghans.Lt Gen David Richards said Nato soldiers would be a "people-friendly force" when they take over security in the south from US forces in July.
He said troops would "accept more risk" when driving, to prevent a repetition of rioting in Kabul last week after a US road accident killed several people....
Does that mean that American troops will reduce steps they take to make sure that roads are not lined with bombs or that they are not driving into an ambush?
Is this really wise -- to ask American troops to die in order to win hearts and minds?
The BBC's Bilal Sarwary in Kabul says that for the last four years many people in southern and eastern Afghanistan have been complaining of aggressive tactics used by American troops.These have included house-to-house searches in which doors are broken down and male soldiers searching Afghan women.
There has also been widespread anger over a number of bombing operations in which civilians have been killed.
'People focused'
"We will be a very people focused and a very people-friendly force," Lt Gen Richards said at a news conference in Kabul.
"I will use military power not necessarily just to defeat the Taleban but just as importantly to secure the future of their villages and their localities."
The British commander also referred to last Monday's fatal rioting in Kabul that began after a US military vehicle crashed into a number of cars, killing several people.
He said there were too many people among the US-led forces, the Nato forces and others in the international community who "drive too quickly and in an inconsiderate way".
He said: "We are all determined to improve that so the people here don't look on us as people who don't care about the Afghans."
"The BBC's Bilal Sarwary in Kabul says that for the last four years many people in southern and eastern Afghanistan have been complaining of aggressive tactics used by American troops"
I thought these troops were at war...
"We will be a very people focused and a very people-friendly force," Lt Gen Richards said at a news conference in Kabul.
that will become a subject of bodycount amongst your own, my dear Lieutenant.
"I will use military power not necessarily just to defeat the Taleban but just as importantly to secure the future of their villages and their localities."
if you´re calling those rubble-heaps `villages´ then dream on...do not forget, they are our soldiers, they are trained to fight, not to implement weird political programs... to defeat the Taliban you will have to fight!!!
How quickly we have devolved to Vietnam tactics. I wonder if we had not invaded Iraq, whether or not Afghanistan would be any easier to manage. Maybe we would just have more troops with which to hold on there. Hearing about the losing fight in Afghanistan is much more depressing than Iraq.
"We will be a very people focused and a very people-friendly force," Lt Gen Richards said at a news conference in Kabul.
From the article above
I think that Lt. Gen Richards spent too much time in Afghanistan's poppy fields.
Pass out candy and coloring books to the children. Give bolts of soft black cotton to the women so they can make themselves new, larger burqas that cover every inch of their body. Be sure that all the men receive generous supplies of ammonia nitrate along with instruction manuals (picture books for the illiterate) on its many uses. Make nice with them, General Richards. Everything will be just fine. After all, aren't 99% of Afghans followers of the religion of peace?
Oh, how I long for the good old days when the Taleban ruled. Things were so much more peaceful and quiet. Except when we were beheading women on the soccer fields (always had a full house), or when we were blowing up ancient statues. No kites, no music, no unsightly womens faces. Just us guys smoking and not joking, cause joking was not allowed either. Yes, the good old days.
He said there were too many people among the US-led forces, the Nato forces and others in the international community who "drive too quickly and in an inconsiderate way".
It makes dodging roadside IED's easier.
"We will be a very people focused and a very people-friendly force," Lt Gen Richards said at a news conference in Kabul.
-- from the article above
If someone would force him, would force all the generals, to take courses in what is contained in Qur'an and Hadith, to take courses in tafsir, to take courses in the life and times of Muhammad, and in what ways Muhammad, as a Model of the Perfect Man, differs from that of other figures in other religions (Jesus, Buddha, Moses), it would be the beginning not of wisdom, but of a modicium of sense.
You can obtain cooperation from Muslims acting on their own self-interest. Infidels cannot win Mulism hearts and minds -- at least not if the Muslims in question are real Believers. Only those who have begun to doubt Islam, who really don't care for it, coudl ever have their hearts and minds "won."
Meanwhile, the belief that American and other NATO soldiers should take greater risks, should drive more slowlly, should be less quick to react, in other words should behave in a way that will make their own situation more perilous, is sickening.
When, in the history of warfare, did generals insist that their own soldiers be forced to take great risks with their own lives so as to win the "hearts and minds" of the enemy -- a proposition that should madden those soldiers, and their families, and those who support them, even more because the reason for such directives is to accomplish a goal that cannot possibly be accomplished.
Yet General Richards, on the BBC yesterday, proudly announced that "we are not naive."
Oh yes "we" are.
since Turkey is a member of NATO they as fellow muslims could police the Afghanis while we sit back and observe what becomes of it.. :-)
Put me down as one who could care less about "hearts and minds". If getting a country out from under the rule of a group like the Taliban doesn't do it, nothing will.
We don't care about Afghans?????
Imagine such a thing! I wonder, though, have these people given us any good reason why we should care about them? (No).
One other thing. Do the Afghans care about us (other than as subjects to be converted to Islam)? (No).
You won't win hearts, because they are numbed by the infidel-contempt larded throughout the Koran, and you can't win minds which have been petrified by Mohammad's anti-intellectual dogmas.
So you do what is always done:
Bribe them.
With cash, tools, work programs, wealth-building incentives for turning-in the terrorists (trucks, jeeps, donkeys, goats, guaranteed crop payments and free seeds), jewelry, electronics goods (satellite dishes, dvd players, etc, on crankable battery power), etc., etc.
Grease the palms and maybe they'll let the AK-47's slip out from their grip. For a while, at least.
Bribery is considered gracious in Islamic lands.
Spread positive distractions and some prosperity, and the urge to die will slowly dimish among the recipients.
Afghans who will find their own future a little more feasible, and will fight to protect it themselves.
The Taliban recruiters feed on men drifting in boredom and worthlessness, and the jihadists tenderize the latent rage with the Koran's own vendetta mania and direct it against the "Crusaders".
Kill the jihadis, first.
While helping the farmers and merchants to get their livelihoods going again.
The third prong:
Find and extinguish the flaming madman Osama.
Fantasyland should be a place in children's stories, not found in the press releases of Generals.
JanuaryMan says:
"Oh, how I long for the good old days when the Taleban ruled. Things were so much more peaceful and quiet. Except when we were beheading women on the soccer fields (always had a full house), or when we were blowing up ancient statues. No kites, no music, no unsightly womens faces. Just us guys smoking and not joking, cause joking was not allowed either. Yes, the good old days."
And its all waiting for Western Europe circa 2080-2100.
It's high time NATO troops got replaced with OIC troops. Have it from all conflicting Islamic countries - Azerbaijan, Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Algeria. That way, armies from these countries will be locked in Afghanistan. In order to give the illusion that they are performing the same services as NATO, avoid including Afghanistan's neighbors - Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan and Uzbegistan.
Let them work on hearts and minds.
Just when I thought things couldn't get anyworse they do. If the west is going to be so damn stupid and obstinate, we deserve to lose. Our upcoming defeat will be well earned. Another bang up victory for mindless stupidity and vapidness.
As the saying goes it is the Islam stupid. We have not and will not ever win Muslim hearts and minds sans converting. Perhaps that will someday happen.
Many soldiers will die for this vile fantasy of winning hearts and minds and making mordor safe for mob rule,oops I mean democracy. I guess I can agree with the left, " George Bush lied, people died."By lie I mean democracy in Mordor aka the Middle East. If human life has to be wasted like this hopefully General Richardson at least has the decency to practice what he preaches and go out on this suicide missions, sorry I mean good- will junkets.Soldiers will die while we are too busy wallowing in the saga in pornography, American Idol and whether Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey get back together.
I suppose I could just chill out, insert my head into where the sun don't shine, watch some God awfull movies like the break up and swill some God awful American beer. bah, bah, bah. Off to join the herd. Brain off.
Anybody remember British troops sitting on top of burning APC's and tanks, fully armed, enduring an enraged mob in Basra under a barrage of rocks and barely escaping the fury of the fanatical musulmanis just about a year ago?
Shameful! Old Winston would turn in his grave over such a limp- dick approach...
But then again, look at the 'grand nation', the French: They rather have Mohammedan gangs run rampant burning 100 + cars a day than calling out the army to shoot them up.
Anyway, that will all come to a head soon...
RS, You were exactly right when you said this, "Is this really wise -- to ask American troops to die in order to win hearts and minds?"
Instead we should be focusing on where the "Jihad Ideology" is emanting, the Clerics.
I'm not so sure what the force structure in Afghanistan will be.
If my understanding is correct though, NATO is taking over ops in Southern Afghanistan. So it should be NATO troops under the command of this British General, who is a complete moron.
If my understanding is correct. US troops will control and conduct ops in the northern part of the country where the Taliban slip in and out of Pakistan.
So, I don't think US troops will be under the command of this PC idiot. Guess Richards is taking his leadership style from a Mr. Chamberlain, or maybe he is related to Keith Richards!
God help our troops if I am wrong, and Richards does have command over them.