Anyone else read this article? It has two observations of interest..one it says per soldier the US is losing as many men in Afghanistan as they are in Iraq. The next one is the writers opinions and observation on what US soldiers on the ground think of Pakistan..it’s not a pleasant read…excerpts below
America’s Forgotten War
By SEBASTIAN JUNGER
More than four years after the invasion of Afghanistan, 20,000 U.S. soldiers are still there, pitting their diplomatic skills—and massive airpower—against the Taliban’s terror tactics…
…Meanwhile, an average of nearly two American soldiers now die every week in Afghanistan—proportionally almost the same casualty rate as in Iraq, where there are seven times as many troops. …
…McGary sits down on a rock under an apple tree and tells Mike to gather the village men around him. As usual, McGary lets a moment pass, and then another, and then he begins to speak. “My name is Captain McGary. I’m the coalition commander in Daychopan District,” he begins quietly…
…McGary takes off his helmet and puts it on the ground next to him. “The men in the mountains are getting paid by Pakistan,” he says. Mike translates; heads nod. “Pakistan wants to see Afghanistan remain weak. So fight for Afghanistan and don’t be a puppet of Pakistan!”
There goes the “US support of Pakistan” … on the “govt” level US and Pakistan are "allies, while the ground reality is that US soldiers are spreading hate in Afghanistan against Pakistan, good diplomacy US
Captain and Saeen, you are active on Pakistani forum and yet so much hate against the country? Why? Is it just that Pakistan is blessed with so many "patriots" like you two.
I mean Zakk has an axe to grind. Afghani Kabulis have a special bird flu for the last 60 years. This type of bird flu fills Kabuli brains with anti-Pakistan terrorist activities. So no complains against Kabulis. It is the bird flu.
Ground reality is that Pakistan is not an ally of the US in Afghanistan, and never really has been. Musharaff saw some chance of coming out of isolation after his coup, so he half heartedly gave some support. In return for that support, Pakistan has gotten lots and lots of money.
Terrorists continue to act from Pakistan into Afghanistan. Pakistan has virtually all of the Taliban leadership, and the Pakistani military still has leaders who support the Taliban.
What this guy is saying is ground reality.
^ and where does all the killing in Baluchistan and NWFP go in search/hunt of ALQ? Is that also "half-hearted" support? I don't think so. Yes Pakistan has received lotsa money, but mainly for leadership to spend on their ranches :D
Look people! Before ya’ll start having wet dreams just realize that the term Pakistani means “Pakistani Pushtoon” from Afghan side. We now have BBC interviews from Talib Mullahs who are proud to fund death and destruction on the Afghan side.
As per the local miltary commander on Pak side, we have two options:
Carpet bomb the whole area
Let Pushtoons take care of Talibanic menace.
You know that Tank DI Khan’s Talib leader was gunned down by a dead Pushtoon’s brother yesterday.
The truth is except for those advocating being slaves of America like anti (who couldn't grind an axe without his massa Bushs approval) ..Pakistan has lost thousands of civilian and military people who have died since 9/11 according to one estimate 10 billion dollars of damage..and the fact is the yanks are still not happy...
huh? What hath you smokn' Thousands? Hundreds may be but not thousands.
What options do you suggest? Allow this Mullah Mardan Khan kill Afghan army soldiers and further destabilize Afghanistan. Have you no shame about the 30 years long suffering of Afghanis? You want Americans to leave Kabul. Who else now would you suggest to rule Afhans? Tibetans?
Sad to see so many supporters of anarchy and killing. Then they call themselves Pushtoons. Oh wait, wasn't it Afghani, No no Oh wait, it must be Pukhtoons.
Oh well whatever! Just bunch of beardo Mullahs hell bent on turning Kohat, Bannu, and Peshawar into their dreamland. The dreamland Jannat that these Mullahs have already created in Kabul, Jalalabad, and Kandhar.
^ yes anti thousands add in the hundreds of soldiers and civilians dead in Waziristan with all the sectarian attacks since 9/11 Pakistan has easily lost over a thousand dead fighting amrikas war..add in the wounded and displaced and the mind I am sure boggles. I don't have an issue with rooting out terrorism..I do have an issue of whether its being done out of blind loyalty to amrika ..like you have or if it's in Pakistans interests..as for being ruled I would prefer neither country being ruled by any outsider ..while I understand your inferiority complex about being ruled by amrika ..but your policy of saying how high ..everytime america asks Pakistan to jump is quit pathetic.
How about your homeland dreamland wetland triballand called Afghanistan/Pushtoonistan/Pukhtoonistan and its capital Kabul?
That poor land is weighed down by so many troops from all around the world, are they Denish, may be Brits, or may be Canadians, may be turks, or may be Australians. You must have lost count of all those nationality riding Kabul and preventing it from "jumping too high". Sad utterly sad.
People forget their wetland, and try bhonpoo-ing (shouting) against others.
give it a rest anti..you advocate voluntary slavery of Pakistan to your buddies bush and co...I am sure a RAW agent would be more sincere to Pakistan than you
RAW you mean Bharati RAW. Haven't you heard about their spys doing all the spying on Bharatis and for CIA?
Once USA asks Bharat and Pakistan both to jump, Bharat is making even higher jumps. This will be known to you once you in Kabul get out from under the "weight of NATO" the Afghani's master of the month.
^ i have no idea what you are talking about and I am fairly sure the only people who do like you need help! It's hard to argue about concepts of khudi with people who have the Mir Jafar mentality.
Khudi (self respect) was a concept from Iqbal's point of view. When you bring it on from personal point of view, it has several meanings.
However I see Afghans on this board are the true masters of their "Khudi". Say how many foreign rulers have now occupied Kabul in the last 30 years? Is it 1,2,3,4,5 Oh darn Kabulis lost count.
The attacks on September 11 was a manifestation of Pakistan's foreign and domestic policy. The Taliban grew out of Pakistan's search for "strategic depth". Pakistan was waging a terrorist campaign in Kashmir, and Afghanistan was the perfect training ground for jihadis being sent there. The Taliban had the support of the Pakistani military, including Pakistani regulars fighting in Afghanistan, providing training, providing diplomatic assistance, providing money, and providing arms.
If Pakistan has lost any lives, it is a direct consequence of it's own actions.
Even with the known support of the Taliban and Al Qaeda, Pakistanis military junta was placated by America. Instead of being tragetted, Pakistan was given billions to pretend to be an ally. The fact remains, the US gives billions and Musharaff keeps barking what his predecessors have been saying: "Protect me, or fear what will come in my place is I fail".
I say it is time to stop. If Musharaff fails and is over thrown, no big lose. He was never an ally anyway.
… on the “govt” level US and Pakistan are "allies, while the ground reality is that US soldiers are spreading hate in Afghanistan against Pakistan, good diplomacy US 
