TORA BORA REVISITED: HOW WE FAILED TO GET BIN LADEN AND WHY IT MATTERS TODAY

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS ^ | NOVEMBER 30, 2009 | John F. Kerry, Chairman

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

UNITED STATES SENATE, COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS, Washington, DC, November 30, 2009

DEAR COLLEAGUE: This report by the Committee majority staff is part of our continuing examination of the conflict in Afghanistan. When we went to war less than a month after the attacks of September 11, the objective was to destroy Al Qaeda and kill or capture its leader, Osama bin Laden, and other senior figures in the terrorist group and the Taliban, which had hosted them. Today, more than eight years later, we find ourselves fighting an increasingly lethal insurgency in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan that is led by many of those same extremists. Our inability to finish the job in late 2001 has contributed to a conflict today that endangers not just our troops and those of our allies, but the stability of a volatile and vital region. This report relies on new and existing information to explore the consequences of the failure to eliminate bin Laden and other extremist leaders in the hope that we can learn from the mistakes of the past. Sincerely,

JOHN F. KERRY, Chairman

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

This is Kerry's report released today

[Paladin2]

Didn’t JF’nK serve in VietNam?

[Paladin2]

Isn’t the lesson of Viet Nam to not snatch Defeat from the jaws of Victory?

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

I’ve heard that rumor.

[HD1200]

General Tommy Franks was right. In his book he described how the Mujahadeen used Tora Bora several times to trap Russian soldiers in a killing zone. This was the same trap. Proof? The Afghanistans themselves were recalcitrant to move on Tora Bora; waiting 12 hours for the Al Queda & Taliban there to realize the trap was known, and to pull out.

Wonder how the left would be spinning it today if we had charged into a historically known trap and lost hundreds of soldiers.

[CommieCutter]

http://www.amazon.com/Dereliction-Duty-Eyewitness-Compromised-Americas/dp/0895260603/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259513102&sr=8-2-spell

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/1440359/Clinton-missed-chance-to-get-rid-of-bin-Laden.html

http://www.terrorismfiles.org/individuals/declaration_of_jihad1.html

[Williams]

I’m just wondering does he have a report on how his treasonous activities and meetings with the communist North Vietnamese in Paris prolonged the Vietnam war...

And then how his party’s cut off of aid to our ally allowed the North Vietnamese to break the peace and destroy South Vietnam?

Taking advice from this leftist idiot is the last thing we should do.

[Williams]

It seems unlikely Bin Laden is the driving force behind the Taliban or Al Queda today. I’d rather have gotten him, but no reason to believe there would be no Taliban problem today if we had.

[Doogle]

..scumbags conveniently omit Clintons/Berger frozen trigger finger episode

[Williams]

I bet a lot of fools hearing this report think we have always had the current situation in Afghanistan. Not realizing GWB took that country from the Taliban with minimal US casualties.

[Williams]

So then based on this report, when is Obama launching an all out, no holds barred final offensive against Al Queda in Pakistan, Iran and Somalia?

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

I’m thinking we should rig a parachute to a swift boat, put John Kerry in it, drop it over Tora Bora, and let him show us the proper way.

[kabar]

Just in time for Obama’s speech on Tuesday. It was Bush’s fault. Obama inherited the Afghan war from Bush.

[BGHater]

‘the Mujahadeen used Tora Bora several times to trap Russian soldiers in a killing zone.’

Did we not help build these tunnels and escape routes, in the 70’s?

If they were known, the word Tora Bora, should be not even used today. Various types of bombs and the most effective destructive force should have been exercised during our campaign.

The debate today shouldn't be if OBL is alive or not, but in what century would life spring forth from the ground.

[bray]

This is the same Cut&Run Kerry who got out of Nam after 90 days? Great military genius.

Pray for America and Our Troops

[SevenMinusOne]

Pure hyperbole BS, the idea that UBL was assuredly at Tora Bora during this time. Reality is he likely was already in PAK border regions week/s prior.....

Furthermore the notion that sending/dropping in a few thousand soldiers as blocking forces would have cut off the trails off Tora Bora is laughable.

[SueRae]

I hate John Kerry. The release is nothing more than a blame game that Obama can use as his big speech highlight. In my mind, Kerry is angling to be the next SECDEF. It makes me sick to think of that but I’m worried that Gates will step down soon and that this buffoon will be nominated. It would be in keeping with the epic fail moves already foisted upon us by this, the worst presidency in the history of the United States.

[CommieCutter]

“Instead of using U.S. forces to capture Osama bin Laden… the President outsourced the job to Afghan warlords, who let bin Laden slip away.” John Kerry.
http://www.presidentialrhetoric.com/campaign/speeches/kerry_sept24.print.html

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Is this what this idiot is now saying in this report?

It’s so funny in this report: that they depend on “intelligence” that tells them “Bin Laden was there” i.e. the same methods used to confirm WMD.

[Sacajaweau]

Imagine getting him BEFORE 9-11. It might never have been a day we’ll never forget..

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

“In my mind, Kerry is angling to be the next SECDEF.”

Wow! We’re so screwed.