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Ground offensive begins in Pakistan al-Qaida haven (South Waziristan Stronghold Stompdown begins)
AP on Yahoo ^ | 10/17/09 | Ishtiaq Mahsud and Munir Ahmad - ap

Posted on 10/17/2009 9:32:38 AM PDT by NormsRevenge

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan – More than 30,000 Pakistani soldiers launched a ground offensive against al-Qaida and the Taliban's main stronghold along the Afghan border Saturday, officials said, in the country's toughest test yet against a strengthening insurgency.

The United States has long pushed the government to carry out an assault in South Waziristan, and it comes after two weeks of militant attacks that have killed more than 175 people across the nuclear-armed country. That has ramped up pressure on the army to act.

Pakistan has fought three unsuccessful campaigns since 2001 in the region, which is the nerve-center for Pakistani insurgents fighting the U.S.-backed government. It is also a major base for foreign militants to plan attacks on American and NATO forces in Afghanistan and on targets in the West.

After months of aerial bombing, troops moved into the region Saturday from several directions, heading to the insurgent bases of Ladha and Makeen among other targets, intelligence and military officials said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic or because they were not allowed to brief the media.

They said the operation was expected to last around two months.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; alqaida; fata; isi; nwfp; offensive; pakistan; pakistanigovernment; southasia; stronghold; taliban; waronterror; waziristan; wot
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To: NormsRevenge

Bin Laden’s Days are numbered.....

But I distrust the Paki army Generals....

We should watch their Back to see who they let slip out???

and Kill every dirty night shirt with an AK..


41 posted on 10/17/2009 7:04:28 PM PDT by LtKerst (Lt Kerst)
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To: NormsRevenge

I do not trust the Pakistani government/ISI. Many of them are working for the Taliban and they are passing U.S. information to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.


42 posted on 10/17/2009 9:18:18 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld ("We will either find a way, or make one."Hannibal/Carthaginian Military Commander)
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To: NormsRevenge

ISI Director, Akhtar Abdur Rahman who was the architect of the Afghan jihad against the Soviet Union.He knows many in the Taliban and in Al-Qaeda. The ISI also has a major part in the Pakistani government.


43 posted on 10/17/2009 9:21:47 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld ("We will either find a way, or make one."Hannibal/Carthaginian Military Commander)
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To: sonofstrangelove
ISI Director, Akhtar Abdur Rahman who was the architect of the Afghan jihad against the Soviet Union.He knows many in the Taliban and in Al-Qaeda.

Unfortunately, he supports them.
44 posted on 10/17/2009 9:23:35 PM PDT by Phileleutherus Franciscus
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To: Phileleutherus Franciscus

I agree. That is why we Pakistan cannot be trusted. Too many of their leaders have access to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.The Pakistani government are passing U.S. secrets to the Taliban.


45 posted on 10/17/2009 9:26:00 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld ("We will either find a way, or make one."Hannibal/Carthaginian Military Commander)
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To: Phileleutherus Franciscus

That is why we keep Pakistan “out of the loop” in regards to United States operations in South Asia.The Pakistani leadership have been courrupted by the Taliban.


46 posted on 10/17/2009 9:30:49 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld ("We will either find a way, or make one."Hannibal/Carthaginian Military Commander)
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To: NormsRevenge


"It's a lot like Tan Tui ... only nicer!
47 posted on 10/17/2009 9:49:06 PM PDT by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life :o)
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To: edpc

Pakistan is not an ally, but a tool for US to erase half of the Taliban elements, but only anti-government (of Pakistan) Taliban. The remaining half (pro-government Taliban) Pakistan is not willing to destroy would have to be erased by US efforts.


48 posted on 10/17/2009 10:28:06 PM PDT by Wiz
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To: edpc

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/1341405/Pakistans-godfathers-of-the-Taliban-hold-the-key-to-hunt-for-bin-Laden.html


49 posted on 10/17/2009 10:44:16 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld ("We will either find a way, or make one."Hannibal/Carthaginian Military Commander)
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To: edpc

well the area has been blocked for lasted few months.and these insurgents aren’t stupid its pretty easy to judge when a military operation is going to be launched just by watching troop movement so announcing offensive in advance if it happened doesn’t make any difference


50 posted on 10/18/2009 4:38:11 AM PDT by Tidus
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To: Sacajaweau

Based on the stand downs that have occurred with the treaties in the northwest of Pakistan, all it’s done is allowed the fundamentalists to get stronger as they break the agreement each and every time.

Pakistan has now been forced to realize the failure of that policy. They have come under direct assault. Imagine a ground assault on the Pentagon.

That’s what’s happened there. And that’s one of several recent attacks.


51 posted on 10/18/2009 6:39:39 AM PDT by romanesq
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To: NormsRevenge

Bill Roggio and that site the absolute best way to easily follow what’s going on over there.

The media absolutely stinks in comparison. For years now.


52 posted on 10/18/2009 6:42:11 AM PDT by romanesq
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To: Repeat Offender; Pining_4_TX; Forgiven_Sinner; grey_whiskers; BlueDragon; LittleBillyInfidel; ...

Pakistan ۋﮧ۱م

FReepmail if you want on or off
53 posted on 10/18/2009 9:35:02 AM PDT by G8 Diplomat (Iran's motto: When the truth fails, photoshop)
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To: Perdogg
Sorry, but the ISI has probably tipped off the leadership.

The Pak military is overdue to have a "night of the long knives" with the ISI.

54 posted on 10/18/2009 11:47:55 AM PDT by PapaBear3625 (Public healthcare looks like it will work as well as public housing did.)
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To: NormsRevenge

As a result of military actions such as this one, I can’t help wondering what would happen to Obama’s numbers in the polls if he accidently captured Osama-B-L? Would this carry him into a second term? Would it halt the GOP momentum into next year’s bi-election? Would they fly him to Gitmo, or fine him and let him go?


55 posted on 10/18/2009 2:41:56 PM PDT by CanaGuy (Go Harper!)
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To: BradyLS
Brand New IMHO. The US has spent a LOT of money in Afghanistan on paved highways, irrigation for the growth of poppies and such. The extent of it is not widely known, but it is HUGE.

We have literally snatched the country away from being a society of troglodytes, by rebuilding.Very little is written or said about it.

And we get little thanks for it.

56 posted on 10/18/2009 4:06:07 PM PDT by Candor7 (The effective weapons against Fascism are ridicule, derision, an d truth (Member NRA)
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To: RC one
good news indeed. Should make for an interesting winter.

I fear one of the worst for our troops - who have been and are undermanned that border region in Afghanistan.

The United States has long pushed the government to carry out an assault in South Waziristan....> Now that the Paki's have finally stepped up to the plate on their side, WE are leaving our side wide open for the miscreants (what the Paki's call the al-queda and the Tiliban (very apropos - look it up) to jump across, out of the reach of the Paki's - and NOT being met in a pincher movement by OUR forces...instead, OUR troops are left defend without the equiptment or troops to stop them - and under the new ROE - they can only half fight back, even to defend themselves when under fire...and now, the wunder-CIC in DC wants to make a deal to turn these regions that our troops have fought and sacrificed so dearly for - BACK to the Talilban and invite THEM into the governing of Afghanistan!

Has he made a deal with Pakistan? Will HE, effectively, let the Taliban take over Afghanistan again in exchange with a deal with Pakistan and who else?

WE may never know what's going on behind the curtain - but ONE thing that can't hide, even with their sycophant MSM - since 'bambi fired Gen. McKiernan and put in McCrystal - with tied hands and insufficient troops and equipment - more troops are dying each month than since the first year of the war.

Were Bush still CIC, we'd have a 24/7 outrage coverage.

Meanwhile, right when we could catch the Taliban and al-queda from both sides and defeat them - our CIC and cohorts in DC fiddle...week after week.

57 posted on 10/18/2009 4:12:32 PM PDT by maine-iac7 ("He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help" LINCOLN)
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To: JPG

“C’mon, Pakistan, YOU CAN DO IT!!!”

I cheered the Pakis on the previous two times. I’ll hold my optimism until results actually occur. Pakistan’s ISI is so rife with AQ moles, the bad guys already know the details of an offensive long before it starts.


58 posted on 10/18/2009 5:12:53 PM PDT by ScottinVA
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To: NormsRevenge
kind of, but it was aimed at Afghanistan more so.. not sure it included the Paki side of things

Ah, the IS no border as far as the tallies go - it's the SAME Taliban on both sides - they just hop back and forth at will.

Remember, they have no country. They just go wherever they can take over territory.

Things get hot on the Paki side, they ooze over the mountain goats paths into Afghanistan - and vice versa

59 posted on 10/18/2009 5:28:35 PM PDT by maine-iac7 ("He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help" LINCOLN)
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To: edpc

If the United States want to win Afganistan they need to eject Pakistan as a partner and cancel their aid. Pakistan is the biggest hindrance to U.S. operations there because the Pakistanis are working with the Taliban.


60 posted on 10/18/2009 5:35:36 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld ("We will either find a way, or make one."Hannibal/Carthaginian Military Commander)
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