U.S. claims intelligence coup

Excite ^ | 10/21/2001 | Brian Williams and Sayed Salahuddin

[dr_who]

If they've discovered something very important, it's not all that bright to shout it from the rooftops, especially when there's no need to do it.

[Sabertooth]

bump

[vbmoneyspender]

While other Taliban command posts were bombed during U.S. strikes on Afghanistan that began on October 7, this one was untouched by the bombardment and viewed by the U.S. military as a potential stash of intelligence.

So, if this is correct, what our people have been doing is purposefully leaving certain areas untouched so that the Taliban will concentrate there because they view those areas as 'sanctuaries'.

[BenR2]

Don't worry. It's just Psy-Ops.

[Chemnitz]

I think it is good for morale to show that we pounced on information we knew was there. They do not know what we have learned. I would be happy knowing nothing. However, news sources want some raw meat every so often.

[Pharmboy]

Sometimes we will tell them truths that they know; sometimes we will tell them truths that they do not know; sometimes we will tell them truth and lies; and sometimes we will tell them only lies.

[Merovingian]

However, news sources want some raw meat every so often.

Yes, and you can bank on it that this information dissemination serves the purposes of our military in more ways than one.

[dr_who]

Sure, but they ought to put the intelligence coup to the fullest possible use before they think about making any announcements. In the unlikely event that a significant increase in opposition to this war occurs within a month's time, the morale boost might be more useful. But we're trying to avoid the mistakes of the Gulf War (and WWI, etc). It just seems to me that measures shouldn't be acceptable, even if the president's approval rating drops to 75% from 97%.

[cactmh]

The writing is on the wall. These Fu---rs are Toast! I hope we don't stop until any possible terrorist group or state is removed.

[dr_who]

I guess I hope so. I'm just as eager to hear good news from the front as the next guy I guess.

[Chemnitz]

I agree with you. But even wars are political and require some PR.

[FreePaul]

If they've discovered something very important, it's not all that bright to shout it from the rooftops,

Yeah, the enemy might find out that you found something...er, ah, maybe they already know you found something.

[dr_who]

Sure, but that missile attack on Pakistan was a prime example of a "PR war". America is behind Bush. He should take advantage of that and be brutally efficient. If the Taliban knows just what this "intelligence coup" is (a hiding place, for instance), it becomes abundantly clear to them where they need to concentrate their remaining defenses. That endangers troops, thus hurting morale back home.

[dr_who]

If you're looking for PR war fodder, show the press Omar's Playboy magazine collection, wine cellar, and opened cans of Vienna sausage pulled out of a dumpster behind his pad.

[The Duke]

U.S. claims intelligence coup

Is that another way of saying they didn't bring back any scalps?

[Chemnitz]

You can never have too much deception in war. I agree with you. However, no one listens to me!

[dr_who]

Good point. I for one don't. Heh, heh, heh.

[r9etb]

"We gathered up some intelligence, some items, and we're going to evaluate that," he said.

I have to think that there's at least one "who" among the items.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

" "We are eagerly awaiting the American troops to land on our soil, where we will deal with them in our own way," said Haqqani, a veteran mujahideen, or holy warrior. "

Beware of what you may wish for. Oh, and by the way, just how good are holy warriors if they are vaporized? Seems you might have a problem or two using a melted AK-47 IMHO.