[R-G] On the Current Fighting in Afghanistan

[Jay Moore]

Their extreme right-wing Zionist cheerleading is hard to stomach.  But I've
found the Israeli intelligence source Debka (www.debka.com) to be a pretty
reliable source on  matters of political and military strategy.  Last fall,
they predicted that the Afghan War was far from being over and that the
Taliban had retreated to the mountains to prepare for a guerilla war of
attrition.  Lo and behold now, that's exactly what's happening.  What seems
to be happening to me is that the Islamicists have begun to achieve what Che
called for but could not achieve -- that is, "Two, Three, Many Vietnams"
spreading out the imperialists and hitting them from different directions.
Guerilla war on a global scale.  Where this will all lead is going to be
very interesting to see -- and if the Left can benefit somehow now, too,
from this situation.

jay
www.neravt.com/left/


**********

Slow Progress in Afghanistan May Delay US Iraq Offensive
DEBKAfileMilitary Analysis

 8 March: DEBKAfileTs military experts report the intense fighting over the
past week in the mountains of Afghanistan south of Gardez, between the US
101st Airborne and 10th Mountain divisions and al-Qaeda and Taliban forces,
is beginning to impinge on US preparations for its coming assault on Iraq.

A poor showing by the hundreds of Afghans fighting alongside US troops has
forced US military planners to pour into the battle zone American
reinforcements that were earmarked for other combat arenas.

DEBKAfiles military sources say general Tommy Franks, the US Central
Command chief, transferred to the Gardez battlefield US forces standing by
on Omans Masirah Island base for the US offensive against Iraq. Several
thousand more may have to follow, if fighting flares up in additional
Taliban-al Qaeda pockets around Afghanistan.

US forces in Gardez commanded by major general Frank Hagenbeck faced a hard
fact this week: the joint US-Afghan force was unable to stem the influx of
Taliban and al-Qaeda reinforcements from Pakistan, only several dozen kilome
ters away, and from among additional enemy concentrations in Afghanistan 
particularly since Thursday, when the mountain region was struck with
blinding snow storms.

DEBKAfiles military sources say that, while the Americans were pouring
additional soldiers, 17 assault helicopters and tank-busting A-10 aircraft
into the area, the other side was moving in reinforcements too, equipped
with large quantities of anti-tank missiles and various shoulder-held
surface-to-air missiles, including US-made Stingers.

US spy satellites and drones spotted groups of Taliban and al-Qaeda
converging on the battle zone from as far away as the Hindu Kush mountains,
north of the city of Jalalabad, and the Zabul province south of Gardez.
US commanders had hoped to win the battle before the enemy reinforcements
arrived. But military experts watching the fighting judged this hope
illusory. They estimate the engagement will continue past the weekend and
into its second week, reaching a climax at mid-week.

DEBKAfiles military experts report that the Taliban and al Qaeda commanders
in Pakistan appear to be bucked up enough by their success in standing up to
the American-led assault to revise their planning. Previously, Taliban and
al-Qaeda terrorist attacks had been plotted for US forces, UN peacekeepers
and other targets linked to the interim government of Hamid Karzai, in major
Afghan cities, such as Kabul, Kandahar and Mazer e-Sharif. The bulk of their
forces were to have been reserved in enclaves for a summer counter-offensive
to be launched around the country in mid-June or early July.

But now, Taliban and al-Qaeda chiefs have decided to delay no longer.
Instead of waiting for the United States to move against their enclaves,
they are going on the offensive to try and 
draw
 US forces to the
strongholds.

Taliban and al-Qaeda commanders see the balance of war tilting to their
side, noting that Afghan fighters in the Gardez front do not share US
troops enthusiasm and dedication to their missions. Back in December,
during the assault on the Tora Bora cave complex, Afghans were clearly
reluctant   even for good pay  to carry on fighting the Taliban and
al-Qaeda. The same manifestation recurred in this weeks battles.

The escalating Israeli-Palestinian conflict too further complicates
Americas military situation. Should the violence spill over and the
Lebanese Hizballh  buttressed by al Qaeda militants - join the fray to ease
Israels military pressure on the Palestinians, Washingtons plans and
timetable for its Iraq campaign would be set back once again.