Catch-and-release of Taliban fighters in Afghanistan angers troops

reply to post by Yissachar1


If you've ever heard of or seen an Australian television show, 'Rex Hunt's Fishing', you'll know that you're supposed to kiss them before you throw them back

thanks to edward bernaise, the american who invented modern propoganda and got women smoking, we will never know what the truth is. these people are fighting for the freedom of their country and some are forced to take desperate measures aswell as the fact that people can be bloodthirsty and crazy.
i dont understand how hitler is seen as the most evil man in recent history when these things are still happening now but what i do understand is how the german people believed the lies they were fed.

Originally posted by lewman
apparantly just having a bruised shoulder is enough to end up in jail in afghanistan as they claim you must have been shooting an automatic rifle.

Why not use the test they use in the U.S. where they check you for gun powder residue? A positive test for that (plus a bruised shoulder) might just be suspicious, no?

The criteria for detention is not based upon a particular affiliation, such as the Taliban, "but rather is an assessment based upon a preponderance of evidence that an individual participated in the conflict as an enemy combatant and, if so, detention is necessary to mitigate the threat posed to the government and people of Afghanistan, the U.S. and its coalition partners," Davis said. The Detainee Review Board, made up of three U.S. commissioned officers with a rank of major or above, determines when a prisoner is eligible for release and whether a detainee is likely to be rehabilitated.

So the troops are angry at democracy?.. boo hoo. These are innocent people being detained under a US approved proto-fascist set of rules.. not laws or due process.

..and maybe they might return to kill a troop or Afghan traitor, it's called "pay back" at being promised "freedom", then being denied freedom under foreigner administered state fascism... guilt, innocence and due process are all irrelevant.. all that matters are the opinions of some occupiers who decide there is a "preponderance of evidence".. who here wouldn't fight against that?

reply to post by centurion1211

I've always been a supporter of the military and thought that while the reasons behind the iraq war were suspect, we (U.S.) were doing the right thing in afghanistan

First of all, spouting off the drival of the "party-line" is not considered "supporting the troops". The troops are wholly dependent upon the American population to hold government accountable and not set policy that would have their services abused, such as going to war for reasons other than national security or such as making things much harder than absolutely necessary. Most troops could care less whether you agree with some pundit on the major news networks about why we are over in some foreign country or why the tax-payer has to foot the bill of a Wall Street gambling problem.

It is the job of the American people and only the American to ensure that the troops are on the right mission and that their services aren't be abused. Complaining about it and then blindly agreeing with whatever politician is on the soap-box, isn't going to do anything other than show that you don't really support the troops.

If taliban fighters that Americans fought, were wounded and died to arrest and take out of the fight are just released to fight again by the afghan leadership, then I now say it's over. Withdraw now!

US troops do what they are told from their leadership and their leadership does what they are told from the civilian leadership, who in turn does what they are told from the American people. Our troops don't have the authority or charter to question the job given to them by the American people. They just soldier on and achieve whatever task is set before them. On the other hand, it is up to the American people to hold their government accountable so that policy can be set that wouldn't abuse the troops.

Believe it or not, it is actually illegal for our troops to not follow the orders of the American people. The point here, is that if the mission that the troops are doing isn't just or unnecessary hardships are being put on them, it isn't their place to complain or dissent, rather it is the duty of the American people to hold their government accountable and project their will so that the mission will be done right or so that the soldiers' services aren't being abused for nefarious reasons.


--airspoon

reply to post by airspoon


You got (at least) 2 stars for basically typing a bunch of blah, blah, blah?

What does anything you said have to do with the OP, which (to refresh you and your "starmates") was about the absurdity of a taliban catch and release policy that means American troops are fighting and dying for basically nothing?

And it is absurd that the weak political dealings of this administration allow them to make these types of decisions based on the requests of Karzai's corrupt government.

I have been around long enough to remember viet nam. Fact: The U.S. military never lost a battle in viet nam, but the politicians lost the war. People ranted that iraq was going to be another viet nam. Wrong! Afghanistan is. Because when politicians take over making even the tiniest decisions on how a war can be prosecuted, viet nam and now afghanistan are the result.

And so my point is, if politicians are going to "lose" this war anyway, why wait for more needless American casualties? Get out now!

It's simple.
There is a catch-and-release policy because those caught were under weight and just a tiny bit small.
It ain't good eatin'.

Originally posted by centurion1211
If taliban fighters that Americans fought, were wounded and died to arrest and take out of the fight are just released to fight again by the afghan leadership, then I now say it's over.

It's not over. Far from it.

How can Nick Rockefeller have his "eternal war" if they run out of enemy to fight? Maybe Taliban numbers are getting too low and TPTB are scared the US might actually win it and end it?