Afghanistan 2011

[Spokes]

+1
...and no paper...they use the right hand, the same one they use to greet you...

That explains the smell on the boardwalk.

[Expat]

It ain't over...

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/afgha ... sassinated

Apparently he was also Canadian...

[JakeYYZ]

Ghulam Haider Hamidi was killed by a suicide bomber whose turban was laced with explosives.

Turban bomb. .. Ala Danish Muslim cartoons. This is a “life imitates art” moment.

[Expat]

Ghulam Haider Hamidi was killed by a suicide bomber whose turban was laced with explosives.

Turban bomb. .. Ala Danish Muslim cartoons. This is a “life imitates art” moment.

Time for a re-run of the cartoons???

[JakeYYZ]

That was my attempt at ‘dark’ humor. That is so sad -- someone returning to his home country to try and make a difference in a positive way, and gets assassinated.

[azimuthaviation]

He complained loudly about Canada’s $1.9 million project to erect solar streets lights in the city. Many of the devices didn’t work.

Good to see Canada investing in municipal infrastructure. Too bad its the Kandahar municipality not somewhere here.

[2R]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ ... =rss_world

Psch-ops again....col williams is a victim of psch ops or somebody just put a double dose of acid in his timmies double double.
Maybe that senator who was sexting was a victim of the men who stare at goats as well

[. ._]

Just wondering.

Is it normal for Navy SEALs to be bombing around in Chinooks piloted by National Guardsmen?

http://www.kdvr.com/news/kdvr-colo-army ... 7901.story

http://journalstar.com/news/local/milit ... 1b3a7.html

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/artic ... id-rangers

[sky's the limit]

Just wondering.

Is it normal for Navy SEALs to be bombing around in Chinooks piloted by National Guardsmen?

Yes.

There are not nearly enough SOC aircraft to satisfy the need, so it is very routine for regular Army and Guard aircraft to be used instead, particularly now that the "F" model Chinook is available to these units as it comes with a whole new suite of capabilities that put it on par, or exceed what the older SOC aircraft have.

There has been an escalation in terms of arms and capabilities recently, and I don't think this will be the last you hear of larger a/c being brought down. Now that the support for this war is at an all-time low, I would suspect the Taliban will be looking for a few more high profile targets to help speed the exit of the Americans and gain bargaining power at the negotiation tabel. They have shown remarkable restraint in some areas thus far, particularly the civi fixed wing ops around the major centres.

stl

[azimuthaviation]

There has been an escalation in terms of arms and capabilities recently, and I don't think this will be the last you hear of larger a/c being brought down.

The story floatin around mid east wires is that they were going in to surprise them in their sleep but theyre so stupid they didnt stop to think its Ramadan and they were all awake for the pre dawn meal. The surprise was lost and they had time to get an RPG and bring it down.

[. ._]

OK. Thanks STL. I thought the SEALs might have their own full time pilots to fly them around, but I guess the part-timers are good enough.

[Expat]

How the war here has changed!
The military used to drive around in jeeps...
Now the armored vehicles are quite impressive, but the body count keeps climbing!
The bad guys were looking for soft targets. I think they found them. And when something works, it gets repeated. Flying here will be different now, with more stress.
Let's see what comes next.
The centre of the country is pretty high, and helicopters typically fly low above ground. Easy targets for RPGs.
Bad guys are looking for a position of strenght to negotiate, and the locals are getting afraid of their comeback, through negotiated power sharing.
Historically, when the US leaves a country, the make it look like a victory, and turn the public's attention to something else. What will be next?

[azimuthaviation]

I believe it was stinger missiles vs helicopter that drove the Soviets out as much as anything else.

[Dash-Ate]

EDITED - Nothing to do with the topic.

[Expat]

I believe it was stinger missiles vs helicopter that drove the Soviets out as much as anything else.

When you lose control of the skies, better go home...

[. ._]

Edited

[trey kule]

edited

[azimuthaviation]

I believe it was stinger missiles vs helicopter that drove the Soviets out as much as anything else.

When you lose control of the skies, better go home...

I dont know if you watch the news in the USA but in a few years they wont have a home to go to.

[Expat]

I believe it was stinger missiles vs helicopter that drove the Soviets out as much as anything else.

When you lose control of the skies, better go home...

I dont know if you watch the news in the USA but in a few years they wont have a home to go to.

Yeah, and from here they a lot of bad news.

[Expat]

Six months later, some light shed:

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/correcting-fai ... 33289.html

Never believe the government.

[winds_in_flight_wtf]

Six months later, some light shed:

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/correcting-fai ... 33289.html

Never believe the government.

But in another recent thread (since removed) , you condemned us for believing the media / western oriented reports. Now you are referencing an american media source because it best suits your anti western rhetoric.

Ironic.

Btw, most people do not care how Bin Laden died, nor the technicalities of it. As far as i'm concerned we only need to know enough information so that a video game can be created.

I could care less if Obama talked to him via video link to tell him "we finally got you pig face" followed by 2 bullets to the head.

He is dead, good riddance. May more follow.

[winds_in_flight_wtf]

I recently read in a "western propaganda" news article that Afghanistan is among the most corrupt countries in the world.

Strange.

[ahramin]

http://www.ted.com/talks/rory_stewart_t ... istan.html

[winds_in_flight_wtf]

Very interesting . Thank you for sharing. Made a variety of very good points

[Expat]

http://www.ted.com/talks/rory_stewart_t ... istan.html

Thanks, I especially loved the comments below! They reflect our daily discussions here. They also show that the devides remain, even amongst immigrants, and are actually made deeper by the wars. And I also like the point about people sleeping better at night, when their country is not fighting and occupying a few others...
Cheers,