Taliban not behind all violence in Afghanistan, says Nato chief

[Eugene]

Taliban not behind all violence in Afghanistan, says Nato chief

Richard Norton-Taylor
Friday September 15, 2006
The Guardian

The Taliban should not be blamed for all the violence in Afghanistan,
which was also being perpetrated by al-Qaida remnants and criminals,
Nato's top commander said yesterday.

-snip-

Addressing the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe
in Vienna, Gen Jones said: "I would caution that we should not make
the Taliban 10 feet tall (bigger than they are)." The new weapons
being used were available to "all of the actors, not just the Taliban",
he said.

Military commanders believe a minority of fighters attacking British
troops in Helmand province, and mainly Canadian troops in neighbouring
Kandahar province, are hardcore Taliban. The majority, they suggest,
are local people paid by the Taliban who offer significantly more -
about £5 a day - than the money paid to recruits to the Afghan army.

Commanders are also concerned about what they call Taliban propaganda
that troops are occupying the country and threatening local livelihoods
by preparing to eradicate the opium poppy crop.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/afghanistan/story/0,,1873122,00.html

[Freedom_from_Chains]

1. If there is one thing everyone in Afghanistan is worried about

it is the poppy crops.

[Stockholm]

2. I would not be surprised

if the bullets hitting Nato troops in the south comes from the tribes in the north as payment for dope who in their turn got the weapons from Nato (US) in the first place to combat the Talibans.

ISAF in Afghanistan is a joke. Hopelessly under-staffed and running around trying to buy their way out of trouble.

I participated in a leftwing demonstration a couple of days ago for bringing home Swedens' 240 troops. Transfer the operation under UN flag and double the number of soldiers or staff it entirely by Nato forces.

Stockholm

[FloridaPat]

3. Who exactly was fighting the Russians for 10 years? I would bet

those are the ones fighting us now. The same people fighting us in Iraq - their own citizens.