It worked in Iraq.
These people are not completely interchangable parts. They have experience, connections, and reputations. Additionally, the leadership of these organizations seems to be a lot more reluctant to die than the drones they send out to do their dirty work.
It would be much more effective to have enough access to capture these people instead of just kill them--the information from captured al Qaeda in Iraq was very helpful. But that doesn't seem to be an option as long as they're deep in Pakistan.
Still, Iraq is not Afghanistan. The Pashtun and other groups al Qaeda is hiding among are more sympathetic to the terrorists than the people of Iraq were. Our greatest progress in Iraq came when al Qaeda abused Iraqis to the point where the Iraqis turned against them.
I don't know if this is happening in western Pakistan. As far as I can tell, the tribes and terrorists still feel like they're on the same team.
Michael Yon is still one of the best sources. A very realistic outlook.
Current Events » in reply to While intelligence is certainly valuable and essential
Cutting off the heads
The whole thread (26 posts)
- Obama on Afghanistan
- Al Qaeda? Oh, you mean the United Front against Crusaders and Jews
- There are limits to military power.
- The key issue is always intelligence. Given sufficient information, we could destroy them overnight.
- While intelligence is certainly valuable and essential
- Every Organization Has a Maximum Sustainable Rate of Loss.
- A winable war
- Cutting off the heads
- While intelligence is certainly valuable and essential
- I guess tht's why Obama's plan employs diplomatic and civilian power too? (n/t)
- The key issue is always intelligence. Given sufficient information, we could destroy them overnight.
- Further