Wikileaks releases over 90,000 documents concering the Afghan War and Civillians

RW1914 · 07-25-2010, 07:46 PM

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10757344

RW1914 · 07-25-2010, 07:56 PM

White House "advises" reporters on how to report the leak.

http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/25/the-war-logs/

Quote:

You all should have received a written statement from General Jones [see update below] about the wikileaks release. Please let me know if you didn’t.
A few thoughts about these stories on background:
1) I don’t think anyone who follows this issue will find it surprising that there are concerns about ISI and safe havens in Pakistan. In fact, we’ve said as much repeatedly and on the record. Attached please find a document with some relevant quotes from senior USG officials.
2) The period of time covered in these documents (January 2004-December 2009) is before the President announced his new strategy. Some of the disconcerting things reported are exactly why the President ordered a three month policy review and a change in strategy.
3) Note the interesting graphs (pasted below) from the Guardian’s wikileaks story. I think they help put these documents in context.
4) As you report on this issue, it’s worth noting that wikileaks is not an objective news outlet but rather an organization that opposes US policy in Afghanistan.
From the Guardian:
But for all their eye-popping details, the intelligence files, which are mostly collated by junior officers relying on informants and Afghan officials, fail to provide a convincing smoking gun for ISI complicity. Most of the reports are vague, filled with incongruent detail, or crudely fabricated. The same characters – famous Taliban commanders, well-known ISI officials – and scenarios repeatedly pop up. And few of the events predicted in the reports subsequently occurred.
A retired senior American officer said ground-level reports were considered to be a mixture of “rumours, bullshit and second-hand information” and were weeded out as they passed up the chain of command. “As someone who had to sift through thousands of these reports, I can say that the chances of finding any real information are pretty slim,” said the officer, who has years of experience in the region.
If anything, the jumble of allegations highlights the perils of collecting accurate intelligence in a complex arena where all sides have an interest in distorting the truth.

Arctodus · 07-25-2010, 10:42 PM

The more things change, the more they remain the same.

sctrojan_90 · 07-25-2010, 11:44 PM

So majority of the problems happened in 2004-2008 - guess who was CiC during that time?

daCat · 07-26-2010, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sctrojan_90

So majority of the problems happened in 2004-2008 - guess who was CiC during that time?

Why stop there? We wouldn't be in Afghanistan if Clinton had landed a cruise missle on bin Ladens head instead of an aspirin factory.

RW1914 · 07-26-2010, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daCat

Why stop there? We wouldn't be in Afghanistan if Clinton had landed a cruise missle on bin Ladens head instead of an aspirin factory.

Cool, let's blame Reagan as well for not properly investing in Afghanistan's infrastructure after leaving, pissing off an entire generation of young people who knew nothing but war...thus starting the Al-Qeada (Mujhadeen and Taliban evolution.

daCat · 07-26-2010, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RW1914

Cool, let's blame Reagan as well for not properly investing in Afghanistan's infrastructure after leaving, pissing off an entire generation of young people who knew nothing but war...thus starting the Al-Qeada (Mujhadeen and Taliban evolution.

Might as well.

RW1914 · 07-26-2010, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daCat

Might as well.

See Charlie Wilson's War if you don't believe, simplest explanation of what went on from what I can remember now.

daCat · 07-26-2010, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RW1914

See Charlie Wilson's War if you don't believe, simplest explanation of what went on from what I can remember now.

I've seen it. Not sure blaming Reagan is a logical solution to hot tub party politics, but one should draw their own conclusions I suppose.

VT_Alum · 07-26-2010, 08:06 AM

Obama fail...

nashvols · 07-26-2010, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daCat

Might as well.

I think it's Kennedy's fault.

DynastyFSU · 07-26-2010, 08:13 AM

i blame the Nazi's for not defeating the soviets in 1942.

RW1914 · 07-26-2010, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DynastyFSU

i blame the Nazi's for not defeating the soviets in 1942.

....Right....

I blame the Entente for imposing such harsh terms in the Treaty of Versailles.

RW1914 · 07-26-2010, 08:20 AM

Then I blame France for not beating Prussia in the Franco-Prussian war.

nashvols · 07-26-2010, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RW1914

....Right....

I blame the Entente for imposing such harsh terms in the Treaty of Versailles.

I blame Richard the Lionhearted for not finishing the job in the Holy Land.

InstantOForBevo · 07-26-2010, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RW1914

Cool, let's blame Reagan as well for not properly investing in Afghanistan's infrastructure after leaving, pissing off an entire generation of young people who knew nothing but war...thus starting the Al-Qeada (Mujhadeen and Taliban evolution.

You serious, Clark?

RW1914 · 07-26-2010, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HireGregDavisDotCom

You serious, Clark?

What else did they know? They fought nearly 9 years.

RW1914 · 07-26-2010, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nashvols

I blame Richard the Lionhearted for not finishing the job in the Holy Land.

I blame Genghis Khan for not doing enough pillaging.

I blame Mohammed for being delusional and creating a religion, but then I also blame Jesus for the same problem.

I blame the Roman Empire for fostering the nomadic behavior of their cilent states.

We should also blame the geography of the Arabian peninsula.

FPS_Thug · 07-26-2010, 08:45 AM

I blame FVSports.

tulsaOUfan · 07-26-2010, 09:47 AM

War is hell and the more horrible we can make it, the quicker the enemy will want it to end.

07-25-2010, 07:46 PM	#1
RW1914 Butkus Winner Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Reno, Nowhere Posts: 6,006 Rep Power: 1	Wikileaks releases over 90,000 documents concering the Afghan War and Civillians http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10757344 __________________ For if the lion knows his own strength, no one can control him.

07-25-2010, 10:42 PM	#3
Arctodus THE GREAT BEAR Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Clinton Township, MI Posts: 15,856 Rep Power: 2	Re: Wikileaks releases over 90,000 documents concering the Afghan War and Civillians The more things change, the more they remain the same. __________________ "The time has come", the Walrus said, "To speak of many things. "Of ships, and shoes, and sealing wax, "Of cabbages and kings."

07-25-2010, 11:44 PM	#4
sctrojan_90 Maxwell Winner Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 19,213 Rep Power: 10	Re: Wikileaks releases over 90,000 documents concering the Afghan War and Civillians So majority of the problems happened in 2004-2008 - guess who was CiC during that time?

07-26-2010, 08:20 AM	#14
RW1914 Butkus Winner Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Reno, Nowhere Posts: 6,006 Rep Power: 1	Re: Wikileaks releases over 90,000 documents concering the Afghan War and Civillians Then I blame France for not beating Prussia in the Franco-Prussian war. __________________ For if the lion knows his own strength, no one can control him.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode