You even shipped stinger surface to air missiles into Afghanistan, so they could take on the Hinds.
Only the Israelis usually got stuff like that, and the Afghans that used them owned like one blanket, an AK and a chunk of nan bread.
The guy could have bought an entire village with one stinger.
It's a krrrrazy old world, yup.
Only the Israelis usually got stuff like that, and the Afghans that used them owned like one blanket, an AK and a chunk of nan bread.
The guy could have bought an entire village with one stinger.
It's a krrrrazy old world, yup.
in related news
:grandmais
-----------------------------
Pakistan
* Pakistan Slideshow: Pakistan
* Afghan medical rescue mission Play Video Video: Afghan medical rescue mission BBC
* Terror suspect mentally unfit for trial Play Video Video: Terror suspect mentally unfit for trial AP
Local children stand beside the rubble of a house hit by suspected U. S. AP – Local children stand beside the rubble of a house hit by suspected U. S. missiles strike in Indi Khel …
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – The U.S. military apparently struck at Islamic militants outside Pakistan's lawless tribal belt for the first time Wednesday, firing a missile that killed six suspected insurgents taking refuge away from the conflict zone along the Afghan border.
The government denounced the attack as yet another "grave provocation" amid a series of U.S. military operations in the country that have enflamed widespread anger among ordinary Pakistanis.
The harsh words were a sharp contrast to comments Tuesday by U.S. and NATO officials who reported increased cooperation from Pakistan in the fight against militant groups. Tens of thousands of U.S. and NATO troops are stationed in neighboring Afghanistan.
"It looks like the Americans are not listening, but this is such a great provocation that it will bring a strong response from the government of Pakistan that will dissuade them," presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said of the latest missile strike.
He declined to say what the response would be.
The government, which relies heavily on U.S. financial aid, has not gone beyond criticizing raids. Some experts question whether the leadership secretly condones the attacks while speaking out publicly against them, but the government denies that.
Although many militants have died in the U.S. strikes, Pakistani leaders have repeatedly called for a halt, saying the raids also often kill civilians and undercut public support for their own war against the extremists.
The United States has staged some 20 missile strikes and at least one commando assault inside Pakistan since August, a barrage seen as a sign of Washington's frustration with the inability of its nuclear-armed ally to curb militants blamed for rising attacks in Afghanistan.
All the previous attacks had come in North and South Waziristan, semiautonomous tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. But Wednesday's attack blew up a house in Indi Khel, a village in the Bannu district about 30 miles from the Afghan border and beyond the tribal region.
The identities of those killed were still being investigated, but a senior military officer said "the Americans are very confident" an al-Qaida member identified as Abdullah Azam al-Saudi was among the victims. He did not elaborate.
Earlier, two Pakistani intelligence officials said their agents reported that militants from Central Asia were believed to be among the six dead. They also insisted on anonymity.
All the officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information.
Villagers denied any militants were among the dead, but they declined to discuss the identity of the victims. "Go!" one man shouted at a cameraman who pressed for details while shooting footage obtained by AP Television News.
Adnan Khan Wazir, a Bannu lawmaker, also insisted that only civilians died.
While Bannu is inland from the frontier tribal areas, it is still a dangerous place, and it falls under the control of the regional government — making the attack specially sensitive.
A large Islamist political party threatened to block two major Pakistani roads used to truck supplies to U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan unless the cross-border attacks stop.
"If these missiles attacks continue, then we will ask the people to create hurdles in the way of supplies for NATO," said Qazi Hussain Ahmed, chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, which has shown it can mobilize thousands of supporters at short notice.
The supply lines have never been blocked by protests, but militants and criminals often attack trucks traveling them.
The U.S. rarely confirms or denies involvement in strikes inside Pakistan, which are believed to be carried out mainly by unmanned CIA drones flown from across the border in Afghanistan.
Last week, CIA chief Michael Hayden claimed pressure on militants in the tribal region had put al-Qaida "off-balance."
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has little leverage to force the U.S. to stop the attacks, analysts say. Pakistan receives millions in U.S. military and development aid each year and is about to receive an emergency loan from the International Monetary Fund to bolster the economy.
Some analysts have speculated the government has a secret agreement with Washington that allows the attacks on condition that U.S. officials do not admit to them. Zardari and other Pakistani officials strongly deny that.
In a sign of the complex relations between the two countries, U.S. and NATO military officials have praised what they say is improved day-to-day Pakistani cooperation in squeezing militants along the border.
American officials said Tuesday that troops in Afghanistan coordinated with Pakistanis over the weekend to allow artillery shelling of insurgents who were firing rockets across the border. Pakistan's official statement on the matter referred only to militant activity in Afghanistan.
Over the past month, NATO and Pakistan also have cooperated in Operation Lion Heart, a series of complementary offensives involving Pakistani army and paramilitary troops on one side of the border and NATO forces on the other, said Col. John Spiszer, U.S. commander in northeast Afghanistan.
American officials have also praised a Pakistani offensive in the Bajur tribal area that has the government says has killed 1,600 militants in the past three months. Pakistani officials also are trying to persuade tribes to turn against the militants.
:grandmais
-----------------------------
Pakistan
* Pakistan Slideshow: Pakistan
* Afghan medical rescue mission Play Video Video: Afghan medical rescue mission BBC
* Terror suspect mentally unfit for trial Play Video Video: Terror suspect mentally unfit for trial AP
Local children stand beside the rubble of a house hit by suspected U. S. AP – Local children stand beside the rubble of a house hit by suspected U. S. missiles strike in Indi Khel …
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – The U.S. military apparently struck at Islamic militants outside Pakistan's lawless tribal belt for the first time Wednesday, firing a missile that killed six suspected insurgents taking refuge away from the conflict zone along the Afghan border.
The government denounced the attack as yet another "grave provocation" amid a series of U.S. military operations in the country that have enflamed widespread anger among ordinary Pakistanis.
The harsh words were a sharp contrast to comments Tuesday by U.S. and NATO officials who reported increased cooperation from Pakistan in the fight against militant groups. Tens of thousands of U.S. and NATO troops are stationed in neighboring Afghanistan.
"It looks like the Americans are not listening, but this is such a great provocation that it will bring a strong response from the government of Pakistan that will dissuade them," presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said of the latest missile strike.
He declined to say what the response would be.
The government, which relies heavily on U.S. financial aid, has not gone beyond criticizing raids. Some experts question whether the leadership secretly condones the attacks while speaking out publicly against them, but the government denies that.
Although many militants have died in the U.S. strikes, Pakistani leaders have repeatedly called for a halt, saying the raids also often kill civilians and undercut public support for their own war against the extremists.
The United States has staged some 20 missile strikes and at least one commando assault inside Pakistan since August, a barrage seen as a sign of Washington's frustration with the inability of its nuclear-armed ally to curb militants blamed for rising attacks in Afghanistan.
All the previous attacks had come in North and South Waziristan, semiautonomous tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. But Wednesday's attack blew up a house in Indi Khel, a village in the Bannu district about 30 miles from the Afghan border and beyond the tribal region.
The identities of those killed were still being investigated, but a senior military officer said "the Americans are very confident" an al-Qaida member identified as Abdullah Azam al-Saudi was among the victims. He did not elaborate.
Earlier, two Pakistani intelligence officials said their agents reported that militants from Central Asia were believed to be among the six dead. They also insisted on anonymity.
All the officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information.
Villagers denied any militants were among the dead, but they declined to discuss the identity of the victims. "Go!" one man shouted at a cameraman who pressed for details while shooting footage obtained by AP Television News.
Adnan Khan Wazir, a Bannu lawmaker, also insisted that only civilians died.
While Bannu is inland from the frontier tribal areas, it is still a dangerous place, and it falls under the control of the regional government — making the attack specially sensitive.
A large Islamist political party threatened to block two major Pakistani roads used to truck supplies to U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan unless the cross-border attacks stop.
"If these missiles attacks continue, then we will ask the people to create hurdles in the way of supplies for NATO," said Qazi Hussain Ahmed, chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, which has shown it can mobilize thousands of supporters at short notice.
The supply lines have never been blocked by protests, but militants and criminals often attack trucks traveling them.
The U.S. rarely confirms or denies involvement in strikes inside Pakistan, which are believed to be carried out mainly by unmanned CIA drones flown from across the border in Afghanistan.
Last week, CIA chief Michael Hayden claimed pressure on militants in the tribal region had put al-Qaida "off-balance."
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has little leverage to force the U.S. to stop the attacks, analysts say. Pakistan receives millions in U.S. military and development aid each year and is about to receive an emergency loan from the International Monetary Fund to bolster the economy.
Some analysts have speculated the government has a secret agreement with Washington that allows the attacks on condition that U.S. officials do not admit to them. Zardari and other Pakistani officials strongly deny that.
In a sign of the complex relations between the two countries, U.S. and NATO military officials have praised what they say is improved day-to-day Pakistani cooperation in squeezing militants along the border.
American officials said Tuesday that troops in Afghanistan coordinated with Pakistanis over the weekend to allow artillery shelling of insurgents who were firing rockets across the border. Pakistan's official statement on the matter referred only to militant activity in Afghanistan.
Over the past month, NATO and Pakistan also have cooperated in Operation Lion Heart, a series of complementary offensives involving Pakistani army and paramilitary troops on one side of the border and NATO forces on the other, said Col. John Spiszer, U.S. commander in northeast Afghanistan.
American officials have also praised a Pakistani offensive in the Bajur tribal area that has the government says has killed 1,600 militants in the past three months. Pakistani officials also are trying to persuade tribes to turn against the militants.
churn and burn baby
just keep supplying different sides so they keep killing each other over there as we suck them dry of their resources (mainly oil)
rather than them crossing an ocean and coming over here and get all pissed off and flying airplanes into our buildings
just keep supplying different sides so they keep killing each other over there as we suck them dry of their resources (mainly oil)
rather than them crossing an ocean and coming over here and get all pissed off and flying airplanes into our buildings
another related story
in recent past they were having a hard time finding people to churn and burn through our military industrial complex
now that economy going to shit go more willing people
problem solved
--------------------
WASHINGTON — The number of young people considering a military career has significantly increased for the first time in about five years, buoyed by more positive news out of Iraq.
Military officials predict interest will rise even further because of the worsening economy.
"We'd like to think now we've bottomed out here and (recruiting) now will continue increasing," said Curtis Gilroy, a Pentagon personnel official. "A lot of that is because of the relatively good news out of Iraq."
The percentage of young people who said they would probably join the military increased from 9% to 11% in the first half of this year, according to a Pentagon-sponsored survey. The poll questioned 3,304 young people ages 16 to 21.
"We have … a lot more people coming to us now," said Sgt. 1st Class Chad Benes, a recruiter at the Mount Clemens, Mich., recruiting station.
Staff Sgt. Harry Weaver, another recruiter at the station, cited the worsening economy in the area, which is 25 miles from Detroit, home of the foundering auto industry.
The election of Barack Obama might have helped because he has pushed for a quick drawdown of U.S. troops from Iraq, Weaver said. "People think President-elect Obama will pull troops out right away," he said. "Obviously, no matter who was elected, it will take some time."
Two years ago, his recruiting station was struggling, Weaver said. Over the past two months, the station has signed up 32 people, compared with 11 during the same period two years ago.
Gilroy said it may be too soon to draw any firm conclusions, but the increase raises hopes that the recruiting environment is on the mend after years of tough going.
An improved trend would allow the services to be more selective. The Army reported that 83% of its recruits in the year ending Sept. 30 had high school diplomas, up from 79% the previous year.
in recent past they were having a hard time finding people to churn and burn through our military industrial complex
now that economy going to shit go more willing people
problem solved
--------------------
WASHINGTON — The number of young people considering a military career has significantly increased for the first time in about five years, buoyed by more positive news out of Iraq.
Military officials predict interest will rise even further because of the worsening economy.
"We'd like to think now we've bottomed out here and (recruiting) now will continue increasing," said Curtis Gilroy, a Pentagon personnel official. "A lot of that is because of the relatively good news out of Iraq."
The percentage of young people who said they would probably join the military increased from 9% to 11% in the first half of this year, according to a Pentagon-sponsored survey. The poll questioned 3,304 young people ages 16 to 21.
"We have … a lot more people coming to us now," said Sgt. 1st Class Chad Benes, a recruiter at the Mount Clemens, Mich., recruiting station.
Staff Sgt. Harry Weaver, another recruiter at the station, cited the worsening economy in the area, which is 25 miles from Detroit, home of the foundering auto industry.
The election of Barack Obama might have helped because he has pushed for a quick drawdown of U.S. troops from Iraq, Weaver said. "People think President-elect Obama will pull troops out right away," he said. "Obviously, no matter who was elected, it will take some time."
Two years ago, his recruiting station was struggling, Weaver said. Over the past two months, the station has signed up 32 people, compared with 11 during the same period two years ago.
Gilroy said it may be too soon to draw any firm conclusions, but the increase raises hopes that the recruiting environment is on the mend after years of tough going.
An improved trend would allow the services to be more selective. The Army reported that 83% of its recruits in the year ending Sept. 30 had high school diplomas, up from 79% the previous year.
