Paying the Taleban

[Sulu]

Just read this story;
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8309464.stm
It says how allegedly the Italians had been paying the Taleban to not attack them, the French then took over the region unaware of this and within weeks had 10 men killed in an ambush. Before then only 1 Italian had been killed.

I have to say as much as I hope its not true it does fit in with the Italian war pattern...They switched sides in WW1, switched sides in WW2 and have now basically done the same in Afghanistan. What do you think about this?

 

[Eldarion]

Holy crap.....that can't be true.

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

Well in WWII Mussolini was taken down by anti-fascists, people who didn't like him in the first place, so I wouldn't really call it switching sides.

However, the Italian military makes me laugh at how truly useless it manages to be. The Roman Empire is long gone.

 

[Dudemeister]

Taleban ?

 

[orangebandguy]

A bunch of cowards who are good at making pizzas I guess. It wouldn't suprise me personally seeing as they like to switch sides alot. But they're no longer fascists so they probably didn't.

 

[UltraParanoia]

I've actually had italian pizza, it was odd.
There were like tomato slices and weird stuff like that.

 

[Steelfists]

It is incredibly naive to think that any counter insurgency war

Just read this story;
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8309464.stm
It says how allegedly the Italians had been paying the Taleban to not attack them, the French then took over the region unaware of this and within weeks had 10 men killed in an ambush. Before then only 1 Italian had been killed.

I have to say as much as I hope its not true it does fit in with the Italian war pattern...They switched sides in WW1, switched sides in WW2 and have now basically done the same in Afghanistan. What do you think about this?

It is incredibly naive to think that any war can be won with out negotiating with and probably paying off the insurgents. This reminds me of that fucking ridiculous furore some fuckers stirred up when it came out that NATO was negotiating with the talibs.

Saying they have "joined the other side" is frankly an idiotic statement that makes me ferventely hope that you never command any sort of counter insurgency campaign. The Italians pay them chicken feed. They stay in their caves getting high. The Italians build schools, roads etc, Afghan government establishes a presence. Wins trust of local people. When the Italians stop paying the Taliban come back to the villages to find hostile locals and strong local government.

Whos the winner there? Think before saying random bullshit.

 

[munx13]

Italy was useless as a military power in WW2, being beaten in Greece, North Africa and all...I can see that the situation has not changed much.

 

[Sulu]

I think we need to question the main source of that article though. It was from an unamed Afghan officer...now if the Afghan government can't even hold an election without fraud then its probably highly likely that this officer was bought out to say this.

 

[falcon1985]

It is incredibly naive to think that any counter insurgency war

Just read this story;
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8309464.stm
It says how allegedly the Italians had been paying the Taleban to not attack them, the French then took over the region unaware of this and within weeks had 10 men killed in an ambush. Before then only 1 Italian had been killed.

I have to say as much as I hope its not true it does fit in with the Italian war pattern...They switched sides in WW1, switched sides in WW2 and have now basically done the same in Afghanistan. What do you think about this?

It is incredibly naive to think that any war can be won with out negotiating with and probably paying off the insurgents. This reminds me of that fucking ridiculous furore some fuckers stirred up when it came out that NATO was negotiating with the talibs.

Saying they have "joined the other side" is frankly an idiotic statement that makes me ferventely hope that you never command any sort of counter insurgency campaign. The Italians pay them chicken feed. They stay in their caves getting high. The Italians build schools, roads etc, Afghan government establishes a presence. Wins trust of local people. When the Italians stop paying the Taliban come back to the villages to find hostile locals and strong local government.

Whos the winner there? Think before saying random bullshit.

Well spoken good sir. Finally someone who understands military logic.

 

[The Kangaroo]

It's Taliban

 

[Sulu]

Who are the Taleban?


I mean the Italians are real idiots if they're paying so much money to a bogus organization that actually does nothing at all..

Taleban/Taliban are the guys fighting our guys in Afghanistan...virtually the same organisation as Al Quaeda who knocked did 9/11 and 7/7...you know them? Unless it was a comment on my spelling of the group

 

[Amethyst Wind]

Who are the Taleban?


I mean the Italians are real idiots if they're paying so much money to a bogus organization that actually does nothing at all..

Taleban/Taliban are the guys fighting our guys in Afghanistan...virtually the same organisation as Al Quaeda who knocked did 9/11 and 7/7...you know them? Unless it was a comment on my spelling of the group

*sigh* You unfortunately demonstrate just how little you know about the Middle East with statements like this and your OP.

The Taliban are quite separate from Al Queda.

Of course I can understand your confusion, since the western world has been bankrolling and outfitting them for the past 3 or 4 decades.

What the Italians are doing is barely relevant to the overall conflict, but this may be a situation where appeasement might work.

 

[Sulu]

Who are the Taleban?


I mean the Italians are real idiots if they're paying so much money to a bogus organization that actually does nothing at all..

Taleban/Taliban are the guys fighting our guys in Afghanistan...virtually the same organisation as Al Quaeda who knocked did 9/11 and 7/7...you know them? Unless it was a comment on my spelling of the group

wow your the smart one of the bunch -_-

It's written T A L I B A N

durrrrr

I mean it isn't written all qaidah either isn't it?


ok now go back to explaining to kids that there is no god

haha internet RAAAAAGE!!

I spelt it like that because I once saw it written like that.

I will go back and explain to kids that there is no God, thanks for reminding me, and I shall use you as an example of a tool. Now tools are an example of no god because why would a supernatural being create someone as laughable as you.

In fact the 'Lord' preaches to 'love thy neighbour'...well you aren't getting into heaven now you sinner!

 

[Sulu]

*sigh* You unfortunately demonstrate just how little you know about the Middle East with statements like this and your OP.

The Taliban are quite separate from Al Queda.

Of course I can understand your confusion, since the western world has been bankrolling and outfitting them for the past 3 or 4 decades.

Hey I never read up about the middle east for fun, I woulda called them Ragheads but thought I better try and get it right for the sake of PC.

 

[Bretty]

Who are the Taleban?


I mean the Italians are real idiots if they're paying so much money to a bogus organization that actually does nothing at all..

Taleban/Taliban are the guys fighting our guys in Afghanistan...virtually the same organisation as Al Quaeda who knocked did 9/11 and 7/7...you know them? Unless it was a comment on my spelling of the group

Actually the Taliban is nothing like AQ. The Taliban are Pakastani and Afghani, AQ are predemonently Arab and from around the world.

Afghanis dont like AQs because AQs think they are better than the Afghans. Afghanis dont like the Taliban due to their interpretation of Muslim law and codes.

The Taliban are protecting their Drug trade, about 100mill a year according to the CIA. If there was no drugs there would be very little fighting in Afghanistan. I think they would happily stay in Pakistan if they could, who wants to rule a unfriendly nation?

I have read to many books on this. I suggest reading licence to kill: Military Contractors (not exact title). Explains how Afghan towns work and covers the situation pretty nicely there.

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

but then again:

But Italy, France and Nato dismissed the claims.

"These are rumours, and it is not the first time we have heard them," said French Admiral Christophe Prazuck.

In Italy, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's office also rejected the report.

"The Berlusconi government has never authorised or allowed any form of payment of sums of money in favour of members of the insurgent Taliban in Afghanistan, and is not aware of similar initiatives by the previous government," it said in a statement.

why would France put forth a claim then immediately deny it? after all the Taliban are notorious at running dis-information. who's to say that this isn't a case of "calling wolf"?

I'd be inclined to believe this if it wasn't for the fact that I don't trust anything Mr. Berlusconi says. There's something strange about him.

 

[Nepeccel]

Actually the Taliban is nothing like AQ. The Taliban are Pakastani and Afghani, AQ are predemonently Arab and from around the world.

Afghanis dont like AQs because AQs think they are better than the Afghans. Afghanis dont like the Taliban due to their interpretation of Muslim law and codes.

The Taliban are protecting their Drug trade, about 100mill a year according to the CIA. If there was no drugs there would be very little fighting in Afghanistan. I think they would happily stay in Pakistan if they could, who wants to rule a unfriendly nation?

I have read to many books on this. I suggest reading licence to kill: Military Contractors (not exact title). Explains how Afghan towns work and covers the situation pretty nicely there.

Well put Bretty. Here is a user who can put across his point of view in a calm manner, it is a shame other users in this thread cannot.

Paying the Taliban in secret and letting another country's soldiers get killed because of the secrecy is very weak and pathetic. Italy (or probably just their PM) need some sort of punishment if this is true, whether it be sanctions or just a good telling off. Very bad form Italy!

 

[The Infamous Scamola]

Hey, all get on the greasy dago hating bandwagon now, why don't ya.

I find this extremely offensive. Must I remind you that we have lost 20 men in Afghanistan since the start of the war, six of which just a month ago. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8260419.stm]

And really, who gives a fuck even if this were true? The whole strategy and way of doing things in that war is fucked up and corrupt.

Oh, and this:

" A lot of Nato countries with troops operating in the rural areas of Afghanistan pay the insurgents so not to be attacked "

Anonymous Afghan commander to AFP agency

Read your own article before pointing fingers.

 

[Wadders]

Huh.

That's actually not a bad idea.

*Wants badly to argue against this suggestion, but realises it will not make one jot of difference to your view, and decides against making a comment*

OT: So their evidence for this is...where exactly? The word of an ANA officer is enough to discredit Italy and possibly other NATO forces, with no hard evidence (or none that I could see in the article) at all?

And even if this did happen, it's kinda shooting yourself, and the whole war effort, in the foot. I mean the Taleban probably aren't exactly going to be using the money for interior decorating in their fucking cave, if ya catch mah drift...