Taliban Recruiting Teenagers

[Azred]

The full news story is here.

from the article: KABUL, Afghanistan -- Fierce fighting in recent months has devastated the ranks of the Taliban, prompting the rebels to recruit children and force some families to provide one son to fight with them, a U.S. commander said Saturday. The fighting has fractured the Taliban's command structure, preventing the militants from regrouping, even though there has been an upsurge in violence, Maj. Gen. Jason Kamiya, the U.S. military operational commander in Afghanistan, told The Associated Press in an interview. Despite the setback _ more than 500 rebels have been killed since March _ the militants are likely to step up attacks in the lead-up to crucial Sept. 18 legislative elections, he said. "The Taliban and al-Qaida feel that this is their final chance to impede Afghanistan's progress to ... becoming a nation," Kamiya said. "They will challenge us all the way through Sept. 18." He said the rebels were desperately trying to recruit new fighters to replace those killed recently, and has even forced families in some areas "to give up one son to fight." "They have been hit so hard they now have to recruit more fighters. They are recruiting younger and younger fighters: 14, 15 and 16 years-old," Kamiya said. "The enemy is having a hard time keeping its recruit rates up."

I can already hear the complaints: "if the US weren't there those kids wouldn't be put in harm's way". [img]graemlins/1ponder.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/erm.gif[/img] We aren't the ones dragging teenagers away from home and putting rifles in their hands--they are. If the Taliban would simply quit fighting and start working with the newly-elected government, then they could actually start doing something positive to improve the future of their country. As it is, they are just running around trying to bully people, kill people, and most likely trying to find ways to revive the opium trade.

[Chewbacca]

Originally posted by Azred: I can already hear the complaints: "if the US weren't there those kids wouldn't be put in harm's way". [img]graemlins/1ponder.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/erm.gif[/img]

The Taliban consripted thousands long before we destroyed and replaced them. Thousands of those conscripts died by our bombs in the course of doing so. We can't be blamed for the Taliban's inhumane conscription practices. But...

Killing those conscripts is a consequence of US actions. The cold logic of cause and effect rears it's ugly head once again. Those kids would still probably be in harms way, but we would not be killing them.

To bad we didn't put 150,000 peacekeepers in Afganistan instead of Iraq. We'd have a whole lot less dead people in the last 3 years and thats a fact.

[ 07-24-2005, 02:30 AM: Message edited by: Chewbacca ]

[Azred]

It is also a fact that if they would quit fighting against stabilizing their own country that fewer people would be dying.

[shamrock_uk]

You mean in the same way that the revolutionary states should have stopped fighting the British so we could stabilise your country for you? [img]graemlins/angel.gif[/img]

[ 07-25-2005, 03:52 PM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

[Azred]

I have always wondered exactly why there was such a rush to try to break free from British control. It isn't like England had a really strong hold on the colonies, anyway. America could have been a relatively self-governing colony and gotten by quite nicely without all the bloodshed and ill feelings.
Carry the alternate history a little further. The War of 1812 would not have occurred and it is possible, although not likely because by that point America would have been far to big to maintain even the appearance of being under British contol, that the Civil War would never have happened. By the time the Gold Rush occurs we would have had de facto independence.

In short, we could have avoided fighting and worked out the agreement much more amicably.

[Timber Loftis]

They're impressionable, they're angry, they like to protest, they have time to march, they yearn to do right by everyone and be accepted and liked... the Taliban are simply playing off of Liberal wisdom -- kids are impressionable and easy to convert.

[johnny]

You forgot they also like singing the blues.

[Stratos]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: They're impressionable, they're angry, they like to protest, they have time to march, they yearn to do right by everyone and be accepted and liked...

Do you mean the kids or the Taliban?

[Azred]

The Taliban are avid fans of the blues. They can't get enough Big Joe Turner, Pinetop Perkins, and Muddy Waters. [img]graemlins/beigesmilewinkgrin.gif[/img]