Tackling the Taliban - Afghanistan

March 2007
As casualties mount in Afghanistan, questions are being asked about NATO's tactics. Can the Taliban be defeated by military might alone or is a more subtle strategy required?

A convoy of 20 armed vehicles rolls into a village. After a security perimeter is established, engineers start fitting a water tank to the village mosque. It's part of a plan to win over hearts and minds. "If the people support you, then you will win," explains NATO Spokesman Mark Leity. This strategy of fighting coupled with development was introduced to the South by NATO's British commander, General David Richards. Much to the Americans' disgust, Richards also negotiated a truce with the Taliban, which lasted until the US took command of NATO. "There are good Taliban out there as well", he claims. Richards is convinced his strategy is; "setting the conditions for success". But last year also saw the highest levels of fighting since the invasion. Almost 200 coalition troops were killed. It looks like NATO's new American commander will ditch Richards' tactics in favour of a more aggressive approach.

Produced by SBS/Dateline
Distributed by Journeyman Pictures

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Taliban
• Afghanistan
• Nato
• Fighting
• Diplomacy
• news
• documentary
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[atfld]

@Saladinscavalry I hate guys like you. Do us all a favor join al-qaeda like you were obviously meant to do so one of our troops can put a bullet up your ass so the shit you put on this page doesnt come out anymore.

[mikeymike88ify]

@afghanstoray As to your comment about sexual disease, how are you going to argue western civilizations have a higher ratio of disease to person, when there is not testing conducted for std's in the middle east? For your comment about "every single family not surviving relationships", what relationships do people from the mid east have with there family? Besides stoning your daughters in cities for your people to watch die? should we do those things to make our families better?

[serappia]

HELL on woman haters, bigoted, neanderthals, disgusting, vile, bigoted, intolerant piece of shit taliban, i hate those fucking bastards so much.

[mangore623]

General Richards' 'Modus Vivendi' only served to make the West look weak in the eyes of the Taliban. You're there to win a war, not be chums with the enemy.

[SolarLunar1]

@Thevoiceofoz Trying to gain alliance with them,pay attention much?

[Thevoiceofoz]

What is in Afghanistan that is so important?

[MrGeyzer]

@MrGeyzer I dont like war but right now both of those can fight each other, all they do is cause trouble

[DJharj123]

@MrGeyzer u americans just love having wars u more violent then talibans

[TimGottschalkYale]

@PumptheVolumeJohn - we all know who taliban are! and afganis who join taliban are men who are not fighting to protect enormous wealths or oils they are just fighting for their very basic human rights, their country which is distroyed, no system, no proper life, no justice, drugs, poverty, and no choice, men without shoes loaded with rocket launchers, we all know that by improving the quality of life for these people we can actualy stop the war - but they dont want to stop the war!!