"Russia 'arming the Afghan Taliban', says US"

[archives]

"Russia is supporting and even supplying arms to the Taliban, the head of US forces in Afghanistan has told the BBC."

"In an exclusive interview, Gen John Nicholson said he'd seen "destabilising activity by the Russians."

"He said Russian weapons were smuggled across the Tajik border to the Taliban, but could not say in what quantity. Russia has denied such US allegations in the past, citing a lack of evidence."

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-43500299

So, given the above, the President makes a point of congratulating Putin on winning a shame election, and tells us repeatingly that he really believes what Putin tells him, all along going out of his way to attack porn stars, playboy models, and Joe Biden?

Just "making America great" by the hour

Putin is playing Trump, obviously, and Trump is playing his base, just as evident, so one can't imagine what Putin thinks of the American voting populace who actually elected this guy.

[SmarterthanYou]

they needed to upgrade. the weapons we gave them were getting old.

[dukkha]

this has been going on for awhile. The reason isn't Putin -it's because Afghanistan continues to be a weak government, with the Taliban playing the spoiler. So much so Russia is hedging it's bets.

While Americans Fight the Taliban, Putin Is Making Headway in Afghanistan
This Russian deployment of so-called “soft power” appears to be paying dividends in ways that could hardly have been predicted when the Soviet Army left Afghanistan after nine years of war.

The Russians are ramping up political, economic and propaganda activities to improve their image and reestablish their influence amid pervasive corruption that is impeding progress in Afghanistan.

Regardless of the gains that have been made in some areas, masses of unemployed Afghans have lost hope and are emigrating in unprecedented numbers. Afghan soldiers are fighting valiantly, but terrorist attacks are on the rise and the U.S.-backed Afghan government appears incapable of establishing security across the country. The bulk of U.S. and NATO military forces have departed, aggravating Afghan fears of being abandoned again by the West.

Russia is seeking to “help shape events on the ground” by cultivating closer ties to the Afghan government.

According to the Moscow-based Center for Contemporary Afghan Studies, Russia is seeking to “help shape events on the ground” by cultivating closer ties to the Afghan government.

Russia has expanded its embassy staff and signed a security agreement with Afghanistan in 2016, reportedly shipping in 10,000 Kalashnikov rifles and millions of rounds of ammunition. In the economic sphere, President Vladimir Putin's special envoy to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, promised to support Afghanistan's housing sector during his February meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

The Russian Embassy spent $20 million to rebuild the abandoned Soviet Friendship Center. Hoping that it will regain its previous role in promoting an affinity for Russia, the embassy reopened it as the new Russian Cultural Center, but many Afghans still use the original Soviet name. And that's just one of 150 projects Moscow has undertaken at a cost of tens of millions of dollars in its effort to restore Russia's lost economic and cultural clout in Afghanistan.

Although this level of expenditure is small in comparison to the billions of dollars being spent by other countries, Russia, unlike the U.S., has an effective propaganda apparatus to publicize its aid projects. Pro-Russian media promote the perception that Soviet infrastructure projects, such as the Salang Tunnel and the Band-e Sardeh dam, were better built than what came afterwards.

Pro-Russian stories depict a stark contrast with wasteful U.S. spending. Independently, wasteful U.S. spending has been documented in reports from the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.

Intent on promoting a positive image among Muslims, Russia has publicly announced assistance to the Taliban to help it resist ISIS and promote peace negotiations.

General John Nicholson, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan and other American officials see it differently. They accuse Russia of aiding the Taliban to destabilize Afghanistan and undermine U.S. interests.

From Russia's perspective, however, the dual strategy of backing the government and the insurgents positions it to accommodate whoever comes out ahead. Afghans add matter-of-factly that Russia, in keeping with its long history of involvement in their country, also exerts influence through covert funding to political leaders and groups outside the government.

At present, Russia is enjoying a remarkable comeback in the land that once fought so violently to expel it. According to an experienced Afghan businessman, the growing Russian engagement in Kabul business ventures and other activities produces negative comparisons with Americans.

While the latter have gained a reputation for living behind walls, afraid to venture out among Afghans because of the terrorist threat, the Russians reportedly walk the streets openly, take taxis and visit Afghan associates and friends in their homes without security escorts.
https://www.rand.org/blog/2017/07/wh...g-headway.html

[archives]

this has been going on for awhile. The reason isn't Putin -it's because Afghanistan continues to be a weak government, with the Taliban playing the spoiler. So much so Russia is hedging it's bets.

While Americans Fight the Taliban, Putin Is Making Headway in Afghanistan
This Russian deployment of so-called “soft power” appears to be paying dividends in ways that could hardly have been predicted when the Soviet Army left Afghanistan after nine years of war.

The Russians are ramping up political, economic and propaganda activities to improve their image and reestablish their influence amid pervasive corruption that is impeding progress in Afghanistan.

Regardless of the gains that have been made in some areas, masses of unemployed Afghans have lost hope and are emigrating in unprecedented numbers. Afghan soldiers are fighting valiantly, but terrorist attacks are on the rise and the U.S.-backed Afghan government appears incapable of establishing security across the country. The bulk of U.S. and NATO military forces have departed, aggravating Afghan fears of being abandoned again by the West.

Russia is seeking to “help shape events on the ground” by cultivating closer ties to the Afghan government.

According to the Moscow-based Center for Contemporary Afghan Studies, Russia is seeking to “help shape events on the ground” by cultivating closer ties to the Afghan government.

Russia has expanded its embassy staff and signed a security agreement with Afghanistan in 2016, reportedly shipping in 10,000 Kalashnikov rifles and millions of rounds of ammunition. In the economic sphere, President Vladimir Putin's special envoy to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, promised to support Afghanistan's housing sector during his February meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

The Russian Embassy spent $20 million to rebuild the abandoned Soviet Friendship Center. Hoping that it will regain its previous role in promoting an affinity for Russia, the embassy reopened it as the new Russian Cultural Center, but many Afghans still use the original Soviet name. And that's just one of 150 projects Moscow has undertaken at a cost of tens of millions of dollars in its effort to restore Russia's lost economic and cultural clout in Afghanistan.

Although this level of expenditure is small in comparison to the billions of dollars being spent by other countries, Russia, unlike the U.S., has an effective propaganda apparatus to publicize its aid projects. Pro-Russian media promote the perception that Soviet infrastructure projects, such as the Salang Tunnel and the Band-e Sardeh dam, were better built than what came afterwards.

Pro-Russian stories depict a stark contrast with wasteful U.S. spending. Independently, wasteful U.S. spending has been documented in reports from the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.

Intent on promoting a positive image among Muslims, Russia has publicly announced assistance to the Taliban to help it resist ISIS and promote peace negotiations.

General John Nicholson, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan and other American officials see it differently. They accuse Russia of aiding the Taliban to destabilize Afghanistan and undermine U.S. interests.

From Russia's perspective, however, the dual strategy of backing the government and the insurgents positions it to accommodate whoever comes out ahead. Afghans add matter-of-factly that Russia, in keeping with its long history of involvement in their country, also exerts influence through covert funding to political leaders and groups outside the government.

At present, Russia is enjoying a remarkable comeback in the land that once fought so violently to expel it. According to an experienced Afghan businessman, the growing Russian engagement in Kabul business ventures and other activities produces negative comparisons with Americans.

While the latter have gained a reputation for living behind walls, afraid to venture out among Afghans because of the terrorist threat, the Russians reportedly walk the streets openly, take taxis and visit Afghan associates and friends in their homes without security escorts.
https://www.rand.org/blog/2017/07/wh...g-headway.html

"Russia is hedging it's bets," perhaps, but given that there is a high probability that those weapons are going to be employed to kill American soldiers doesn't make "hedging it's bets" copacetic with Americans and shouldn't be forgotten by an American President

[Centerleftfl]

"Russia is supporting and even supplying arms to the Taliban, the head of US forces in Afghanistan has told the BBC."

"In an exclusive interview, Gen John Nicholson said he'd seen "destabilising activity by the Russians."

"He said Russian weapons were smuggled across the Tajik border to the Taliban, but could not say in what quantity. Russia has denied such US allegations in the past, citing a lack of evidence."

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-43500299

So, given the above, the President makes a point of congratulating Putin on winning a shame election, and tells us repeatingly that he really believes what Putin tells him, all along going out of his way to attack porn stars, playboy models, and Joe Biden?

Just "making America great" by the hour

Putin is playing Trump, obviously, and Trump is playing his base, just as evident, so one can't imagine what Putin thinks of the American voting populace who actually elected this guy.

I can't get my brain around this. Have they been? Or is this a new development?

[smb]

And here I was going to count down the seconds until one of our oh so wonderful Russian friends posted their propaganda on this thread. Alas they even beat me to the countdown. It is like they have shifts of people just monitoring online for anti-Russian threads...oh wait.

[dukkha]

"Russia is hedging it's bets," perhaps, but given that there is a high probability that those weapons are going to be employed to kill American soldiers doesn't make "hedging it's bets" copacetic with Americans and shouldn't be forgotten by an American President

Russian weapons aren't killing Americans..so called "Blue on Green" is..along with AF crashes

Green-on-Blue Attacks in Afghanistan: The Data
https://www.realcleardefense.com/art...ta_111015.html
ttacks on Coalition forces by Afghan forces — the so-called green-on-blue attacks — have emerged as a major threat in the 14-year-old war in Afghanistan. These attacks from within have increased dramatically between 2011 and 2013; in 2012 they accounted for 15% of Coalition deaths.

[smb]

Russian weapons aren't killing Americans..so called "Blue on Green" is..along with AF crashes

Green-on-Blue Attacks in Afghanistan: The Data
https://www.realcleardefense.com/art...ta_111015.html
ttacks on Coalition forces by Afghan forces — the so-called green-on-blue attacks — have emerged as a major threat in the 14-year-old war in Afghanistan. These attacks from within have increased dramatically between 2011 and 2013; in 2012 they accounted for 15% of Coalition deaths.

Does Putin offer good medical benefits?

[dukkha]

Does Putin offer good medical benefits?

support the ANAF..we nationbuilt it.

[smb]

support the ANAF..we nationbuilt it.

No I mean does Putin offer good medical benefits to you and the other shifts.

[dukkha]

No I mean does Putin offer good medical benefits to you and the other shifts.

I know what you meant. i gave it the response it deserves. ignored and off topic

[smb]

I know what you meant. i gave it the response it deserves. ignored and off topic

Truth hurts huh.

[dukkha]

Truth hurts huh.

[dukkha]

I can't get my brain around this. Have they been? Or is this a new development?

not sure..remember the US military isn't an objective source.
But da Russians are looking for business ties with Kabul..already happening

[Darth Omar]

No I mean does Putin offer good medical benefits to you and the other shifts.

They pay us with Russian vodka lol.

And only the really good stuff.