US Sending Tanks to Afghanistan for first time?

[TechBoyJK]

I figured we already had tanks there.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/11/19/afghanistan.tanks/index.html?hpt=T2

US sending tanks to Afghanistan for the first time

By the CNN Wire Staff
November 19, 2010 8:34 a.m. EST

Washington (CNN) -- The United States is beefing up its firepower in Afghanistan by employing heavily armored tanks in Afghanistan for the first time in the nine-year war, a military spokesman said Friday.

The U.S. Marine Corps plans to use a company of M1A1 Abrams tanks in restive Helmand province by early spring, said Marine Maj. Gabrielle Chapin.

The M1A1 tank is the fastest and most deadly ground combat weapons system available. It will allow for more aggressive missions while mitigating risks to U.S. forces, the military said.
The tanks were used successfully by U.S. forces to battle insurgents in Iraq's Anbar province, Chapin said.

"They bring superior optics, maneuverability and precision firepower that will enable us to isolate insurgent forces from key population centers and provide the ability to project power into insurgent safe havens," he said.

Other coalition forces, including those from Canada, already have used tanks in Afghanistan.
The decision comes as Afghanistan tops the agenda at the NATO summit that starts Friday in Lisbon, Portugal and amid a public dispute between Afghan President Hamid Karzai and NATO leaders over military strategy.

 

[ichy]

The Canadians have had tanks in Afghanistan for years, I'm surprised its taken the US this long.

On an unrelated note, Karzai can suck it as far as I'm concerned. If the US does pull out and the Taliban comes back I hope they drag him outside and string him up from a lamppost.

 

[PeshakJang]

The Canadians have had tanks in Afghanistan for years, I'm surprised its taken the US this long.

Most places there is no need for them... I figure most of them were tied up in Iraq the last 9 years anyway.

The province I was in would be a death trap for tanks. The condition of the roads, bridges, riverbeds, mountain passes, would make it impossible for an M1A1 to maneuver just about anywhere. Helmand is a different story.

 

[piasabird]

I thought democrats wanted to reduce the size of the Military?

 

[PeshakJang]

I thought democrats wanted to reduce the size of the Military?

Sending tanks to Afghanistan is a start... worked for the Russians.

 

[Scotteq]

It's all a learning process:

First we send Advisors to teach the Taliban about how their local opponents might apply American Tactics

Then we send Small Units to demonstrate to the Taliban about how our special forces operate. Our Great Taliban friends duly take note, and figure out what works and what doesn't. During this phase, the Taliban also receive practice in shooting down US Helicopters.

That being accomplished, we then sent Large Infantry Units to teach the Taliban about (what else!) how to conduct large operations.


Obviously, they've passed that course - So now we're sending Armored units...



Next comes the "Give The Country Back To The Locals" phase.

 

[bamacre]

I thought democrats wanted to reduce the size of the Military?

Only when Republicans are in control. The DoD budget has increased, not decreased.

 

[Genx87]

Sending tanks to Afghanistan is a start... worked for the Russians.

Is it bad I lol'd at this response?

 

[Lemon law]

Even if Nato owns the sky in Afghanistan, the use and over use of air power only inspires hatreds in the Afghan people.

But when it comes to a ground weapon that can best inspire hatreds in the Afghan people, the M-1 heavy tank can't be beat. Just the weapon needed to burn down and kill women and children houses and villages with almost total impunity.

 

[ichy]

Oh please, there are two things that primitive people respect, force and strength. Time to make the Afghans respect us.

 

[Genx87]

Even if Nato owns the sky in Afghanistan, the use and over use of air power only inspires hatreds in the Afghan people.

But when it comes to a ground weapon that can best inspire hatreds in the Afghan people, the M-1 heavy tank can't be beat. Just the weapon needed to burn down and kill women and children houses and villages with almost total impunity.

No, that would be napalm or a nuclear inferno.

 

[xj0hnx]

Most places there is no need for them... I figure most of them were tied up in Iraq the last 9 years anyway.

The province I was in would be a death trap for tanks. The condition of the roads, bridges, riverbeds, mountain passes, would make it impossible for an M1A1 to maneuver just about anywhere. Helmand is a different story.

Exactly the case with most of Afghanistan too. When we were up for rotation it was decided to send our Battalion to Iraq because we were attached to a Mech unit. All my buddies that had rotated out to light units in Drum, Benning, or Bragg went to Afghanistan instead.

 

[piasabird]

Unless you are a mountain goat most of the areas are not very easy to travel through.

 

[Fear No Evil]

Even if Nato owns the sky in Afghanistan, the use and over use of air power only inspires hatreds in the Afghan people.

But when it comes to a ground weapon that can best inspire hatreds in the Afghan people, the M-1 heavy tank can't be beat. Just the weapon needed to burn down and kill women and children houses and villages with almost total impunity.

Obama loves killing the brown people.. got to give him that.

 

[Pulsar]

Even if Nato owns the sky in Afghanistan, the use and over use of air power only inspires hatreds in the Afghan people.

But when it comes to a ground weapon that can best inspire hatreds in the Afghan people, the M-1 heavy tank can't be beat. Just the weapon needed to burn down and kill women and children houses and villages with almost total impunity.

You're slacking. It took you quite a while to catch up with this thread and insult our military and our country. Work faster next time.

 

[Scotteq]

Even if Nato owns the sky in Afghanistan, the use and over use of air power only inspires hatreds in the Afghan people.

But when it comes to a ground weapon that can best inspire hatreds in the Afghan people, the M-1 heavy tank can't be beat. Just the weapon needed to burn down and kill women and children houses and villages with almost total impunity.

You're slacking. It took you quite a while to catch up with this thread and insult our military and our country. Work faster next time.

Come to think of it - Yes, Lemon is slacking - Even *I* beat him to it! ^_^

 

[Sinsear]

Even if Nato owns the sky in Afghanistan, the use and over use of air power only inspires hatreds in the Afghan people.

But when it comes to a ground weapon that can best inspire hatreds in the Afghan people, the M-1 heavy tank can't be beat. Just the weapon needed to burn down and kill women and children houses and villages with almost total impunity.

You Iranians planning on sending arms to the Taliban like you do the Palestinians?

 

[BoberFett]

Is it bad I lol'd at this response?

I'm right there with you.

 

[Lemon law]

Lets me see, I am supposed to be slacking on this threadf because I was not there immediately 100% of the to time stuff the various nuts back into the cracker jack box as soon as they escape from their box???????

But I have been writing about why we are losing in Afghanistan and what it takes to win since I joined this forum in 2005. I was always very critical of GWB&co's Afghan delusions, but when Obama continues GWB tactics, it is not surprising to still get GWB results.

But for a stupid and clueless comment, ichy says, "Oh please, there are two things that primitive people respect, force and strength. Time to make the Afghans respect us."

As ichy inerring points out why we are losing, the USA and Nato started out with a lot of credibility and respect when they started in late 2001 and early 2002, but when Nato failed to deliver anything but anarchy, corruption, violence, and a turd of a government no one can support and things got profressing worse each and every year, that respect for force and strength invariably evaporated over time. Its pretty Damn Sad IMHO, that Nato is now about at the same Asghan respect level as the Taliban, but at least when the Taliban takes over a given area, they at least make sure the Afghan courts punish the corrupt thugs exploiting the local people.

 

[Perknose]

We're fighting fundamentalist stoners there. They're real boobs!

We have no Hope, we need tanks for the mammaries.

 

[xj0hnx]

but when Nato failed to deliver anything but anarchy, corruption, violence, and a turd of a government no one can support

So much fail it isn't even funny.

 

[Drako]

I guess they're getting ready for the eventual war between India and Pakistan, or could it be a war with Iran :hmm:

 

[Orignal Earl]

So much fail it isn't even funny.

Can you show me why?

 

[Lemon law]

It is all well and fine for xkOhnx to say my comment has "so much fail it even isn't funny", but sadly our Nato results in Afghanistan prove that I am right. But I never said that Nato losing is funny, I only said that results will not change until we confront and correct out problems. We have not and a few tanks will not do anything to correct those problems.

 

[hal2kilo]

On an unrelated note, Karzai can suck it as far as I'm concerned. If the US does pull out and the Taliban comes back I hope they drag him outside and string him up from a lamppost.

I was done with Afganistan when the Talibanuts killed those medical workers. Get the fuck out already!