Are you getting tired of hearing about someone we trained surrendering to insurgents?

2015-07-26T15:32:42-04:00

I helped train Afghani Uniform Police (AUP). I also conducted patrols and other police related operations with some of the finest AUPs there were, and I still think that. It is upsetting to hear that 110 AUPs held out for three days against the Taliban and then basically said, "If we can't beat them, we'll join'em". According to the article, these AUPs were well supplied, but they failed to get back up in time. I don't believe that. I believe they gave because they are cowards. I don't know what other reason they would need to give up and join the enemy.

http://news.yahoo.com/afghan-officials-taliban-remote-police-deal-060200146.html

Taliban take remote Afghan police base after mass surrender

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban took control of a large police base in a remote part of northeastern Afghanistan after some 100 police and border guards surrendered and joined the insurgents following three days of fighting, security officials said Sunday.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jul 26 at 2015 3:37 PM

2015-07-26T15:37:06-04:00

I am even more tired of our top leadership doing the same.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2015 4:04 PM

2015-07-26T16:04:39-04:00

I guess you can teach tactics all day long, but you can't teach HEART!

Response by MSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2015 4:22 PM

2015-07-26T16:22:13-04:00

It doesn't make me mad. Frustrates me because we never understood these people from the get go. They aren't and never will be straight on, face to face direct action warriors. It's just not how they are culturally. Guerrilla tactics, hit and run, skirmish and ambush type warfare? THAT they understand. To expect them to toe the line and fight head on was unrealistic.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Jul 26 at 2015 9:49 PM

2015-07-26T21:49:22-04:00

They didn't have the heart to start with.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2015 7:58 AM

2015-07-27T07:58:39-04:00

We went in with the wrong preconceptions. If anything, we should have taken time to consider what happened during the Soviet invasion and what happened shortly after and beyond. We also failed to consider early on what the culture in the Middle East is all about and how what we consider corruption is day-to-day life. We have the same thing in our country as well. I can buy a $10,000 Rolex any day of the week by writing a check and then go home with it. I can also go to an auction and buy a $1.2 million Picasso and take it home as soon as the check clears.
I can't buy a $500 1980 Toyota Corolla without registering it, getting smog and safety checks and paying yearly to drive the thing. I can't give a guy a check for a house without paying closing costs or other crap either. We have accepted this just as the ME accepted bribes and payouts.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Jul 27 at 2015 10:42 AM

2015-07-27T10:42:54-04:00

SSG (ret) William Martin - It is certainly troubling what is going on in that AOR. One would hope the AUP would continue the fight, but it appears that many do not. I have to assume it is a matter of survival for them. Join or die. It is obvious that they cannot rely on help from the US under the current Administration and, I suppose, they have lost hope. I am not making excuses for them. They should fight to the death, but that stance is easier said than done, especially by someone, like me, who does not have to make that decision for himself. Yes, they are cowards in our eyes.

Response by SGT Francis Wright made Jul 27 at 2015 11:23 PM

2015-07-27T23:23:05-04:00

All of you have a good point. The biggest problem is that we did not start with defeating the enemy; we tried to rebuild a nation while fighting the war. If we did that during WW II; we'd still be fighting the Nazis and Japanese.