Comments on: The War Through the Taliban’s Eyes http://washingtonindependent.com/41820/the-war-through-the-talibans-eyes National News in Context Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:40:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Joshua Foust http://washingtonindependent.com/41820/the-war-through-the-talibans-eyes/comment-page-1#comment-35415 Joshua Foust Tue, 05 May 2009 20:54:31 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=41820#comment-35415 ... and with a sample size of one, we pretend like a single Taliban spokesman:<br><br>a) is representative of the entire insurgency (which he is not if he works for Haqqani);<br><br>b) is telling the truth;<br><br>c) is not at all pushing his own side's line of propaganda;<br><br>And probably something else. Yes, file this away, but it is one data point -- and much of it is at odds with other accounts of Taliban activity and motives. Some of which you have cataloged here. <br><br>I'm just sayin' -- it helps to contextualize your own work, you know? … and with a sample size of one, we pretend like a single Taliban spokesman:

a) is representative of the entire insurgency (which he is not if he works for Haqqani);

b) is telling the truth;

c) is not at all pushing his own side's line of propaganda;

And probably something else. Yes, file this away, but it is one data point — and much of it is at odds with other accounts of Taliban activity and motives. Some of which you have cataloged here.

I'm just sayin' — it helps to contextualize your own work, you know?

]]> By: Christopher Allbritton http://washingtonindependent.com/41820/the-war-through-the-talibans-eyes/comment-page-1#comment-35416 Christopher Allbritton Tue, 05 May 2009 18:54:01 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=41820#comment-35416 I think you make some really good points and thanks for linking to me. Your last graph, however, has the real core of the next set of questions. The guy obviously saw value in talking with the Times. Why? How much of what he said was disinformation? <br><br>I'm particularly curious about his attitude toward the drones. One the one hand he said the air strikes would cause civilian casualties in Afghanistan and drive people in the Taliban's arms. On the other, he goes out of his way to say how effective they are. I wonder if he's trying to further bait the U.S. into a counter-productive course of action with drone strikes. Indeed, even Kilcullen has called for an end to the drone strikes.<br><br>Anyway, good piece, man. Keep it up. I think you make some really good points and thanks for linking to me. Your last graph, however, has the real core of the next set of questions. The guy obviously saw value in talking with the Times. Why? How much of what he said was disinformation?

I'm particularly curious about his attitude toward the drones. One the one hand he said the air strikes would cause civilian casualties in Afghanistan and drive people in the Taliban's arms. On the other, he goes out of his way to say how effective they are. I wonder if he's trying to further bait the U.S. into a counter-productive course of action with drone strikes. Indeed, even Kilcullen has called for an end to the drone strikes.

Anyway, good piece, man. Keep it up.

]]> By: The war through the Taliban’s eyes « Later On http://washingtonindependent.com/41820/the-war-through-the-talibans-eyes/comment-page-1#comment-29743 The war through the Taliban’s eyes « Later On Tue, 05 May 2009 16:49:16 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=41820#comment-29743 [...] in Afghanistan War, Daily life, Military at 9:49 am by LeisureGuy Very interesting post by Spencer Ackerman, which includes the highlights from an important interview with a Taliban [...] [...] in Afghanistan War, Daily life, Military at 9:49 am by LeisureGuy Very interesting post by Spencer Ackerman, which includes the highlights from an important interview with a Taliban [...]

]]> By: Trade Jim News » The War Through the Taliban’s Eyes - The Washington Independent.com http://washingtonindependent.com/41820/the-war-through-the-talibans-eyes/comment-page-1#comment-29724 Trade Jim News » The War Through the Taliban’s Eyes - The Washington Independent.com Tue, 05 May 2009 16:07:04 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=41820#comment-29724 [...] Whatever you do, don’t miss The New York Times’ epic interview with a Pakistani Taliban tactician about what has become “a seamless conflict” on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. The tactician is based out of Wana, in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas, but spends … Go to Source [...] [...] Whatever you do, don’t miss The New York Times’ epic interview with a Pakistani Taliban tactician about what has become “a seamless conflict” on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. The tactician is based out of Wana, in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas, but spends … Go to Source [...]

]]> By: Joshua Foust http://washingtonindependent.com/41820/the-war-through-the-talibans-eyes/comment-page-1#comment-29720 Joshua Foust Tue, 05 May 2009 13:54:31 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=41820#comment-29720 ... and with a sample size of one, we pretend like a single Taliban spokesman:<br><br>a) is representative of the entire insurgency (which he is not if he works for Haqqani);<br><br>b) is telling the truth;<br><br>c) is not at all pushing his own side's line of propaganda;<br><br>And probably something else. Yes, file this away, but it is one data point -- and much of it is at odds with other accounts of Taliban activity and motives. Some of which you have cataloged here. <br><br>I'm just sayin' -- it helps to contextualize your own work, you know? … and with a sample size of one, we pretend like a single Taliban spokesman:

a) is representative of the entire insurgency (which he is not if he works for Haqqani);

b) is telling the truth;

c) is not at all pushing his own side's line of propaganda;

And probably something else. Yes, file this away, but it is one data point — and much of it is at odds with other accounts of Taliban activity and motives. Some of which you have cataloged here.

I'm just sayin' — it helps to contextualize your own work, you know?

]]> By: Christopher Allbritton http://washingtonindependent.com/41820/the-war-through-the-talibans-eyes/comment-page-1#comment-29694 Christopher Allbritton Tue, 05 May 2009 11:54:01 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=41820#comment-29694 I think you make some really good points and thanks for linking to me. Your last graph, however, has the real core of the next set of questions. The guy obviously saw value in talking with the Times. Why? How much of what he said was disinformation? <br><br>I'm particularly curious about his attitude toward the drones. One the one hand he said the air strikes would cause civilian casualties in Afghanistan and drive people in the Taliban's arms. On the other, he goes out of his way to say how effective they are. I wonder if he's trying to further bait the U.S. into a counter-productive course of action with drone strikes. Indeed, even Kilcullen has called for an end to the drone strikes.<br><br>Anyway, good piece, man. Keep it up. I think you make some really good points and thanks for linking to me. Your last graph, however, has the real core of the next set of questions. The guy obviously saw value in talking with the Times. Why? How much of what he said was disinformation?

I'm particularly curious about his attitude toward the drones. One the one hand he said the air strikes would cause civilian casualties in Afghanistan and drive people in the Taliban's arms. On the other, he goes out of his way to say how effective they are. I wonder if he's trying to further bait the U.S. into a counter-productive course of action with drone strikes. Indeed, even Kilcullen has called for an end to the drone strikes.

Anyway, good piece, man. Keep it up.

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