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US to arm village recruits in Afghanistan

kaya'08

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The United States plans to accelerate a program that has armed thousands of village recruits in its decade-long struggle against the Taliban, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan has told the Financial Times.

Its a good move on behalf of the US army. Turkey put in a system not long ago that recruited villagers in the East and armed them to protect their villages from the PKK. They gave them a wage and resources to protect themselves during an attack. It saw a large surge of violence as recruits clashed with members of the outlawed group, but naturally the numbers started to decline and they where forced to mass there operations outside of Turkey in Iraq since they lost support in their base region.

I think arming village recruits will contribute significantly against the war on terrorism in Afghanistan.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n....6village-guards8217-in-afghanistan-2011-02-09
 
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It is what they did in Iraq as well with the Awakening councils
 
Its a good move on behalf of the US army. Turkey put in a system not long ago that recruited villagers in the East and armed them to protect their villages from the PKK. They gave them a wage and resources to protect themselves during an attack. It saw a large surge of violence as recruits clashed with members of the outlawed group, but naturally the numbers started to decline and they where forced to mass there operations outside of Turkey in Iraq since they lost support in their base region.

I think arming village recruits will contribute significantly against the war on terrorism in Afghanistan.

US to replay Turkey's village guard movie - Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review

This will be awesome, unless some of those, "recruits", are Taliban sleepers, or get turned by the Tallies, after they are armed and trained.
 
This will be awesome, unless some of those, "recruits", are Taliban sleepers, or get turned by the Tallies, after they are armed and trained.

Thats a risk we faced here as well. Of course villages are usually close-knit communities, so extensive research and background checks are a necessity. It will be easier in Afghanistan anyway since there are tribes many villagers are allied too. Probably wouldn't be good to hand over guns in a village that has pro-taliban tribal influences.
 
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Thats a risk we faced here as well. Of course villages are usually close-knit communities, so extensive research and background checks are a necessity. It will be easier in Afghanistan anyway since there are tribes many villagers are allied too. Probably wouldn't be good to hand over guns in a village that has pro-taliban tribal influences.

We did this in Vietnam. The Viet Cong would come to those villes and either kill, or recruit all the men.
 
We did this in Vietnam. The Viet Cong would come to those villes and either kill, or recruit all the men.

The Taliban isn't comparable to the Viet Cong since the Vietnamese where a more organized and formidable force. They resembled more a national army. Arming village recruits in areas the Taliban do not actively occupy is a very good idea. If you arm a sizable amount in each village and pay them, they will fight happily to protect there own. The Taliban rarely ever attack in hordes in areas they are not dominant in. Giving them a radio system to call for assistance from Kabul and an alarm to alert the village to safety are also features that can be and have been incorporated in such systems that place heavy emphasis on the assistance of local people to fight terror.
 
The Taliban isn't comparable to the Viet Cong since the Vietnamese where a more organized and formidable force.

The Taliban actually ran the government in Afghanistan. Your comparison is erroneous.

They resembled more a national army

The Viet Cong was never anything resembling a national army.


Arming village recruits in areas the Taliban do not actively occupy is a very good idea. If you arm a sizable amount in each village and pay them, they will fight happily to protect there own. The Taliban rarely ever attack in hordes in areas they are not dominant in. Giving them a radio system to call for assistance from Kabul and an alarm to alert the village to safety are also features that can be and have been incorporated in such systems that place heavy emphasis on the assistance of local people to fight terror.

The Taliban will attack in force, if they are assured of a victory. If you put weapons in the hands of the locals, the Tallies will definitely attack them in force.
 
The Taliban actually ran the government in Afghanistan. Your comparison is erroneous.

Yes, "ran" the government, so your case in point is irrelevant to the now. Even so never to the degree that they could control the army and attack targets. They certainly had many paid off and corrupt officials under the guise of Democracy in the Afghan government but i wouldn't use that word so lightly.

The Viet Cong was never anything resembling a national army.

Maybe not an advanced or particularly well equipped one, no.


The Taliban will attack in force, if they are assured of a victory. If you put weapons in the hands of the locals, the Tallies will definitely attack them in force.

Not in areas they dont control they cant. They couldn't maneuver that many people now even if they wanted too.
 
Yes, "ran" the government, so your case in point is irrelevant to the now. Even so never to the degree that they could control the army and attack targets. They certainly had many paid off and corrupt officials under the guise of Democracy in the Afghan government but i wouldn't use that word so lightly.

They're far more advanced and orginized than the Viet Cong were during Vietnam.



Maybe not an advanced or particularly well equipped one, no.

Not one, period. The VC ceased exist as a fighting force in 1968. It was after the defeat of the Communists during the Tet Offensive, that Giap began his transition to a totally conventional force.




Not in areas they dont control they cant. They couldn't maneuver that many people now even if they wanted too.

Yes, they can. Especially, if there aren't any American forces there to interdict their movements.
 
Yes and what's happening in Afghanistan isn't what we did in Iraq.

In Iraq, those councils came to us. It was there movement before it was ours. However, while not exactly the same situation, we did give weapons to the councils, and we're giving guns to the villiages. So, while I accept there are differences, I think there are similarities as well.
 
In Iraq, those councils came to us. It was there movement before it was ours. However, while not exactly the same situation, we did give weapons to the councils, and we're giving guns to the villiages.

There it is. There's a great divide between, "volunteers", and, "recruits".

So, while I accept there are differences, I think there are similarities as well.

Apples and oranges have similarities, too.
 
There it is. There's a great divide between, "volunteers", and, "recruits".



Apples and oranges have similarities, too.

True. Both both are getting weapons and both are risks.

And while apples and oranges are different. If I cut both up, there is a similarity. If I give both a dose poison, that would be a similarity I'd want to know about.
 
They're far more advanced and orginized than the Viet Cong were during Vietnam..

Absolute nonsense, the Vietcong and Vietminh were an extremely effective fighting force. They caused more American casualties, and if one looks to the organization of the ho chi Minh trail, you'll find your assertion highly incorrect.

No doubt since you served in niether war and don't seem too adept at history.
 
Its a good move on behalf of the US army. Turkey put in a system not long ago that recruited villagers in the East and armed them to protect their villages from the PKK. They gave them a wage and resources to protect themselves during an attack. It saw a large surge of violence as recruits clashed with members of the outlawed group, but naturally the numbers started to decline and they where forced to mass there operations outside of Turkey in Iraq since they lost support in their base region.

I think arming village recruits will contribute significantly against the war on terrorism in Afghanistan.

US to replay Turkey's village guard movie - Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review
The American left would never approve of this sort of thing.
 
They're far more advanced and orginized than the Viet Cong were during Vietnam.

Rubbish.

Yes, they can. Especially, if there aren't any American forces there to interdict their movements.

NATO forces will remain to help Afghanistan rebuild. They wont just dissipate after 2011. And how do you expect them to maneuver large amounts of men across rugged Afghan terrain and loot villages without alerting locals? As i said, a radio system can also be used so that the locals can warn local security forces and an alarm system when the need arises. Nobody is saying throw them a gun and a few magazines and wish them the best. The whole point is for the government to assert some control and security over the nation.

Maybe the Taliban wouldn't be so successful if your average Afghan man enjoyed the same second amendment rights as you?
 
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Absolute nonsense, the Vietcong and Vietminh were an extremely effective fighting force. They caused more American casualties, and if one looks to the organization of the ho chi Minh trail, you'll find your assertion highly incorrect.

You couldn't be more wrong. Especially, if you're suggesting that the Viet Cong and the Viet Minh operated jointly.

No doubt since you served in niether war and don't seem too adept at history.

Oh really? Hows about you tell us all about those Viet Minh operations launched against American forces. This oughta be good.
 
Nope...fact.[q



NATO forces will remain to help Afghanistan rebuild. They wont just dissipate after 2011. And how do you expect them to maneuver large amounts of men across rugged Afghan terrain and loot villages without alerting locals? As i said, a radio system can also be used so that the locals can warn local security forces and an alarm system when the need arises. Nobody is saying throw them a gun and a few magazines and wish them the best. The whole point is for the government to assert some control and security over the nation.

Uh, yeah, they tried that in Vietnam, too. It flopped, obviously.

Maybe the Taliban wouldn't be so successful if your average Afghan man enjoyed the same second amendment rights as you?

Ya think that's the problem? :rofl
 
Maybe the Taliban wouldn't be so successful if your average Afghan man enjoyed the same second amendment rights as you?

We're talking about a society where pretty much every man has an AK next to his bed. This isn't the problem.
 
Nope...fact.

Uh, yeah, they tried that in Vietnam, too. It flopped, obviously.


That discussion cant continue if you refuse to acknowledge history so lets stack it on the shelf, shall we?

Ya think that's the problem? :rofl

The Taliban are well armed. Its the guns that have given them the ability to scare the people into submission, and without any means of defense the Taliban continues this campaign of fear throughout the world. If Afghans had there right to some self defence, do you think the situation would be as dire and hopeless as it currently is for many Afghans? I'm not saying we should arm them to the point where they substitute a national army. But enough to defend themselves and their families from rape and slaughter.
 
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The American left would never approve of this sort of thing.

Actually, under the circumstances, what Turkey did and what the US is doing is quite intelligent. I don't know why this wasn't thought of sooner.
 
I think this is a good idea, like others mentioned similar to the Sunni Awakening.
 
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