Leaked CIA report: Targeting Taliban leaders 'ineffective'

[Zabaniyah]

The removal of senior Taliban leaders has had little impact on the organisation, a CIA report released by Wikileaks has said.

The 2009 report analyses "high value targeting" in a number of conflicts - the assassination of senior insurgents.

It said the Taliban's ability to replace lost leaders has hampered the effectiveness of coalition operations against its leadership.

The CIA would not comment on the leaked documents.

The report, which Wikileaks describes as "pro-assassination", looks at the pros and cons of "high value targeting" (HVT) programmes.

As well as examining recent actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, the report assesses British action in Northern Ireland, Sri Lankan operations against Tamil Tigers and French efforts during the Algerian civil war, among others.

Benefits of HVT operations, according to the report, include "eroding insurgent effectiveness, weakening insurgent will and reducing the level of insurgent support".

Potential negatives include "strengthening an armed group's bond with the population" and "radicalising an insurgent group's remaining leaders".

On Afghanistan, the report said that targeting senior Taliban figures has been constrained by problems connecting it to broader Afghan and Nato efforts against the organisation.

It also says the Taliban has "good succession planning and bench strength, especially at the middle levels".

Since the report was written, President Obama has increased drone strikes in north-west Pakistan, targeting Taliban and al-Qaeda leaders.

There have also been several strikes in Yemen.

Source: BBC News - Leaked CIA report: Targeting Taliban leaders 'ineffective'

 

[scholseys]

Its not much hard to replace one moron with another

 

[That Guy]

This is true of most insurgencies. Simply killing the leadership is not enough, you need to make sure you burn the neck of the hydra, so another head does not sprout out. The only way to do this is to get local people on your side, once you do that, the insurgency will gradually shrink, if not outright disappear.

 

[Gunsnroses]

This was my very concern from the beginning. Once Fazlullah is killed, his heir will be announced. The vicious circle will continue. Pakistan, if serious, needs radical steps and set ups for at least next ten years to get things in control. Indoctrination of the whole nation is required and a radical oath of suppressing any serpent who tempts the Eve.

 

[Reem]

And I share this concern too!

Killing or executing few Taliban here and there, even the HVTs is not going to eradicate this monster, Taliban has learnt survival techniques due to being in war for a long time, to counter this monster we need to cut Taliban's lifeline, it should be starved of the resources, so it dies a slow and natural death.

If we read a bit on Taliban, it is not just madrassa folks that they hire, they hire from the victims of strikes and drones, they pick and hire the homeless, the poverty stricken, on the street refugees etc etc Even the fact now we have so many IDPs, scares a lot, those people should be rehabilitated.

Taliban must be starved of funding, wherever it gets from.

Bottomline what we need there is education revolution and infrastructure, if that is not done this region will not know any peace, nor they will let us live in peace. There are too many young and energetic people there with no means to earn livelihood.

 

[EasyNow]

It is still a valid strategy. It maintains pressure on the group without too much collateral damage. Also, i don't want HVTs to start feeling safe.

But a broad long term plan is needed at the same time.

Cutting off funding is the key. Jihad needs money more than anyone. When they can't afford new toys, bullets or maintain their facilities the members will soon become uninterested.

- Govt should set up auditors to follow charity donations from Pak and abroad. This can be paid for from a small percentage of the charity funds and will create auditing jobs for Pakistanis.

- Govt must crack down on illegal money earning routes of terrorists such as extortion, kidnap and robbery.

- Civil society must take responsibility to check where our donation money is going. Govt should instill this awareness in people.

- Broadly the military and GOP must identify and block any foreign funding and reclaim all financial assets of guilty parties in Pak.

 

[Zarvan]

Until and Unless Jehad is started by Muslim states through there Armed forces and solve Muslim issues like palestine and Kashmir these groups will remain there.