According to sources at the MOD, the ANSF supported by elements of the Afghan special force were inserted early morning to Musa Qala inflicting punishing casualties on the Talis and recapturing Musa Qala.
NOW Where are those gloom and doom advocates who were cheering up the other day for the capture of Musa Qala, told ya so the Talis cant keep a district more than a day or two.
The issue is not that the ANSF cannot retake Musa Qala -- it is very difficult for an Insurgent force to hold territory. Nor is the issue of will the Taliban win -- it is unlikely because Pakistan does not want them to win as it fears that they will turn around and support the TTP. That removes a key ingredient which insurgencies need to achieve their political goals. But some points to consider:
1. Insurgents practice denial warfare -- where they essentially disrupt, deny a conventional actor like a state or a conventional army the space and freedom to secure and dominate and essentially exercise monopoly of violence. Thus, for insurgents it is simply enough to once in a while capture and run to essentially win -- for a conventional actor it is necessary to never to loose to win -- hence the asymmetry in asymmetrical warfare
2. General Westmoreland, who is thought to be one of the reasons for why the US lost the Vietnam war was famous for saying:
“We’re killing these people,” the enemy, “at a ratio of 10 to 1.” (reference
here)
3. The following exchange, towards the end of the Vietnam war, between Colonel Harry G. Summers of the US Army and Colonel Tu of the North Vietnamese Army has become seared in the annals of history.
Colonel Summery to Colonel Tu: "You know, you never beat us on the battlefield,"
Colonel Tu responded to Colonel Summery,
"That may be so, but it is also irrelevant." (reference
here)
4. There is a similarly famous exchange between two Soviet leaders (I believe one civilian and one military) where the Military leader informs the civilian leader that they have captured some key piece of territory from the Afghan Mujahideen -- the civilian leader retorts something to the affect: But General you had captured it last week too -- can't find the reference unfortunately.
5. Contrary to popular understanding the Viet Cong had very low public support -- I think the figures I remember are around 16-17% of the population -- (reference needed)
So again gloom and doom has nothing to do with -- I sure hope this forum is not a proxy for school yard brawls. I do hope this forum serves as a space where we can discuss issues with some level of intellectual honesty.
Further as a reference on gloom-and-doom: criticism of the Vietnam war is taught in American schools, US Military academies, etc. It is hoped that by studying the bitter facts we (the US nation) can better prepare ourselves not to repeat such follies. Yes, at some point in US history, such criticism was labelled unpatriotic or providing support to the enemy. However, if such study has not completely prevented the US from entering quagmires like Iraq and Afghanistan it has at least opened the space for free discussion to take place where criticism of the government's foreign or military policy is not construed as treason.
