After Kabul attack, a fight for the narrative
By Pentagon Producer Larry Shaughnessy
Six insurgents armed with rocket-propelled grenades and automatic rifles attacked the heart of the U.S. presence in Kabul, Afghanistan. They fired grenades into the grounds of the U.S. embassy, killed three Afghans and injured 21 others over a 20-hour period.
The six men held off a counter-attack by U.S., NATO and Afghan soldiers and helicopter gunships for 20 hours before being killed.
How did the U.S. government characterize this attack? "Harassment," said the U.S. ambassador in Kabul. "Far from spectacular," said the top spokesman in the Pentagon.
At the same time, U.S. and NATO officials pointed to the reaction by Afghanistan security forces to fight back. Early on, the Twitter feed from the International Security Assistance Force media relations team had comments from the secretary general of NATO that he was "confident Afghan authorities can deal with the situation."
"Once again, I was impressed by the courage, skill and fighting spirit of Afghan forces. The insurgency has again failed," said Gen. John Allen, the top commander in Afghanistan, in a statement.
If you figure the six insurgents were aiming to seize or destroy the U.S. Embassy and ISAF headquarters, it was a major failure, the Pentagon spokesman said. No U.S. or coalition personnel were killed and no walls were even breached.
"They were defeated and roundly defeated at the end of the day," Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said. "It was far from spectacular."
Ambassador Ryan Crocker said it wasn't even an attack. "They were firing from at least 800 meters (half-mile) away and with an RPG, that's harassment. That's not an attack."
But for all the downplaying by U.S. and NATO officials, military analysts CNN spoke to said the Taliban did succeed in gaining attention, even if ultimately the action was stopped.
"Operationally and strategically it's not a big deal. But tactically the operation certainly was a success. I mean, it garnered international headlines," said Jeffrey Dressler, a senior analyst at the Institute for the Study of War. "It was just days after 9/11. And it demonstrates that even though insurgents aren't capable of taking over Kabul, the ability of them to project an attack like that into the city and have one carry out for 20 hours is certainly significant."
James Carafano, director of the Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies at the Heritage Foundation, said, "From a propaganda standpoint, you can't help but believe that what they are trying to do is to build up the narrative that Obama declares we're leaving and they get these attacks out there to say 'we're pushing Americans out the door.' "
Anthony Cordesman, the Burke Chair in Strategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, sees the situation from a similar standpoint. "Regardless of whether the attacks achieve the strategic result, the attacks in Kabul and Kandahar and elsewhere have a very major media effect.The polls show a declining support for the United States."
U.S. and NATO officials have tried hard for two days to paint this as a success for the Afghan security forces, the troops and police officers who the U.S. is training to replace the U.S. troops who are now being drawn down.
"You have to acknowledge the strong response from Afghan National Security Forces and others," Little said. Crocker echoed that point: "Afghans should be proud of what their security forces did yesterday."
The public affairs officers behind the ISAF Twitter feed seemed keenly aware the fight was over publicity as much as a battle in the streets. Over the last two days it has sent out taunting messages to the Taliban, fighting the impression the Taliban had the upper hand.
As the fighting continued, one tweet argued "initial reaction time" and "not harming civilians" was what mattered, not how long the engagement with insurgents lasted. Another tweet, after the fighting subsided on Wednesday, directed at a Twitter feed believed to be from the Taliban, taunted, "does your boss do this" with a link to video of Gen. Allen visiting troops after the attack.
If the Taliban were looking for a propaganda victory, does that mean the attacks were a success for them? Ambassador Crocker himself brought up a classic example of an enemy getting a huge propaganda victory out of a battlefield failure.
"A half a dozen RPG rounds from 800 meters away; that isn't Tet," Crocker said Wednesday in Kabul. "Tet" refers to the military offensive staged by the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong in 1968. By attacking around South Vietnam on the most important holiday in that culture, the enemy hoped to secure a surprise victory and end the war.
The attacks ultimately failed, but the magnitude of the attacks helped sway public opinion in the U.S. against the war. Two months after the Tet Offensive was launched, President Lyndon Johnson announced he would not run for re-election.
@natlsecuritycnn on Twitter
erectile strength https://www.pharmaceptica.com/
I think this is a real great blog article.Much thanks again.
https://bit.ly/3x2ZiGJ
vardenafil vs tadalafil https://pharmaceptica.com/
erectile disorder dsm 5 https://pharmaceptica.com/
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is essentially a online game where you can do anything you want. sl is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you would like to see more you can see these second life websites and blogs
http://beyondnewhorizons.com/tag/books/
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is basically a online game where you can do anything you want. SL is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you want to see more you can see these second life websites and blogs
http://everydayliteracies.blogspot.com/2017/04/spanish-language-edition-of-of-new.html?showComment=1576015656572&m=0
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is basically a video game where you can do anything you want. sl is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you want to see more you can see these sl authors and blogs
http://adolit.blogspot.com/2006/08/wiki-this.html
tadalafil troche https://pharmaceptica.com/
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is essentially a video game where you can do anything you want. SL is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you want to see more you can see these Second Life websites and blogs
http://everydayliteracies.blogspot.com/2014/05/imagination-wanted-mobile-devices-in.html?showComment=1471923515813
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is essentially a online game where you can do anything you want. sl is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you want to see more you can see these Second Life articles and blogs
http://thisteachinglife.blogspot.com/2005/08/accept-australian-values-or-get-out-dr.html
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is basically a video game where you can do anything you want. Second life is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you want to see more you can see these Second Life websites and blogs
http://myvedana.blogspot.com/2006/05/dead-wood.html?m=0
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is essentially a online game where you can do anything you want. SL is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you would like to see more you can see these Second Life websites and blogs
http://amusingspace.blogspot.com/2009/08/lol-approach-to-thesis-writing.html
fastest delivery service for cialis where to get generic cialis without prescription generic cialis uk
buy cialis with paypal cheap cialis free samples cialis
I don't know about you guys but I am obsessed with airplanes. I had a friend in highschool that loves airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff I don't know about you guys but I love airplanes. I had a friend in highschool that loved airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff https://www.airlinereporter.com/2010/04/4168/
http://amusingspace.blogspot.com/2007/08/invoking-critical-imagination.html
I don't know about you guys but I am obsessed with airplanes. I have a friend in highschool that loved airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff I don't know about you guys but I love airplanes. I had a friend in highschool that loved airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff https://www.airlinereporter.com/2010/05/video-fire-testing-on-a-mock-aircraft-that-appears-to-be-the-love-child-of-a-747-and-dc-10/
http://beyondnewhorizons.com/2009/09/fragments-of-time/
I don't know about you all but I infatuated with airplanes. I had a friend in highschool that loves airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff I don't know about you guys but I love airplanes. I had a friend in highschool that loved airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff https://www.airlinereporter.com/2010/12/airplane-eye-candy-boeing-747-dreamlifter-between-two-airbus-a380s/
http://myvedana.blogspot.com/2007/04/virtually-complete.html?showComment=1177172340000&m=0
canadian pharmacy chains online pharmacy meds tijuana pharmacy online
I don't know about you guys but I am obsessed with airplanes. I have a friend in highschool that loves airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff I don't know about you guys but I love airplanes. I had a friend in highschool that loved airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff https://www.airlinereporter.com/2010/05/fun-with-photos-how-many-tails-can-you-find/
http://privatejetstoday.blogspot.com/2010/08/private-jet-flight-attendant-jobs.html
I don't know about you all but I infatuated with airplanes. I have a friend in highschool that loved airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff I don't know about you guys but I love airplanes. I had a friend in highschool that loved airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff https://www.airlinereporter.com/2010/05/israel-and-russia-ground-each-others-flights-for-spite/
http://urlm.co/g/c/f/163871
cialis using paypal in australia can i buy cialis in malaysia viagra cialis levitra trial pack
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is essentially a online game where you can do anything you want. sl is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you want to see more you can see these Second Life articles and blogs
http://myvedana.blogspot.com/2008/12/hong-kong-rap.html
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is essentially a online game where you can do anything you want. Second life is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you would like to see more you can see these sl websites and blogs
http://thisteachinglife.blogspot.com/2007/05/our-education-failures.html
cialis free sample viagra click here info buy cialis cialis overnighted
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is basically a video game where you can do anything you want. SL is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you want to see more you can see these second life articles and blogs
http://everydayliteracies.blogspot.com/2005/10/guilty-of-loitering-okok.html?showComment=1511676360609
which one is better viagra or cialis is cialis a blood thinner online cialis
pharmacy technician programs online finasteride online pharmacy drugs online
buy cialis information best online pharmacy for cialis 5 mg cialis
tadalafil side effects tadalafil without a doctor prescription side effects for tadalafil
canadian cialis online cialis without prescription buy generic cialis atralia
This was great! I would like you to clean up all this spam though
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yusufhanafy
cialis generic canadian pharmacy priligy online pharmacy doctor of pharmacy degree online
taldenafil cialis tadalafil bph mechanism
buy cialis without prescription online pharmacy for cialis cialis under tongue
canadian pharmacy price comparison canada pharmacy meds Mestinon
cialis stock cialis. what does generic cialis look like
how many 5mg cialis can i take at once natural cialis supplement cialis samples free
can you mail prescription drugs escrow pharmacy canada Epivir-HBV
hydroxyl chloroquine chloroquine price in india plaquenil 200 mg twice a day
schnucks pharmacy buttler hill rd store hours canadian pharmacies filling us prescriptions Baclofen
This was great! I would like you to clean up all this spam though
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yusufhanafy
chroloquine bnf online nice natural chloroquine
tadalafil capsules generic cialis online fast shipping what does tadalafil do
prescription tadalafil online tadalafil pah how long does tadalafil last
This was great! I would like you to clean up all this spam though
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yusufhanafy
where to buy cialis cialis dosage for women cialis no prescription
order generic cialis by phone cialis us buying cialis in australia
escrow pharmacy online canada drug pharmacy coupon canadian pharmacy venice fl
77 canada pharmacy alprazolam online pharmacy voltaren gel canadian pharmacy
cheap cialis online overnight shipping canadian pharmacy online cialis buy brand cialis
name brand cialis is viagra or cialis better where to buy cialis without a prescription
cialis best time to take cialis for sale brand cialis in australia
cialis in canada fast shipping generic cialis au cialis strips
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is essentially a game where you can do anything you want. sl is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you would like to see more you can see these second life websites and blogs
http://everydayliteracies.blogspot.com/2011_03_01_archive.html
buy generic cialiss cialis without prescription cialis and dapoxetine
reliable rx pharmacy coupons canadian online pharmacies that do not require a prescription canadian compounding pharmacy toronto
how many milligrams of cialis can you take in a day ? when to take cialis best time to take cialis with dapoxetine or viagra with dapoxetine better
soma online pharmacy prescription drugs without prior prescription Cordarone
how long until cialis works what is the price of cialis overnight cialis delivery usa
does cialis cause skin cancer e20 pill cialis generic cialis fast delivery
top rated canadian online pharmacy informed rx pharmacy help desk prescription drugs database
marks marine pharmacy in canada codeine online pharmacy store locator cvs pharmacy
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is essentially a video game where you can do anything you want. sl is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you want to see more you can see these sl authors and blogs
http://myvedana.blogspot.com/2007/05/fading-into-fame.html?showComment=1450689465579&m=0
viagra and cialis discount https://cialisjla.com/ – canada cialis best generic cialis
accutane online pharmacy is it legal to order prescription drugs from canada health canada controlled drugs and substances
generic cialis – https://cialisjla.com/ – buy generic cialis paypal cialis no script
Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is essentially a game where you can do anything you want. SL is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you want to see more you can see these Second Life authors and blogs
http://everydayliteracies.blogspot.com/2011/01/call-for-entries-for-2nd-annual-social.html?showComment=1552531699021