Haqqani 101: With the death of Osama Bin Laden we were asked what his death would mean for the war in Afghanistan. Like the so called war on terror which includes the Taliban, Al Qaeda of every creed, and extremists of every ilk looking to carry on Osama's vendetta against the west, it will serve to fuel their cause like many other issues. His death should mean just the opposite and it does to all true Muslims.

In searching though I found them to be known rapists and murderers and of course not true Muslims or faithful followers of Muhammad and true Islam. Some of the Haqqani's and commanders have even been captured and held after traveling to Saudi Arabia for the haj and gathering donations for their cause.

The Haqqani's and their legendary stature are holding the so called terrorists force together. Their stature is legendary and hard earned. The Haqqani network and their increasingly foreign fighters have become the main focus after 9 years of fighting. The Haqqani Network's North Waziristan leadership -- usually called the Miram Shah Shura consists of a number of Haqqani family members and closely associated long-serving commanders.

At the top of the network is Sirajuddin Haqqani, who oversees the group's political and military activities and is the main liaison to the Mullah Muhammad Omar led Quetta Shura Taliban, the Taliban's leadership body (named for the capital of Pakistan's Baluchistan province). He is also one of the network's liaisons to Pakistani Taliban figures and AL-Qaeda.

He travels regularly into Afghanistan " or should I say did as he now claims to be based in Afghanistan" to coordinate with field commanders and occasionally to Peshawar and South Waziristan to connect with militants there. Remember Bowe Bergdhal? There are many field commanders in Afghanistan, but turnover is high because many get killed or captured. The most prominent is Mullah Sangin, who is believed to be holding Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl a captured U.S. soldier and Zakim Shah the movement's shadow governor of Khost province.

There are many field commanders in Afghanistan, but turnover is high because many get killed or captured.

Jalaluddin Haqqani legendary leader who fought the Soviets and his son, Sirajuddin who directs operations are increasingly the targets of drones and now manned NATO aircraft in Pakistan as the Pakistani's have been leery to go in the area for whatever reason. Many are being killed, I heard over 80 in a week with no civilian casualties.

I wish we would quickly kill the two head Haqqani's, both Jalaluddin and Sirajuddin and leave the rest to Pakistan as our invasion of their country even to kill Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters who were known killers of NATO forces may be the straw that broke the camels back. People in Pakistan are increasingly marching to have the drone attacks stopped. Fine! If you want the drones stopped then stop the Haqqani's. We know someone there can kill or stop them at will.

I would hate to see the Haqqani network unite with Pakistan " who they once had close ties with particularly the ISI", against us as Pakistan is still furious and rightly so though it may be a ploy to placate civilians. I wish we would just come home. I do not want to see the scenario I discussed many times and that is taking on Pakistan from the Gulf and don't forget Iran!

Anyway you look at it we are viewed as temporary and the violent convoluted backstabbing tribal relationships will always be a way of life in the border area especially. We can only be very concerned how this is going to turn out between NATO, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. It won't be translucent or good!

The Haqqani's seem true to Mullah Omar who wants us out of Afghanistan and want their independent Afghanistan. Pakistan has proven they do not want a free and independent Afghanistan but want to control it. At this point I want to say our soldiers have done their job let them come home as scheduled if not sooner. Let Mullah Omar the Haqqani's and other Taliban interests fight for Afghanistan it is theirs not ours or Pakistan's. Good luck Hamid Karzai that's all I say!

James Joiner

Gardner, Ma