When one of the Afghans asked why the Taliban wouldn't let the turbine through, the insurgent replied: 'We don't need electricity. We have Islam.'
Posted on 09/06/2008 11:49:46 AM PDT by Lorianne
It was one of the most daring, dangerous and spectacular operations of the war in Afghanistan.
Some 5,000 troops - 3,000 of them British - fought for six days through the heart of Taliban-controlled territory on a mission of utmost humanitarian importance.
By the end of the operation, 250 Taliban fighters had been killed yet only one British soldier was injured.
Such was the success of the project to restore a hydroelectric dam that the commander of British forces in Afghanistan has called it the 'end of the beginning' of the campaign against the Taliban.
The operation was completed on Monday night but due to an official veil of secrecy only now can its events be told.
The aim was to install a new turbine at the Kajaki Dam in the centre of the country which could eventually provide power to 1.5million Afghans.
But because the 200-ton turbine comes in seven parts, each weighing up to 30 tons, and there is no suitable airstrip near Kajaki, the only way to transport it was by road from Kandahar airbase 100 miles away to the south-east.
The main route is by the 611 Highway but elite troops from the Parachute Regiment's Pathfinder Platoon discovered a mountain pass - codenamed Route Harriet - to allow the convoy to bypass it near the end.
The Paras tricked the Taliban by flying hundreds of troops by helicopter into Kajaki, as if they were expecting a convoy on the 611.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
When one of the Afghans asked why the Taliban wouldn't let the turbine through, the insurgent replied: 'We don't need electricity. We have Islam.'
When do I get to read this in the New York Times or see it on 60 Minutes?
Well done Britania!
Camp Obama is having a tough week and now this. Ain’t “lookin’ good” for the Commies of the world.
THIS IS HUGLY SERIOUS!
Reading one of the comments from a Brit:
“Wouldn’t it be a lot easier to just start talking to the Taliban. The elected Afghan government recently wanted to bring the Taliban into the political process but it was opposed by America and probaly Britain. Time to start talking, use dialogue and debate to convince the Taliban that fighting will not work. Too many civilians are being killed by both NATO and the Taliban. The fighting isn’t working.”
5,000 troops ... 6 day pitched battle over terrifying terrain?
Never.
Very good numbers. Way to go Brits.....
Sheesh!
Yeah... it's a quagmire... let's pull everyone out
Civilization vs. 7th century barbarians.
If you have electricity, somebody in the village will get a big TV and start playing infidel DVDs. Maybe even charge admission to the rest of the village. Then the villagers will see how the West lives, compare that to their sorry existences, and might even become dissatisfied with Islam.
As the men left camp they came under a volley of enemy fire.It wasn't only Britain, the Apaches are American, and I'll bet so were the bombers. =:-DIn reply, Apache helicopters launched Hellfire missiles and fired 30mm cannons, while warplanes dropped 500lb bombs and artillery smashed the Taliban positions.
Congratulations on a job well done troops!
In the remarks someone asked “Why don’t we just talk to the Taliban, there is too much killing of innocent citizens?”
It sound like the rhetoric of the Obama camp.
Didn’t they try talking to them by offering money to allow the shipment to pass and no one showed up? Obviously talking (and money) won’t work!
I read this story yesterday in the WSJ (I think). What an incredible, brilliant, courageous adventure!!! In any other time Hollywood would already have it in development!! Sadly, the public will never know about it.
It wasn’t just the Brits! It was an incredible coalition including Americans, Aussies, Dutch and other countries. John Ford would have already written the script!!!
This is even more HUGLY SERIOUS than I thought... a 250-1 kill ratio! SLOW DOWN GUYS!@ We have lots of weapons to test and if you keep this up, we'll run out of enemy targets.
250 brave and stupid Taliban fighters donating their existance to the dustbin of history.
One Brave British soul. One too many.
God this is so stupid.
Get out of the 5th century.
Incorrect.
The British Army operates the UK version of the Apache, called the AH-1. Strengthened rotor blades allow for carrier operations and Rolls Royce engine gives greater power.
They have been in country for about a year, and doing very well indeed.
The bombers were a mixture of British Harrier GR9’s, and Dutch, French and US jets.
British operation through and through. Rule Britannia!
...It wasn’t just the Brits...
No, but it was British controlled, and we provided 60% of the forces. We supplied CAP with our GR9’s and Apache. 1000 more troops from NATO forces (Holland, Estonia, US, Denmark), and 1000 from the ANA.
British Army at its best. Improvising its way through, and doing a job that couldn’t be done by any other nation on earth. Strength and Guile!
Also, good to have an end product. This might help the locals support NATO and British forces in Helmand a bit more. Lots of work left to be done though, with pylons and cables needed to distribute the power through Helmand.
Rule Britannia!
Britannia rules the waves,
Britons shall never, never, never be slaves.
<3 from across the pond.
Are you reading something I'm not? The article says one British soldier was injured, not killed.
Did not know that, very interesting! Thanks for the info...
Amen!
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