U.S. To Launch Largest-Ever Offensive In Afghanistan - Operation 'Avalanche'

NBC 17 ^ | December 8, 2003 | Associated Press

[ASA Vet]

Actually as other posters have now established,
AP had the name of the operation correct.
For them that an improvement.

That's the great thing about FR, we have thousands of investigators and editors.
The true story normally is ferreted out quickly.

[hosepipe]

[ who would be so dumb as to announce or publish a "secret" operation. ]

a democrat...

[1Old Pro]

It seems too obvious to be disinformation

Unless they are tracking taliban "movements" and want to get them to move around.

[Cap Huff]

"Tracking Taliban movements."

Yeah, I thought of that, but somehow the AP article seemed so flaky (but then again, when aren't they flaky).

Nevertheless, after reading a couple of the more detailed articles it would seem that the AP article was published after the op began, but with info that was given before hand. The more detailed articles make it clear that the operation is underway.

[aculeus]

The U.S. military is trying to strike back in a big way against insurgents in Afghanistan.

Trying? Trying? Trying?

No, moron they are GOING to strike back.

Journalism, the first refuge of idiots.

[RightOnline]

Elaine : Oh TED! I never knew I could be so happy. These
few months have been just wonderful. Tomorrow,
why don't we drive up the coast to that little
seafood place and . . . what's the matter???

Striker : My orders came through. My squadron ships out
tomorrow, we're bombing the storage depots at
Daiquiri at 18:00 hours. We're coming in from the
North, below their radar.

Elaine : When will you be back?

Striker : I can't tell you that? It's classified.

[samtheman]

How can 2,000 soldiers constitute an "avalanche"? Might be better to go in with lower expectations.

[Conservomax]

Strange article

I'll say, I didn't see the word quagmire anywhere.

[Conservomax]

I know, they should call it Snowbrawl 2003.

[samtheman]

Really. What ever happened to "speak softly and carry a big stick"?

[enraged]

"If 10 people are killed, how many people are saddened?"
And if that number were closer to say....3000?

"tragic blunders", "bungled airstrike" (No Bais here)

"heavy US military hand" - he'd prefer a limp wristed one?

Sadokhan Ambarkhil, deputy governor of Paktika - Reliable source? sure.

"General Kofi Annan was "profoundly saddened" by the children's deaths and called for a thorough investigation." - Where was he when saddam was digging the mass graves? or how about the children's prisons?

"But villagers say..." - Yeah, whatever.

Are we supposed to believe that these taliban/al-q butt boys don't have kids? They surely wish my ill upon my sons, so if a few get their lift ticket to allah early I should care because? This area of Afganistan is harboring/protecting or is being held hostage by taliban and possibly the al-q too, run like hell or pay the price!

Usual AP crap by STEPHEN GRAHAM Associated Press Writer, Hey steve suck an egg would ya!

Same story here too.
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AFGHAN_US_OPERATION?SITE=KGW&TEMPLATE=WORLDHEADS.html

[rhombus]

Good hunting guys! Use whatever it takes and come back safely.

[GrandMoM]

We did not find out until after the fact.....as it was in other war's, and should be now. Embedding the media was moranic!!!!!!!

[pompelmous]

Operation Snowflake?

[samtheman]

They can call it what they want. Just don't advertise it.

[CasearianDaoist]

That is much smaller than in the USMC. That is just two companies.

[UCANSEE2]

How secret can it be if they are reporting of it beforehand?

The purpose is to spread the word to the terrorists. Then, the coalition forces watch for rats jumping the ship, and shoot them in the middle of the jump.

[Lazamataz]

That is much smaller than in the USMC. That is just two companies.

That's because one Army grunt equals several Marines.

;^)

[PsyOp]

Obviously somebody wants that info out there.

Yep. Could be we have assets already in place at the exit points and this "announcement, and the troops involved, are designed to flush the taliban into the open and into the waiting arms of SF ambushes as they try to bug out into Iran and Pakistan.