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U.S. To Launch Largest-Ever Offensive In Afghanistan - Operation 'Avalanche'
NBC 17 ^ | December 8, 2003 | Associated Press

Posted on 12/08/2003 9:39:39 AM PST by yonif

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

The military is planning to conduct its biggest-ever operation in Afghanistan against Taliban remnants and al-Qaida fighters. The offensive will mobilize thousands of soldiers in the most dangerous parts of the country.

Four battalions totaling about 2,000 soldiers are to take part in the operation, dubbed "Avalanche," in southern and eastern Afghanistan, a military spokesman said.

The region has seen increased violence against aid workers, U.S. soldiers and Afghan government officials.

The spokesman indicates soldiers will operate in secret and that the enemy won't know when they might strike. He didn't give details.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; alqueda; operationavalanche; southasia; taliban; un; unitednations; waronterrorism
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To: Grampa Dave
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.

21 posted on 12/08/2003 10:32:13 AM PST by ASA Vet ("Those who know don't talk, those who talk don't know.")
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To: Cap Huff
[ who would be so dumb as to announce or publish a "secret" operation. ]

a democrat...

22 posted on 12/08/2003 10:34:15 AM PST by hosepipe
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To: Cap Huff
It seems too obvious to be disinformation

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

23 posted on 12/08/2003 10:35:04 AM PST by 1Old Pro
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To: 1Old Pro
"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.
24 posted on 12/08/2003 10:45:40 AM PST by Cap Huff
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To: yonif
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.

25 posted on 12/08/2003 10:47:58 AM PST by aculeus
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To: yonif
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.
26 posted on 12/08/2003 10:52:53 AM PST by RightOnline
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To: yonif
How can 2,000 soldiers constitute an "avalanche"? Might be better to go in with lower expectations.
27 posted on 12/08/2003 10:59:03 AM PST by samtheman
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To: Cap Huff
Strange article

I'll say, I didn't see the word quagmire anywhere.
28 posted on 12/08/2003 11:04:35 AM PST by Conservomax (shill: One who poses as a satisfied customer or an enthusiastic gambler to dupe bystanders into part)
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Comment #29 Removed by Moderator

To: samtheman
I know, they should call it Snowbrawl 2003.
30 posted on 12/08/2003 11:14:45 AM PST by Conservomax (shill: One who poses as a satisfied customer or an enthusiastic gambler to dupe bystanders into part)
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To: Conservomax
Really. What ever happened to "speak softly and carry a big stick"?
31 posted on 12/08/2003 11:15:29 AM PST by samtheman
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To: TexKat
"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
32 posted on 12/08/2003 11:46:15 AM PST by enraged
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To: yonif
Good hunting guys! Use whatever it takes and come back safely.
33 posted on 12/08/2003 11:58:03 AM PST by rhombus
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To: TexKat
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!!!!!!!
34 posted on 12/08/2003 12:05:33 PM PST by GrandMoM ("Without prayer, the hand of GOD stops, BUT, with prayer the hand of GOD moves !!!)
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To: samtheman
Operation Snowflake?
35 posted on 12/08/2003 12:12:30 PM PST by pompelmous
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To: pompelmous
They can call it what they want. Just don't advertise it.
36 posted on 12/08/2003 12:35:03 PM PST by samtheman
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To: 2banana
That is much smaller than in the USMC. That is just two companies.
37 posted on 12/08/2003 1:13:57 PM PST by CasearianDaoist
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To: Republican Red
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.

38 posted on 12/08/2003 1:17:42 PM PST by UCANSEE2 ("Duty is ours, Results are God's" --John Quincy Adams)
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To: CasearianDaoist
That is much smaller than in the USMC. That is just two companies.

That's because one Army grunt equals several Marines.

;^)

39 posted on 12/08/2003 1:20:03 PM PST by Lazamataz (PROUDLY POSTING WITHOUT READING THE ARTICLE SINCE 1999!)
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To: Cap Huff
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.

40 posted on 12/08/2003 3:22:33 PM PST by PsyOp ( Citizenship ought to be reserved for those who carry arms. - Aristotle.)
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