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Huge anti-Taliban operation under way in Afghanistan(11,000 Coalition troops involved)
AFP ^ | 06/14/06

Posted on 06/14/2006 12:31:19 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster

Huge anti-Taliban operation under way in Afghanistan

6 minutes ago

Coalition and Afghan forces are conducting their biggest counterinsurgency operation since the Taliban regime fell in late 2001 and are preparing to move into new insurgent strongholds, the coalition announced.

The campaign, named Operation Mountain Thrust, was launched in southern Afghanistan in mid-May, coalition spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Paul Fitzpatrick told AFP. Information about the campaign had been under wraps.

Involving 11,000 coalition troops -- including from Britain, Canada and the United States -- as well as Afghan soldiers, it is the biggest operation against the Taliban since the movement's government was toppled in late 2001.

"We have been conducting Operation Mountain Thrust since mid-May, disrupting the Taliban insurgents in southern Afghanistan, specifically their leadership," Fitzpatrick said on Wednesday.

"We are moving to the next phase of the operation in the northern provinces of southern Afghanistan," he said.

There was no specific date, he said. "There is no grand landing like Normandy Beach. This is part of a continuing campaign."

The operation was timed to coincide with the looming transfer of command in southern Afghanistan from the US-led coalition to NATO's International Security Assistance Force, he said.

It was intended to "set the conditions" for the transfer due in late July or early August, he said.

There was a dramatic upsurge in insurgency-linked violence in southern Afghanistan in mid-May with Taliban fighters taking on the security forces in some of their biggest battles in years.

The security forces in turn launched major strikes. About 400 people, most of the insurgents, were killed in a roughly two-week stretch.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: afghan; afghanistan; coalition; gwot; mountainthrust; oef; taliban
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To: All
Watched ABC news this morning...national program anchor said this operation would begin TOMORROW...

and then the MSM wonders why people don't trust them...

oIw
Rick
NWAVirginia.com
41 posted on 06/14/2006 6:28:42 AM PDT by siwrcw03 (Stupidity of many amazes me.....)
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To: cake_crumb
that progress won't have been made in Iraq until reporters can go across the street for a cup of coffee.

That may be sooner than they think (or want to let on.)

We were just now outside and heard some firefight going on right here in town. The U.S. and Iraqi forces are in the midst of a big clampdown on Baghdad. I hope those sounds we just heard was that of terrorists being wasted.

And I'm willing to bet that it was.

42 posted on 06/14/2006 6:29:25 AM PDT by Allegra (Mookie Sadr's Next!)
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To: Paleo Conservative
What would be the optimal number of days to get bin Lauden?"

How about a week before the court imposed 'silent period' for political speech before an election? That way the electorate would go to the polls feeling good about our side. (Not that the democrats/msm would observe such a law.)

43 posted on 06/14/2006 6:36:46 AM PDT by rvoitier ("And if talk is cheap anywhere, perhaps it is cheapest, quite frankly, in the Congress." Vitter(R-La)
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To: Dog; Coop; All
2 U.S.-led coalition troops killed in Afghanistan yesterday -

American warrior was killed in southern Helmand province - The second warrior (nationality not released yet) was killed in eastern Kunar province Tuesday -

44 posted on 06/14/2006 6:43:38 AM PDT by SevenMinusOne
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To: TigerLikesRooster

What I wonder is WHY is everybody telling the bad guys what the plans are to do next? Isn't that a little counterproductive? I wondered this when I heard it on FOXNews this morning that the offensive will be launched tomorrow by Afghani forces. . .


45 posted on 06/14/2006 6:53:25 AM PDT by alwaysconservative (Built for endurance, efficiency, and speed. Okay, maybe not for speed.)
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To: CatoRenasci

Yeah, but the German entry into Paris came after the French humiliated Prussia at Jena in 1806. This resulted in an upswing of German nationalism, and the innovations of the Prussian Army, including the invention of the modern General Staff, which the French didn't cotton onto until their defeat in 1870-1871. The French are not cowards; they just sometimes on the wrong end of military innovation.


46 posted on 06/14/2006 6:59:19 AM PDT by GAB-1955 (being dragged, kicking and screaming, into the Kingdom of Heaven....)
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To: GAB-1955

Seem to have grasped the surrender concept pretty well... Strategically they're cowards. The last time they won any battle was when an Italian (Sicilian) was at the helm. And Italy hasn't seen much victory either since Caesar.


47 posted on 06/14/2006 7:54:27 AM PDT by farlander (Strategery - sure beats liberalism!)
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To: Allegra
"We were just now outside and heard some firefight going on right here in town. The U.S. and Iraqi forces are in the midst of a big clampdown on Baghdad. I hope those sounds we just heard was that of terrorists being wasted."

I believe some terrorists were wasted too. The president was just giving an overview of this operation in his presser about his Iraq visit. Also outlined PM Maliki's plans and kept emphasizing "he has a PLAN" over and over to begin each new point, LOL. Said he wanted to personally thank our troops who brought Zarqawi to justice, that our troops are dedicated, good people working in difficult circumstances and when they do a good job it's good for SOMEBODY to congratulate and thank them.

The press was a bit subdued for some reason. Gregory must have popped a blood vessel, because he came to the presser wearing something like a red smoking jacket with an orange scarf worn like a tie...the prez complimented him on them and said his jacket and tie looked POWERFUL (ouch)

I turned off the TV before the bitter sissies began the vitriole campaign under the guise of "analyzing" the speech.

Stay safe.

48 posted on 06/14/2006 8:04:03 AM PDT by cake_crumb (One presidential visit to Baghdad is worth 1000 pathetic declarations of defeat from the left)
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To: cake_crumb

Prayers for the protection and success of the Coalition troops.


49 posted on 06/14/2006 8:09:29 AM PDT by Fudd Fan (Help get Murtha out of Congress- donate at http://www.irey.com/)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

KICK THEIR ASS!


50 posted on 06/14/2006 8:21:41 AM PDT by Catholic Canadian (Formerly Ashamed Canadian - thank you Stephen Harper!)
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To: Fudd Fan

They need it. The press is really determined to destroy our troops' morale so we lose the WOT. I ought to turn the TV back on, because they're no doubt talking about this operation and spinning as evidence that the "spiraling violence in Afghanistan proves the TRalibunnies are stronger than ever" (paraphrased, but they've been saying that more and more).


51 posted on 06/14/2006 8:29:39 AM PDT by cake_crumb (One presidential visit to Baghdad is worth 1000 pathetic declarations of defeat from the left)
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To: cake_crumb
The press was a bit subdued for some reason.

They're still in mourning for Zarqawi.

;-)

52 posted on 06/14/2006 8:31:10 AM PDT by Allegra (Mookie Sadr's Next!)
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To: Allegra
"They're still in mourning for Zarqawi."

LOL! That's probably true...oh, here's one you'll like from the presser: Ann Compton demanded to know if the president felt there was a comparison between Iraq and Vietnam (of course) and he answered that people voted, ratified a constitution and elected there government. FReeper Pogeysailor replied, "Yes, the media was on teh enemie's side on both occasions"

Now THAT'S one answer I'd like to hear from the president or Tony Snow!

53 posted on 06/14/2006 8:44:40 AM PDT by cake_crumb (One presidential visit to Baghdad is worth 1000 pathetic declarations of defeat from the left)
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To: TigerLikesRooster
One of the benefits of an upsurge in violence from the Taliban is that we can train our best surveillance equipment on them as they lead us back to the rest.

After waiting a few weeks to see what settles out, we can wipe them off the face of the earth.
54 posted on 06/14/2006 8:47:13 AM PDT by ConservativeMind
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To: farlander
?? "when an Italian (Sicilian) was at the helm"

If you're referring to Napoleon, he was Corsican not Sicilian. Yes, Corsica had been ruled by Genoa so in one sense it had been 'Italian' -- but it never adopted the Italian language or culture and was eagerly unloaded (because it had been so troublesome for the Genoans to rule) to the French just before Napoleon was born. Thus, Napoleon was officially French from birth, which is why he was able to attend a French military academy and pursue a French military career, though it is certainly true that Corsicans of that era (and since) consider themselves neither French nor Italian.
55 posted on 06/14/2006 8:48:52 AM PDT by Enchante (General Hayden: I've Never Taken a Domestic Flight That Landed in Waziristan!)
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To: alwaysconservative

Reread the article. This offensive has been secretly going on for about a month - "since mid-May". The media erred yet once again by saying it starts tomorrow. I think this has been made public now, because we don't need the element of surprise anymore.


56 posted on 06/14/2006 8:48:57 AM PDT by GoodWithBarbarians JustForKaos (LIBS = Lewd Insane Babbling Scum)
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To: farlander
"Seem to have grasped the surrender concept pretty well... Strategically they're cowards. The last time they won any battle was when an Italian (Sicilian) was at the helm. And Italy hasn't seen much victory either since Caesar."

Check your history again. The last big battle France won was commanded by a Frenchman, Marechal Petain, and Marechal Foch was the Commander in Chief of all Allied armies in WWI.

Napoleon was a Corsican by birth, not a Sicilian, but a naturalized Frenchman because Corsica became a part of the Kingdom of France before his birth. He would not have been granted a cadet post in the school of artillery had he been a foreigner.

1940 was an abberation. No one expected the German strategic innovation of smashing through the Ardennes. The defeats in Vietnam and Algeria were from lack of political will, not cowardice.

When Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko tried to bluff DeGaulle over the Cuban Missile Crisis, de Gaulle's response was "Et voila, messieur; nous mourions ensemble." (So, sir, we will die together).

The French can be brave and ruthless when needed. Ask many African tinpot dictators.

We may not like French policy, but we have to avoid underestimating what they can do.
57 posted on 06/14/2006 8:51:24 AM PDT by GAB-1955 (being dragged, kicking and screaming, into the Kingdom of Heaven....)
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To: Paleo Conservative

"What would be the optimal number of days to get bin Lauden?"

140


58 posted on 06/14/2006 8:54:34 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Democrats - The reason we need term limits)
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To: MinorityRepublican

"Why no Frenchies fighting in this operation?"

Do French Canadians count?


59 posted on 06/14/2006 8:57:04 AM PDT by rockthecasbah (Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.)
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To: cake_crumb
FReeper Pogeysailor replied, "Yes, the media was on the enemie's side on both occasions"

LOL! I love it!

And so very true.

60 posted on 06/14/2006 9:00:24 AM PDT by Allegra (Mookie Sadr's Next!)
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