Posted on 09/09/2006 11:11:41 AM PDT by exg
Taliban in Panjwaii on verge of collapse: NATO Updated Sat. Sep. 9 2006 1:45 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Insurgent fighters in a Taliban stronghold are being pounded by NATO forces and are on the verge of collapse, said the commander of Canadian forces in southern Afghanistan on Saturday.
Backed by U.S. and British air power, Canadian and Afghan troops took turns moving through former insurgent outposts in the Panjwaii region, where Taliban are engaging in a "last stand," according to Lt.-Col. Omer Lavoie
One U.S. soldier was killed Saturday in a rocket attack -- the first casualty alliance forces have suffered during Operation Medusa since four Canadians died last week and another was killed in a friend-fire incident.
NATO said 20 to 30 Taliban were killed Saturday, but the tally could not be independently confirmed.
Lavoie told The Canadian Press that advances by Canadian-led international troops from the north of the Taliban stronghold, along with a firm stand to the south, are punishing the insurgents.
"There's good indication that they are on the brink of collapse in a number of different areas," Lavoie said.
"Like most insurgents, they don't have the sustainment ability to have long, protracted engagements. What we see is mostly hit-and-run tactics."
NATO's commander in southern Afghanistan, meanwhile, said allied forces have no intention of allowing the Taliban to escape, despite reports from local officials of an escape route to the west.
"We've got the Taliban surrounded," said Canadian Brig.-Gen. David Fraser after a tour near the frontlines Saturday.
"We don't want to squeeze them out. We're around them, and they've got choices to make."
On Friday, Canadian foot soldiers were sent scrambling for cover under a bridge as rocket-propelled grenades flew past overhead and landed a short distance away, reports CP.
Small groups of Taliban fighters were testing the troops, triggering fiery exchanges and heavy bombardment.
"As you can tell, we are answering back with authority," said Lieut. Jeff Bell, a platoon commander with the Royal Canadian Regiment based in Petawawa, Ont., who was among the first wave of soldiers to move ahead.
Military officials are revealing little about the operation. Many details cannot be reported by The Canadian Press under the embedding agreement that allows reporters to accompany Canadian troops on the front lines.
More troops needed: general
A Canadian general, meanwhile, has told NATO chiefs that at least 2,000 more allied troops are needed to quell the Taliban insurgency.
Gen. Ray Henault, chairman of the NATO military committee, called Afghanistan the most complex mission NATO has ever undertaken.
He told NATO military chiefs in Poland that alliance forces in Afghanistan are meeting more resistance than anticipated. He said will appeal formally to the alliance's council on Monday for member nations to commit more troops.
Henault said so far, only 85 per cent of forces required for the mission have been supplied by the 26 member states.
With files from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press
It is very disturbing to me that Britain's tony Blair has announced he will be stepping down in one year or less. This may be the end of our coalition.
I think from now on, we will be playing hardball with the planet and we will act accordingly when the time presents it's self in Iran. With all that Iran has said and done, there is no world outrage. We will have some help, but not much, and we cannot do anything soon, without help.
If Iran develops a nuke, we will likely follow the lead of Israel and back them to the hilt. The timing of this will depend on the facts when they emerge.
This is the way I see it. there is nothing to be gained by attacking now, and nothing will significantly change until they do have a working nuke or are very close. We can only hope to overthrow the Mullahs in the interim. This is where Iraq will be helpful, if not critical..
I can sure identify with that frustration, to the max!
Thanks for the follow-up.
The Afghans now have a professional army that is getting better and better. That was not the case at Tora Bora which is why this time it will be different.
How about,....convert or die.....?
Would it be too much to hope he means be killed or commit suicide?
Someone tell Howard Dean.
heheh
Die then convert.
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