Posted on 09/19/2006 6:54:39 PM PDT by blam
Praise for troops who faced fury of the Taliban and triumphed
(Filed: 20/09/2006)
British troops in southern Afghanistan received high praise from their commander yesterday as they approached the end of a tour in which they have inflicted a substantial defeat on the Taliban.
"You have proved that you can fight as well as anyone in the British Army," Lt Gen David Richards told a group of young veterans of a brutal summer's campaign in the towns and villages of Helmand province.
Soldiers from the RAF regiment patrolling the village of Mandi Sar near the city of Kandahar
As for the Taliban, whose ferocious performance Des Browne, the Defence Secretary, admitted had not been expected, the general said: "There is no doubt in their minds that you can outfight them every time."
In this sprawling base in central Helmand where 3 Para battle group is in the process of being relieved by the Royal Marines, the verdict is that the Taliban have suffered a serious setback.
There is a heady mood in the dusty air that British forces have been put to the test and emerged triumphant. There is also scorn among the sunburned soldiers for those at home who doubt the value of their efforts.
"The Taliban have set out to destroy the country," said L/Cpl Danny Kelly, 21, from Hull. "If someone tries to open a school, they kill the teachers. They're trying to put the country back to medieval times and we have to get rid of them."
Cpl Scott Evans, 27, from Oldham, said: "Civilians have no idea what we are doing here so, frankly, their opinions are rubbish."
Lt Col Stuart Tootal, the commander of 3 Para, said: "The Taliban thought they were going to push us out in three days and that's what they told the people.
"The fact that we are still there is a serious blow to their credibility."
The troops occupying the key district centres of Musa Qala, Sangin, Nowzad, Kajaki and Gereshk have brought relative quiet to the area after months of combat at levels unprecedented in recent British military history.
Given the intensity of engagements, casualty figures have been relatively low, with 14 servicemen killed in ground fighting. The Taliban have been hit hard: 250 have been killed in Sangin alone.
"The battle has been tough," said Brig Ed Butler, the commander of the UK Task Force in southern Afghanistan. "There is no doubt about that. The enemy has put up considerable resistance but I would judge that we have inflicted a tactical defeat on them."
Brig Butler said that in the first phase of the campaign, which began after British troops began deploying in April, the Taliban "threw themselves with real determination" against the district centres — administrative buildings that are symbols of the Afghan government's slender authority in the area.
"That strategy was unsuccessful," he said. "The fighters were determined but they were not professional. We inflicted a considerable number of casualties,"
The insurgents learned some lessons and in the next phase used mortars and rockets more effectively.
"But on every occasion we have overwhelmingly defeated them through sheer professionalism, technology and extraordinary courage," Brig Butler said.
Attacks are down to a handful a day in most areas and he believes that there is now a pause in a battle which he says is by no means over.
The Taliban's morale enjoyed a considerable resurgence five years after its regime was overthrown following September 11. But it seems to be slipping, with commanders having to use threats and intimidation to keep their men in the field.
The expectation is that they will turn to Iraqi-style tactics of roadside bombs and suicide attacks such as the one against Canadian troops in Kandahar on Sunday.
Brig Butler said: "Winter is closing in, when traditionally they reduce their activities and go back up into the hills. I think we will now see a period when they re-arm, reorganise and reinvest before they reconsider their strategy for next year."
I find it pretty amusing how the foreign press generally praises their military and slams GI's, while the American pretty much imitates them, i.e. praises foreign militaries (except for Iraq) and slams GI's.
Many more thanks to US Gunships.
Fellow Americans, here's to our allies, the Brits, the Men from Oz and our heroic allies from the North, here's to the Anglosphere! Together we share a common destiny. Victory.
"Civilians have no idea what we are doing here so, frankly, their opinions are rubbish."
HA!!!
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