Taliban’s Influence Waning in Southern Afghanistan , NATO General Says

American Forces Press Service ^ | Gerry Gilmore

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, April 30, 2007 – Ongoing NATO military and reconstruction operations are helping erode Taliban militants’ power in southern Afghanistan, a senior Dutch officer said today.

The behavior of the Afghan people is perhaps the most convincing indicator of the Taliban’s waning influence in southern Afghanistan, Royal Netherlands Army Maj. Gen. Ton van Loon told Pentagon reporters during a satellite-carried news conference.

“We experience success every time (International Security Assistance Force) troops stand back after securing an area and witness local elders extend their authority,” said van Loon, the commander of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force Regional Command South. His command boasts 11,500 troops, including 2,000 Dutch forces.

That success is evident “when religious scholars and elders feel safe enough to freely express their disdain for Taliban militants,” the general said.

Afghan village leaders are telling followers “that Taliban extremists can no longer be referred to as Muslims, due to their ruthless actions,” van Loon said.

Security is being provided by NATO’s Operation Achilles, launched March 6 against Taliban fighters operating in northern Helmand province, van Loon said.

An increasingly flexible and robust Afghan National Army and Police force is adding to the Taliban’s discomfort, van Loon said, noting more than 1,000 Afghan soldiers and police were deployed to Helmand province in April.

It’s also reported that many Afghans, with minimal government or NATO assistance, are themselves ejecting the Taliban from their areas, van Loon noted.

However, military action is sometimes the only way to defeat the Taliban, as the militants “are too fanatic for compromises,” he said. Taliban extremists were “severely diminished” in the Panjwai and Zari districts of Kandahar province after operations Medusa and Bazooka, which were conducted last summer and into the fall and winter, van Loon said.

After repeated poundings during stand-up fights with NATO and Afghan security forces, he said, the Taliban have taken to fading into the shadows and employing hit-and-run guerrilla tactics. The enemy is increasingly using improvised explosive devices and suicide bombers, he said.

“We need to maintain pressure and continue to conduct stabilization operations in the south on our terms,” van Loon said.

He said Operation Achilles was initiated to set security conditions for one of Afghanistan’s largest reconstruction projects, the Kajaki Dam. Once completed, the dam will increase electric power for residents, industries and commerce in southern Afghanistan, he said, and it also will improve the water supply for community and irrigation purposes.

The general’s troops have fought many successful engagements against the Taliban since van Loon took command in November, he said, and noted he is slated to depart Afghanistan soon.

“They have demonstrated professionalism and restraint during the planning and execution of difficult and complex counterinsurgency missions,” van Loon said of his troops. “I commend them all and want each and every soldier under my command to know that it was an honor for me to lead them.”

[SandRat]

Gee ya think??? After my last to threads I should hope so!

[SandRat]

Gee ya think??? After my last two threads I should hope so!

FR WAR NEWS!

WAR News at Home and Abroad You'll Hear Nowhere Else!

All the News the MSM refuses to use!

Or if they do report it, without the anti-War Agenda Spin!

[Star Traveler]

Except for the fact that Pakistan is helping build the Taliban back up in Afghanistan, to take the country over again. Some “friends” we have over there...

[mdittmar]

Please add me to your ping list.
Thanks

[SandRat]

Done

[jwalsh07]

It’s difficult to be influential here on Earth if you’re 6 feet under the earth.

[Star Traveler]

You can see how our “friend” Pakistan is helping the Taliban regroup to take back over Afghanistan...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1826081/posts?page=5#5

[pissant]

As long as there is one still breathing, we stay on the offensive. The NY Times is once again saddened.

[navyguy]

Pakistan should be TOLD that if they don’t start killing Talibs in their Western frontier we’ll do it for them, with or without permission.

[Star Traveler]

You said — “Pakistan should be TOLD that if they don’t start killing Talibs in their Western frontier we’ll do it for them, with or without permission.”

—

Well, that sounds good all right. But, I don’t know how it would play out, once we started doing that. Heck I hear that Pakistan may be helping Iran with their nuclear technology. Who knows, if it came down to that, they may just *give* Iran a couple for good measure...

[navyguy]

Iran - Ashcanistan - Pakistan

Sounds like a target rich environment.

[Star Traveler]

You said — “Sounds like a target rich environment.”

It would be if the U.S. would ever do anything about it...

[navyguy]

I know... US politicians (most of them) are nothing but craven weasels. I no longer trust them to defend the US or its citizens, let alone wipe out the enemy while they’re still a safe distance away.