Posted on 12/10/2007 1:33:27 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
BBC News, Kabul
The Afghan army may struggle to hold on to Musa Qala
Holding the town of Musa Qala has taken on symbolic importance for both sides.
It is "iconic", in the words of British Defence Secretary Des Browne.
Now it has fallen, British troops will keep a small presence there, but the main defence of the town and the surrounding area will be led by the Afghan army.
The decision to take the town at this time fits into a wider strategy of trying to restrict Taleban movement during the winter months.
No-one expects a pause in the fighting in the winter, as used to be traditional in Afghanistan.
But the thinking is that in the harsher weather with limited availability of food, the Taleban will have less ability to mount a counter-attack.
Local support
The assault on Musa Qala comes at the same time as Afghan and international forces try to control more of the ground further south-west, where the three provinces of Helmand, Farah and Nimruz join together.
The aim of the twin offensives is to "squeeze" the Taleban, but it will only work if at the same time the Afghan government can guarantee security to the people whose farms and houses have been fought over.
The Taleban have local support in Musa Qala
British troops came under sustained assault in the town for several months last year, before pulling out under a deal brokered by tribal elders.
The Afghan army is better than it was, but is still not a reliable force, and is far less motivated than the Taleban.
The Taleban also have significant local support, not just among drug warlords who have a strategic alliance with them against the international presence, but also among local people.
The damage to property and loss of life because of the continued fighting means that the side that is seen as being able to offer stability and protection will prevail in the long term.
One of the tribal elders at a meeting held by the British ahead of the operation to retake Musa Qala told them that the "Taleban are our brothers, our nephews, our family".
This gives the Taleban a significant advantage as the key local power-brokers weigh up their options.
In the Afghan way they will back the side that they consider has the better chance of success, and despite the austerity of their religious practices, the Taleban have an in-built advantage over the national army, and certainly over foreign forces.
Not over
In this region the Afghans have long memories of British military engagement during several campaigns in the 19th Century.
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 The British are now using some of the tactics of their forebears in engaging with the Afghans on their terms, working with the conservative grain of the country 
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For their part, the British are now using some of the tactics of their forebears in engaging with the Afghans on their terms, working with the conservative grain of the country.
There are far more diplomats at the embassy who speak local languages. They are attempting to understand where tribal loyalties lie beneath the democratic structures imposed after the Taleban were deposed in 2001.
This policy led to some success before the battle for Musa Qala in detaching local commanders with their men from the main body of the Taleban.
There is one other significant change that will make a difference to the way the war is fought during the winter. International forces are now linking the counter-insurgency strategy much more closely with their fight against the narco-economy.
This does not mean that British troops will eradicate poppy crops, but it does mean that military force will be used against drug barons more than before, and there will be more of an attempt to understand the direct links between the insurgency and the drugs trade.
The battle for Musa Qala is won. The campaign has a long way to go.
Are they gonna put on their mascara and go out and kill ‘mericans? (Tee hee!)
Drive the bastards out of town and into the higher elevations of their horribly inhospitable mountains where they’ll freeze their goat humping asses off..
good post man, crucial battle taking place that needs our attention.
Seems the little darlings retreated out of compassion for the locals.
/s
Battlemap of the Musa Qala battle and actions in northern Helmand province.
The Taliban have abandoned their former stronghold of Musa Qala in northern Helmand province. Despite boasts of over 2,000 fighters in the ranks and claims the “it will be very easy for us to resist the attack,” the Taliban chose to bug out. A Taliban spokesman claimed they fled to protect the residents of Musa Qala, while a resident of the town said they pulled out in an organized fashion.
A Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousef Ahmadi, said the insurgents made a strategic decision to flee Musa Qala to avoid further destruction to the town.
“Because of the massive bombings this morning, the Taliban didn’t want to cause more casualties...
I was looking at the terrain around Musa Qala on Google Earth last night. There is are some mountains with big caves north of there. It will be a harsh and unpleasant Afghan winter for these Taliban, and many of them will give up or not survive.
It remains to be seen whether the coalition can disrupt the $7.5 billion opium crop which the Taliban for funding. That might require something drastic, like a scorched-earth policy.
Most likely the Afghan opium crop is well protected by payoffs to officials at all levels in all nations involved.
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