New American tactics and resolve undergo test in Helmand

Guardian UK ^ | 02 Jul '09 | Julian Borger, diplomatic editor

[blueplum]

Operation Khanjar part of the effort to turn the tide against the Taliban in Afghanistan -snip-

The 4,000-strong marine expeditionary brigade involved in the operation are part of the 21,000 extra US troops Obama has sent to Afghanistan in an attempt to turn the tide against the Taliban.

The aim of Operation Khanjar is to retake the initiative in Helmand, and make it safer for elections due next month. Voter registration had been particularly poor in Helmand in part because for the past few years, the British force has been pinned down in the upper Helmand River valley between the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah and the Kajaki dam, in the north-east corner of the province.

The current US operation was preceded and complemented by a British airborne assault north of Lashkar Gah, just over a week ago codenamed Panther's Claw, intended to wrest control of river crossings from the Taliban and expanding the area under British control, also with the aim of preparing the ground for elections.

"This is a very specific example of fighting for democracy," said Michael Clarke, the director of the Royal United Services Institute. "This is all about taking and occupying ground so people can register for the August elections. That's what is at stake here. That's how it will be judged." -snip-

The Afghan army and civilian development workers are conspicuous by their absence in this operation. The state department has not delivered the development specialists it was supposed to send, and their place has been filled temporarily by reservists. Meanwhile, the Afghan army has sold only 500 soldiers, a token presence in what was intended to be a joint operation.

[blueplum]

be sure to click thru to the Guardian - just to the right of the main article you can click on a slideshow of 14 pictures as well as an interactive tool that shows a map of where our guys and gals are fighting