Marines Begin Operation To Clear Taliban Out Of Helmand Valley In Afghanistan

Flopping Aces ^ | 07-03-09 | Curt

[Starman417]

The United States Marine Corps is taking it to the enemy in Afghanistan as we speak:

Thousands of US Marines stormed into the Helmand river valley under cover of night yesterday, the opening phase of Barack Obama’s new high-risk strategy in Afghanistan. In Operation Khanjar, or Strike of the Sword, hailed by one commander as a “D-Day moment”, 4,000 Marines entered the lower Helmand river valley, hoping to do in hours what British troops have failed to do in three years. It is part of a massive surge ordered by Mr Obama, doubling the number of American troops and flooding Helmand with 10,000 Marines - far in excess of the 8,000-strong British contingent stationed there since 2006. Operation Khanjar aims to capture and hold a swath of Taleban territory, opening the way for a massive influx of development aid and allowing the Afghan Government to put down roots before its presidential election on August 20. The election is a critical test for the leadership of President Karzai, once a darling of the West, now tainted by accusations of corruption and ineffectuality yet still regarded as Afghanistan’s least bad option.

And the enemy slips away:

The Marines faced little Taliban resistance as they began moving into villages in the Helmand River valley, a Taliban stronghold that is one of the world's largest opium-producing regions. Marine commanders said Taliban fighters seemed to have melted into the surrounding countryside rather than staying to fight the large US force. "There's been sporadic fighting, but it's been light," Capt. Bill Pelletier, a Marine spokesman, said in an interview from southern Afghanistan. "Our focus isn't on going in and killing Taliban; it's on driving those folks out of the area and keeping them from coming back."

More:

Columns of US Marines in eight-wheeled armored vehicles pushed deep into southern Afghanistan on Thursday in an attempt to cut off Taliban supply lines from Pakistan and restore order in areas long neglected by short-handed NATO forces. The movement of the Marines to the town of Khan Neshin in the lower Helmand River valley is the most significant deployment of US forces in areas near the Pakistani border with southern Afghanistan, and it reflects a growing concern among US military and intelligence officials that much of the violence that has plagued the south is linked to a flow of fighters and munitions from Pakistan's Baluchistan region. The troops encountered roadside bombs and small-arms attacks, which resulted in the death of one Marine, but commanders opted to mute their return fire. In the first 24 hours of the operation, the Marines did not lob artillery or call for fighter planes to drop bombs. The drive to Khan Neshin is part of a Marine campaign to root out Taliban insurgents by restoring the authority of local officials and police departments in the Helmand River valley.

The afghani's are hoping this new offensive will lay the groundwork for a peaceful election in two months time. If the Taliban hold power in many areas you can bet they will do their best to keep people from going to the polls. The Helmand area is one of those areas under Taliban control, not for long as my Marines come in. Add this to the positive signs from the registration push:

[kjo]

Can you begin to imagine the outcry on the left if this were being done under a Republican administration?

[don-o]

I can imagine me ignoring it.

[Ev Reeman]

I am so proud of our military. They are taking the fight to the enemy and even routing the enemy out of his strongholds. Our military is composed of the bravest, proudest and most honorable soldiers in the world. They are a credit to this nation and should always be respected and honored for their selflessness in the service of our country. In light of the coming fourth of July when our founding fathers also fought and died for freedom and liberty, we should all reflect on their sacrifice and their courage. This is also the reason we as Americans must fight Obummer and his policies at every single turn and not shy away from that fight.

[Condor51]

In Operation Khanjar, or Strike of the Sword, hailed by one commander as a “D-Day moment”, 4,000 Marines entered the lower Helmand river valley, hoping to do in hours what British troops have failed to do in three years.

[Desron13]

"Can you begin to imagine the outcry on the left if this were being done under a Republican administration?"

It's a quagmire! A quagmire I tell you!"

[sinsofsolarempirefan]

They may well succeed, because they are at the end of the day, boots on the ground, which the general consensus was that was required to overcome the Taliban in Helmand, Britain didn’t have enough troops to get the job done. With the best will in the world, trying to control a province like Helmand with only a few thousand soldiers was a none-starter.
Another factor which may prove in our favour this time is the fact that Pakistan is openly at war against the Taliban and is for its own part moving in to close off the Taliban escape roots. If they weren’t doing that, I would suggest even this enterprise would be doomed to failure.
Still, never let the facts get in the way with an opportunity for cheap snidiness eh?