Posted on 02/14/2010 1:13:39 PM PST by SandRat
NEWS RELEASE
ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan
2010-02-CA-063
For Immediate Release
KABUL, Afghanistan (Feb. 14) - Operation Moshtarak, the Afghan-led initiative to assert government authority in the centre of Helmand province has completed its first day of "clearing" operations.
Saturday morning's air insertion over Central Helmand included helicopters, A-10s, Tornadoes and C-130 aircraft. The waves of aircraft-borne troop insertions of Afghan National Army, United States and United Kingdom soldiers were completed by 5:55 a.m. local time.
Since then, at least two shuras have been held with local Afghans - one in Nad-e Ali and one in Marjah. The ANA have been meeting with local Afghans and establishing themselves on the ground. Discussions with local Afghans have been assessed as good, and more shuras are anticipated in the coming days.
Early Saturday morning, Helmand Governor Mangal and Brig. Gen. Zazai, 205 Atal Corps commander, addressed the media during a press conference at the media center in Lashkar Gah.
Later that evening, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, the U.N. World Food Program, the World Health Organization and local non-governmental organizations reported that there has been no increase in local Afghans leaving Nad-e Ali as a result of the operation.
A number of IED-making equipment and weapons caches have been found by ANSF and ISAF troops in both Nad-e Ali and Marjah.
The goal of Operation Moshtarak - a Dari word for "together" - is for the combined force (ANA, ANP, ISAF and the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team) to support the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in asserting its authority in central Helmand, thereby demonstrating the Afghan government's commitment to the people living there.
The operation is being conducted in line with the wishes of the Afghan government in Helmand. The security forces involved are serving side-by-side, representing partnership in strength.
B-Roll: Operation Moshtarak
Photos: ISAF and Afghan Troops Prepare for Operation Moshtarak
Backgrounder: Operation Moshtarak
Why did we announce we were coming instead of surprise the enemy so they couldn’t leave and why do we have only 5 killed enemy and why didn’t we realize they would mine and booby trap the whole city and what are we doing?
There were several reasons:
1) We wanted to show the Taliban that they couldn’t stop us. They can’t, and their driven out of their city bases to starve in the hills.
2) We wanted the civilians to hide if they could. We’re not fighting the Afghan civilians, but the terrorists.
3) The Taliban had an idea that we were going to come anyway, due to intelligence leaks. They didn’t know how and in what way, and they couldn’t make a stand.
4) We’ve made the Taliban lose face with the Afghan people.
We look like a bunch of women. I can’t stomach this weakness. Kill people and break things and quit this pussy footing with the enemy . We look impotent.
NATO in Command
No not women, appeasers.
We have our troops out doing the heavy lifting and an administration that wants to play nice with the Tali.
I seperate the troops from the admin.
I fully agree. These are professional soldiers. They are supposed to kill enemy not dancing the tango. This is Obama all the way with his weakness and timidity toward Islam.
Absolutely!
Looks like some folks may have majored in political correctness rather than military history and tactics.
First you break their will. Then you rebuild them. Omitting either of the steps is a recipe for disaster.
A number of IED-making equipment and weapons caches have been found by ANSF and ISAF troops in both Nad-e Ali and Marjah.Thanks SandRat.
-
not all military strategy means that you go in and kill all the enemy... do what must be done to protect the most innocent....THEN go in and kill all the enemy...also kill the enemy when they “hop.” Also, catch some and MAKE them tell where the other bad guys are and what they plan on doing... then set em up with those virgins they dream about...and move on to the next...etc...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.