Flag raised in Marjah as Taleban retreat to edge of Helmand stronghold

The centre of Marjah looked battered and abandoned yesterday as soldiers raised a makeshift Afghan flag after days of intense fighting between the Taleban and US Marines.

The symbolic gesture was designed to demonstrate Afghan government control but commanders acknowleged that the fighting was far from over and the local population were nowhere to be seen.

Troops in the town centre said that the insurgents had retreated to the western edge of their Helmand stronghold, where US and Afghan troops are still waiting to dislodge them.

In Loy Chari, which means main square, in central Marjah, shops were reduced to rubble, others were abandoned and rolls of razor wire marked the edge of where the US Marines had cleared the streets of landmines.

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Senior commanders accused the Taleban of using civilians as human shields. In one instance Afghan troops said that children were herded into the street while insurgents fired from a second-storey window behind them.

So it did turn out to be a mini Fallujah. But a disaster for the Taliban never the less. Now that those that remained alive have fled westward to their safer havens, they will be tracked down and reduced even more so into a hollow movement.
The mostly peace loving afghans that long have been held hostage, shall see their people fighting and training alongside US and other ISAF forces in their behalf.
The same eventual outcome shall come to past as we saw in Iraq for the most part.
The mostly neutral populations only wanting peace and a better life for themselves and their loved ones, shall turn against the evil forces, driven by millennium old Islamic dogma many don't even consider when barking versus from the Quran, never really understanding what 90% of the crap means. The parrots will take up their plowshares and go after the remaining Taliban that are pleased in beating their old men and women folk.
How am I do Ernie? heheh.
Seriously. It is great to see how well the operation has proceeded thus far.
As we are aware, this new mode of operation shall continue through this year and part of next as required.

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