US: NATO controls Marjah’s key roads, govt centers

Las Vegas Sun ^ | Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010 | AP

[world weary]

U.S. and Afghan forces have taken control of the main roads, bridges and government centers of the Taliban haven of Marjah, the top Marine commander in southern Afghanistan said Thursday, though he added that pockets of insurgents remain.

(Snip)

On Thursday, Brig. Gen. Mohiudin Ghori, Nicholson's Afghan counterpart, condemned the insurgents' use of women and children as human shields during the fighting.

[world weary]

NATO facing some slow going in Marjah. The article doesn't go into it, but the place is loaded with IED's as well. The Taliban use of human shields is also complicating matters.

[Eyes Unclouded]

It isn’t a good idea to announce your assault in a war.
It isn’t a good idea to placate men who literally fight behind women and children.
It isn’t a good idea to seem weak in a tribal warrior culture.
It isn’t a good idea to sap your troops morale and their allies morale with wavering commitment.

We have done all four and are hoping for what outcome exactly?

Best we can hope for now is that the locals will get sick of the Taliban and turn on them like Iraqis turned on Al-Qaeda.