Posted on 11/09/2010 12:27:08 PM PST by NormsRevenge
SANGIN, Afghanistan – U.S. Marines who recently inherited this lush river valley in southern Helmand province from British forces have tossed aside their predecessor's playbook in favor of a more aggressive strategy to tame one of the most violent places in Afghanistan.
U.S. commanders say success is critical in Sangin district — where British forces suffered nearly one-third of their deaths in the war — because it is the last remaining sanctuary in Helmand where the Taliban can freely process the opium and heroin that largely fund the insurgency.
The district also serves as a key crossroads to funnel drugs, weapons and fighters throughout Helmand and into neighboring Kandahar province, the spiritual heartland of the Taliban and the most important battleground for coalition forces. The U.S.-led coalition hopes its offensive in the south will kill or capture key Taliban commanders, rout militants from their strongholds and break the insurgency's back. That will allow the coalition and the Afghans to improve government services, bring new development and a sense of security.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Wage war to crush.
In Iraq, the gomers feared the Marines, and would often retreat if their street scouts reported they saw Marine uniforms.
SF
U.S. Marines from the First Battalion, Eighth Marines Bravo Company fires their weapons during a battle against Taliban insurgents in Musa Qala district in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province November 7, 2010. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly (AFGHANISTAN - Tags: CONFLICT CIVIL UNREST)
They can level it from a distance. No need to even go in until that is accomplished. They need to drop the ROE and get the job done.
The AP reporting on the war?? Don’t they know the ‘bammer is doing the second coming of Ghandi in India?? /s
He was doing the Mahatma shuffle .. I don’t recall a President doing as much as a jig, I could be wrong.
A U.S. Marine from the First Battalion, Eighth Marines feeds sheep at his base in Talibjan in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province, November 9, 2010. The sheep will be given to the local Afghan population as gifts and eaten during the upcoming Muslim Eid holiday. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly
A Blackhawk helicopter flies over Baghad. Officials said on Tuesday a landmark US and British-backed code of conduct signed by private security operators, including some operating in Iraq and Afghanistan, would stop the firms being used as mercenaries. (AFP/File/Roslan Rahman)
BTTT!
May I suggest: Drop the Bomb!!!!
You forgot the Clinton’s dancing on the beach... now there’s a sight I’d like to forget.
Why don’t they stop playing and just Naplam the Poppy fields.
Wait, I know. Equip cargo planes with spray nozzles and spray herbicide over wide areas. It worked great in Vietnam.
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