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Huge US operation in Afghanistan
4,000 newly deployed US Marines launch Operation Khanjar to flush out Taliban militants from Helmand River valley
In the biggest deployment of US Marines since the Vietnam War, the United States has launched a massive offensive against Taliban militants in the Helmand River valley in southwest Afghanistan. More than 4,000 Marines, backed by 650 Afghan soldiers and police, were moved in by heavy trucks and helicopters, supported by Nato fighter aircraft cover.
Operation Khanjar - or 'Sword Strike' - was launched under cover of darkness in the early hours of Thursday morning. The US military said the first 36 hours would be fast and furious while the troops secured their positions. There would then be a period of consolidation as they attempt to break Taliban control and create safe zones.
The main purpose is to make it possible for local people to vote in the August 20 presidential election.
"Where we go we will stay, and where we stay, we will hold, build and work toward transition of all security responsibilities to Afghan forces," Brig Gen Larry Nicholson, commander of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Helmand, said in a statement released once the operation had begun.
Operation Khanjar is the first major offensive under President Barack Obama's new strategy for Afghanistan announced in March. He put in place a new commander and ordered 21,000 additional US troops in a bid to flush out the Taliban, especially in the Helmand region where they control the opium poppy fields. The Pentagon expects the total number of US forces in the country to reach 68,000 by the end of this year - double the number of US troops in Afghanistan in 2008.
US Marines spokesman Capt Bill Pelletier said the troops were prepared for casualties, but stressed that "it is absolutely essential that no civilians be harmed".
Until now, Helmand has been one of the deadliest areas of the country. As the New York Times reports, British troops based there "rarely get a shot at Taliban attackers who ambush them with improvised explosive devices, rocket-propelled grenades and assault rifles".
With too few troops, the British Army had to rely on aerial bombing and helicopter gunship attacks - a strategy that alienated the local population. By having so many troops on the ground, the Pentagon hopes to win back hearts and minds.
Helmand Governor Gulab Mangal said: "The security forces will build bases to provide security for the local people so that they can carry out every activity with this favourable background, and take their lives forward in peace." ·
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An "adventure" which builds on the sacrifices of the Afghan people who kicked out the Taliban and have now elections and a society more to their liking over most of this culturally mixed society. The Taliban are monstrous. They destroyed all the cultural artefacts of this diverse and historically significant country; pre-Islamic exhibits in Kabul's museum were powdered with hammers, the better to represent their maniacal views. The Buddhist figures at Bamyan were pulverised by rockets to the shouts of "God is Great" (and one dimensional apparently). The Taliban threw open 'their' country to train jihadists to fight 'the west' (i.e. Modernism) and links to training camps operated with their blessing figure prominently in the c.v.'s of convicted terrorists. If you are a pacifist all well and good, since only in the west can such a luxury be afforded. Your views will be given time and space. But occasionally one does have to respond to what is evil and wicked. In this case, despite Bush, Cheney and the rest, the west is on the progressive side of this engagement with international reaction.
How catastrophic must the failure become before the basic fallacy of this adventure is acknowledged? It will make Vietnam (recall HW's comment after GWI ''we've finally kicked the Vietnam syndrome..") look like a bar room brawl.