Major Afghan offensive 'under way in Marjah' BBC

[G_j]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8513665.stm

Major Afghan offensive 'under way in Marjah'

US military officials say thousands of Nato-led troops in Afghanistan have launched the biggest offensive since the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001.


The operation, in the Marjah area, will involve US, British and Afghan forces, supported by Danes and Estonians.

Nato says Marjah is home to the biggest community under insurgent control in southern Afghanistan.

Many residents had fled ahead of Operation Moshtarak, which means "together" in the Dari language.

Nato reportedly distributed leaflets in the Marjah area at the weekend warning of the planned offensive.

Villagers said the leaflets gave the names of several alleged militant commanders and told fighters to leave the area or be killed.

[tekisui]

1. With many innocents trapped in the crossfire or exiled

from their own homes.

[EFerrari]

3. And timed to a Friday night at home for the least coverage possible.

[tekisui]

12. During Olympic opening ceremonies, no less.

Just like the Russia-Georgia war two years ago.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

14. Damn you, Karl Rove!

[tekisui]

19. Nothing to do with Rove, it is just military managing messages

the best they can.

[G_j]

21. thats what they do

makes perfect sense

[Junkdrawer]

30. Used to be new moons...now it's Olympic Openings....

times have changed...

[Junkdrawer]

28. Just had the same thought...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7703869

[G_j]

31. interesting

Georgia invades S. Ossetia that was another mess..

:hi:

[G_j]

16. I find it darkly ironic that

this falls three days away from the seventh anniversary of the great war protest.

Feb 15 2003:
11+ million protest against the invasion of Iraq.

[Echo In Light]

18. +1

[malaise]

2. I watched BBC International this morning and saw

tons of people moving into tents with their wives, children and aged parents. What a way to win hearts and minds - forcing people out of their homes in the middle of winter into tent cities with snow and mud. I hate this fugging war.

The man had no kind words for the US or NATO.

[EFerrari]

4. Residents have been fleeing for at least two weeks.

I hope to god we don't wake up on Monday and find out this was another massacre like Fallujah. complete with chemical weapons. I really hope that doesn't happen.

[tekisui]

8. Nothing would surprise me.

:(

[EFerrari]

11. Thank you for helping us stay on top of this story, tekisui.

:(

[tekisui]

10. It may have already happened:

The white flash of Hellfire and Tow missiles could be seen exploding over the town as flares illuminated the darkness to help assault troops spot targets in the town.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100212/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan

[G_j]

5. I might have thought deliberately creating refugees

was a crime. What do I know?
Let the violence begin.. or a.. continue..
:cry:

[malaise]

7. The real question is who will reap

this year's poppy crop? Any bets?

[EFerrari]

9. I'm guessing rhymes with "CIA".

[malaise]

13. or Yeh! LOL - you little elitist you

Why do you know so much - why are you trying to make Sarah palm cheater look even more stupid than usual? :rofl:

[EFerrari]

17. I'm a liberal elite, not Super Woman. You'd need super powers to make her look

MORE ignorant. lol

[Frustratedlady]

6. Why do they forewarn the fighters to leave or be killed?

I'll never understand this war.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

15. To watch were they go?

I mean it's not like the public announcments of the offensive haven't been thoroughly weighed and considered.

[DCBob]

41. The primary goal is to secure the city.. not to kill every single Talibanger.

The hope is that one secured many of the moderate Taliban will give it up and try to live in peace.

[G_j]

20. AP story

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/12/world/main6202807.shtml

NEAR MARJAH, Afghanistan, Feb. 12, 2010

Major Offensive against Taliban Begins
Marines and Afghan Troops Swooped Down on Taliban Stronghold of Marjah in Large Combat Operation


The attack on Marjah climaxed the biggest joint Afghan-international offensive of the war and is the largest combat operation since President Barack Obama ordered 30,000 U.S. reinforcements here last December to turn the tide of the war.

Marine commanders say they expect between 400 to 1,000 insurgents to be holed up inside this southern Afghan town of 80,000 people in Helmand province, including more than 100 foreign fighters. Marjah is the biggest southern town under Taliban control and the linchpin of the militants' logistical and opium-smuggling network.

"The first wave of choppers has landed inside Marjah. The operation has begun," said Capt. Joshua Winfrey, commander of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, which was at the forefront of the attack.

Several hundred U.S. Marines and some Afghan troops were in the first wave of troops, flying over minefields the militants are believed to have planted around the town, 360 miles southwest of Kabul.

The operation, codenamed "Moshtarak," or Together, was described as the biggest joint operation of the Afghan war. Maj. Gen. Nick Carter, the commander of NATO forces in southern Afghanistan, says 15,000 troops were involved in the operation, including some 7,500 troops fighting in Marjah and British forces to the north in the district of Nad Ali.

The helicopter assault was preceded by illumination flares which were fired over the town about 2 a.m. In the pitch darkness of a moonless night, the roar of helicopters could be heard overhead, flying in assault troops from multiple locations.

..more..

[asdjrocky]

22. All we are saying...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-NRriHlLUk

[Solly Mack]

23. K&R

[G_j]

36. ==

thanks
:hi:

[maxsolomon]

24. Marjah is a key to the "new strategy"

the town has been controlled and fortified by the taliban, the perimeters are extensively and intelligently mined, the residents acted as spotters for any NATO troops approaching.

it is also a center of the taliban's terror campaign on the rest of the south, and a center for the poppy trade.

if we're going to be there, and we are, so we might as well try to act smartly, and this looks like a far better strategy than the strategery used during the * junta. they plan to bring in the civil governance component ASAP.

i just hope they plan to buy the poppies, and pay double what the taliban did.

[G_j]

25. if we're going to be there, and we are...

well or course it's better to turn civilians into refugees than to kill them.
The Taliban can move, I suspect the poppies are big factor. Do you think we'll ever know where it ends up?

[Forkboy]

26. You getting the warm and fuzzies yet?

Thank God we told these people to abandon everything they own so they don't get a bomb on their head....

[G_j]

27. it's sickening nt

[Flaneur]

29. BBC Evening News said 80% of the population is still in Marjah.

Few left, for fear of being seen as supporting the ferenghi and for fear of stepping on a mine.

[G_j]

33. ==

That is very frightening and sad.

[gimama]

32. Fallujah Deja Vu

Nothing goood can come from this.

:(

[G_j]

35. hadn't thought of that

there are similarities.

Let's hope they don't use white phosphorus again! :scared:

[slipslidingaway]

34. Sounds familiar - Georgia and Russia stay in Olympics, despite threat of war ...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/sports/10iht-olygeorgia.4.15153701.html

"...While a human peace dove flapped its wings on the infield of Olympic Stadium, and spectators raised their arms in pantomimed flight, bombers took to the sky in the Caucasus..."

Unfortunately Georgia also plays a more prominent role in the games this year.

:(

[DCBob]

37. "resistance so far.. light" , "caught the insurgents on the hoof", "completely dislocated"..

From the Times..

Major General Nick Carter, commander of Nato troops in southern Afghanistan, said Operation Moshtarak was launched "without a single hitch" following a series of overnight US air strikes on region in Helmand province. "We’ve caught the insurgents on the hoof, and they’re completely dislocated," he said in a briefing at the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah. General Sher Mohammad Zazai, commander of Afghan troops in the south, said Operaration Moshtarak had established positions in 11 of 13 targeted areas in and around Marjah. Taleban resistance so far was light, he said.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/afghanistan/article7026049.ece

Looks like this will be over very quickly.. thank goodness.

[G_j]

38. one can hope it's over quickly

but this is Afghanistan

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/13/operation-moshtarak-taliban-surge

<snip>
Allied forces took Marjah in the past but were unable to hold it. Cowan said this time the coalition forces would stay and "establish security".

On Thursday the Afghan interior minister, Hanif Atmar, flew to Lashkar Gah to reassure 300 elders. He promised that 1,000 police officers would be posted to the town once the operation was over.
<snip>

[DCBob]

39. A good sign is that there are alot more Afghan solders involved this time..

About 60% are Afghan.. Hopefully this means we can get the hell out of there once the major operations are done and then turn it over to the Afghans.

[Mari333]

40. many CEOs will be very happy and become very wealthy now

the civilians and soldiers that will be blown to bits, and their families, will be destroyed.

there is no justification for this.

and the MSM will remain silent.

god forgive us.

[G_j]

42. "without a hitch"

I love the way military reports on itself.

I haven't heard specifically about "embedded" reporters. I suppose they brought a long a few.

Someone brought up Fallujah upthread. That memory gives me a chill.

[G_j]

43. phase 4

"heart & minds"

has that ever worked?

[Lothrop]

44. War crimes

Plain and simple.

More brutality from the Empire.

[G_j]

45. I hate this shit!

watching the smoke and destruction on CNN.

does anyone really care anymore?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

46. "They make a desert and call it peace." - Tacitus K&R

[G_j]

47. good quote

:hi: