WE do not get much news from Afghanistan while the Lawyer-fest is in full bloom…..so I feel that we need to keep abreast of where our troops are asked to die.
This region has been calm for awhile…well at least in the news but otherwise it remains the same……..
The short video begins by showing the jihadists preparing for the military raid and driving through a remote Afghan village. A clash with Afghan forces, the majority which occurred at night, is featured. During the aftermath of the assault, a fighter is seen climbing a tower to place the Taliban’s white flag. Fighters are then seen parading and celebrating with captured equipment. This includes several captured US-made Humvees.
In recent months the Taleban has made great strides in Afghanistan and now the Marines are trying to turn back those successes…..
US Marines have been operating in Helmand Province nearly through the entire Afghan War. This area was the center of the capture-and-hold strategy for years. But Taliban gains are mounting in recent years, and they control more territory than any other time in the war.
US Marines are being sent back to Helmand and the surrounding area with a familiar goal, retake all those Helmand districts they used to hold. That may not be as easy as it used to be for US troops.
Afghan forces around Helmand are more and more limited, and under growing pressure. Much of the Marines’ focus is defending those allies. Officials are trying to put a positive spin on that, saying they can improve intelligence sharing from the Afghans.
But those Afghans are always under pressure, and that means that a lot of Marines will be stuck dealing with that, with few left to try to retake territory. The soaring amount of territory the Taliban is contesting also means that, while trying to reclaim districts, the Marines are racing to try to gain more than the Afghans lose.
(antiwar.com)
I will try to keep my reader up-to-date on our troops and they are asked to do in the name of freedom.
Helmand is an unwinnable place. The Soviets couldn’t hold it, the British went back and forth, as did the US troops. Time to leave Afghanistan to its own destiny, I reckon.
Best wishes, Pete.
Brings the Einstein quote to mind….chuq
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