Day 2 Operation Khanjar - Marines enter key centres in Helmand

by albertacowpoke | July 3, 2009 at 04:44 am

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Marines began to secure key centres in Helmand on Friday. Operation Khanjar which aims at pushing out the Taliban entered Day 2.

Neither US or NATO troops have operated in this area in large numbers. As Day 2 started U.S. and Afghanistan National Army troops secured Nawa and Garmser and negotiated entry into Khan Neshgin, the capital of the Rig District.

There have been no big battles with the Taliban, who seem to be laying low. They can easily blend into the civilian population.

The Taliban, earlier in this conflict tried to fight NATO troops but found that this was a battle they couldn't win because of superiority of weaponry.

NATO troops can achieve a stand off with longer range weapons as long as they stay out of mortar and RPG range of the Taliban.

The biggest danger for US troops, who have set the goal of winning the Hearts and Minds of the local population are:

Small unit Ambush;

Improvised Explosive Devices;

Car Bombs; and

Suicide Bombers.

Since the Taliban can easily hide in the local population, the challenge for NATO troops will be winning the trust of locals, including the guarantee of a secure and safe enviroment, free of Taliban retribution.

It is anticipated that platoon sized units will remain in villages, working with local tribal leaders. This is very much the tactics used in Bosnia, which brought similar challenges.

Unlike Bosnia, which involved all of NATO in the peacemaking effort, the US, Canada, the UK and handful of other nations will carry the brunt of the burden here.

The challenges are huge and a delicate approach with the population will be required. General McChrystal (Commander ISAF) has recently issued a tactical directive which emphasizes the safey of civilians.

"They spend one night in the village and then move onto another village, just as you guys," Nabi said.
"They waited for the local and village elders," outside Khan Neshin and "with their permission they went in and now are engaged in talks," Pelletier said.

As the Marines in the village of Nawa sat for a meeting with a group of 20 Afghan men and boys who were squatting on dirt ground, they listened as list of their concerns came in a form of questions.

"Are you going to enter our houses?" asked 25-year old Mohammad Nabi, who was there with five of his younger brothers. "We are afraid that you will leave, and the Taliban will come back," he said. And they all described the police as predatory thieves not to be trusted.

Marine officers tried to reassure those around them they will not enter their houses and are here to stay throughout their deployment.

In a display of deep misunderstandings that any foreigner is at pains to overcome, an elder with a gray beard asked the Marines whether they will stop them saying prayers.

In describing the Taliban, they compared them to Americans.

How Canadian Troops are trained for Afghanistan

US Offensive meets little Taliban Resistance

U.S. forces began to secure key centres in Afghanistan's Helmand province on Friday as a new offensive aimed at pushing out the Taliban entered its second day.

Nearly 4,000 U.S. marines and 650 Afghan forces moved into southern Afghanistan early Thursday under the cover of darkness as part Operation Khanjar.

Transport helicopters carried marines into the village of Nawa, about 30 kilometres south of the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah, in a region where no U.S. or other NATO troops have previously operated in large numbers.

As the operation entered its second day on Friday, the units secured control of the district centres of Nawa and Garmser, and negotiated entry into Khan Neshin, the capital of Rig district, said marine spokesman Capt. Bill Pelletier.

1 killed

Though there have not yet been any big battles, one marine was killed Thursday and several were wounded, U.S. military officials said. No further details were provided.

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Rhonda J Mangus

at 04:46 on July 3rd, 2009

Thanks for following this story, albertacowpoke.

albertacowpoke

at 04:48 on July 3rd, 2009

You're very welcome.

Paschen

at 05:22 on July 3rd, 2009

Thank you for the update ACP.

albertacowpoke

at 05:35 on July 3rd, 2009

You're very welcome Paschen:)

amyjudd

at 09:08 on July 3rd, 2009

Thank you for this update on what is happening.

albertacowpoke

at 09:27 on July 3rd, 2009

Thanks for your comments. I have posted your link with the main story. Thanks for this.

Roy C

at 11:28 on July 3rd, 2009

Actually, since the Roman Empire and before, the capacity to project power is at the core of the problem.

The Germans simply retreated into the woods, resisting, for better or worse (I pick worse) Romanization.

The Afghan fighters did the same to the Russian invaders, retreating into Pakistan where the US fed, clothed, housed and re-armed them, but the Russians were on the verge of winning until the shoulder-fired Stinger (?) missile kept Soviet gunships too high off the ground and too far away to do the damage necessary.

This retreat into an area where resistance can be continued is important. The Vietnamese lost every major battle but were resupplied by China and the Warsaw Pact and continued fighting.

The problem for the Taliban is that they are very poor and have no infrastructure. This means that if the money from opium cultivation were stopped, they wouldn't have the means to continue.

Surrounded by a now hostile Pakistani army that realizes it must fight for its life, there would be no real retreat for the Taliban and no means to resupply them with food, clothing and shelter, let alone arms.

So, I am not sure that the Taliban have all the traditional ducks of asymmetric warfare lined up to their advantage.

albertacowpoke

at 12:47 on July 3rd, 2009

Your analysis is logical. The success and failure of the Taliban depends on their flexibility to adjust, the adaptation of American (NATO) troops to this new strategy and the financial support the Taliban can muster.

The outcome in Pakistan obviously plays a major role as well. I think there are a lot of factors that are still unknown.

The Taliban have shown a talent to adapt to various scenarios and are able to readjust to new situations. Has their time run out? That is the $64 question.