Truemors
is reporting from
Member
NP Rank:
NP Rank:
Operation Khanjar 'Strike of the Sword' Largest Op Since Vietnam
Share:
by Tina Kells | July 2, 2009 at 12:28 pm
1148 views | 6 Recommendations | 1 comment
Operation Khanjar, meaning Operation Strike of the Sword, will last 36 hours, involve 4,650 fighters and 50 aircraft, making it the largest Marine offensive airlift op since the Vietnam War 34 years ago. Operation Khanjar is the fastest and biggest military assault since conflict in Afghanistan began in 2001.
Other than the sheer size of the offensive there are some key differences between previous US assaults in Afghanistan and Operation Khanjar. The US has not used artillery and is taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of civilians. This is in keeping with the policies of the Obama administration and the mandate of the new command in Afghanistan.
The US troops deployed in Operation Khanjar will stay behind to patrol the area and ensure the safety of the region once the offensive is complete. This is perhaps the biggest difference between Operation Khanjar and previous US offensives in Afghanistan. Ironically, it is this continued presence in Afghanistan that has critics most concerned.
Operation Khanjar is the largest Marine airlift offensive since the Vietnam War. When the US declared war on terror in 2001as part of Operation Enduring Freedom it also declared war on Afghanistan. The withdraw of US troops from Iraq was met with the bittersweet realization that this would free up troops to up the US effort in Afghanistan.
The US wasted no time in launching a major offensive in Afghanistan, less than 24 hours after officially pulling out of Iraq. The timing of Operation Khanjar, along with the size of the assault have people fearing that another Vietnam-type conflict may be brewing with this "Strike of the Sword."
Deploying about 50 aircraft, the air and land assault would push troops into insurgent strongholds in what officers on the ground said was the biggest offensive airlift by the Marines since Vietnam.
"What makes Operation Khanjar different from those that have occurred before is the massive size of the force introduced, the speed at which it will insert," Brigadier General Larry Nicholson said in a Marine statement.
It would also see the troops remain in place "and where we stay, we will hold, build and work toward transition of all security responsibilities to Afghan forces," said Nicholson, MEB commanding general in Afghanistan.
What is NowPublic?
NowPublic lets people work together to cover news events around the world.
Recommendations (6)
Noel Jameel Abdullah
phoenix, Arizona, United States
Roy C
Vancouver, Washington, United States
albertacowpoke
Canada
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (1)
at 19:44 on July 2nd, 2009
The next few days to a week will show how successful this is. The Taliban are known to adapt quickly to new situations. They are also known not to fight at night, which may have limited the number of casualties during this air assault.
US troops must now ensure the local population that they can provide a safe and secure enviroment.
That they are protected from Taliban backlashes for collaborating with NATO troops
they must make life better by quickly starting reconstruction
and secure the area to allow UN and NGO support to provide aid
This will be a difficult task, Hellmand and Khandahar Province are the most difficult areas in the country and the Home of the Taliban. How do you differentiate a Taliban sympathiser from a peace loving villager? (a combatant/insurgent from a civilian). The shot answer is You Don't.
The biggest threat to NATO troops is not the battle with the Taliban, but IEDs, car bombs and suicide bombers.
Just a few of my thoughts on this subject.