I do realise that I was a Sgt Cook in the army and that offensives were never part of my duties. However we were always taught that in war Never discuss anything you may know or hear of with regards to offensive actions or indeed defensive actions. In other words the less the enemy knows the better.
Well it seems that a political twist has been injected into the NATO plans to attack the taliban in and around the city of Marjah, This was announced two full weeks ago.The hope was that the citizens living in and around this community of 80 plus thousand, would stock up on food water etc in their homes and compounds , so that they would not be outside during the forthcoming battle.
This according to the CNN analysts. What has happened is a vast outpouring of refugees from this area.
Now the taliban could choose one of two options. Run and fight another day or dig in set up ied's booby traps etc. As the area cannot be utilised by armoured vehicles. In my mind the latter will happen the taliban will stay and fight for their poppies, indeed using human shields. This enemy has no thought for human life.
This is the main story from CNN.
Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) --
NATO troops in Afghanistan were set to launch their biggest offensive of the war early Saturday, attacking what they call the last Taliban stronghold in a war-scarred southern province.Military officials said the offensive, dubbed Operation Moshtarak, was scheduled to be under way at 2 a.m. (4:30 p.m. ET Friday)Some of about 15,000 troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Afghanistan and Canada were to attack Taliban targets in and around Marjah, a city of 80,000 to 100,000 where the Taliban have set up a shadow government, coalition military authorities said.The coalition says its troops expect to confront up to 1,000 entrenched Taliban fighters.
It expects foreign Taliban fighters to battle to the death but is prepared for local Taliban members in Marjah to try to escape.We will follow the enemies and bring them to justice, said Gen. Mohiyiden Ghori of the Afghan National Army.
In the past few days, forces from Afghanistan, Britain and other nations have conducted air and ground operations to prepare for the assault and dropped leaflets in and around Marjah, warning residents not to allow the Taliban to enter their homes.
The allies had been unusually vocal in describing their plans for the assault.I think there's a certain strength in the Pashtunwali culture just from laying it out there in saying, 'Hey, we are coming. Deal with it,' U.S. Marine Gen. Larry Nicholson has said.Some of the 30,000 additional U.S. troops whom President Obama sent to Afghanistan will take part in the fight.The goal is to force the Taliban from Marjah so that people there can live free of Taliban influence and drug traffickers in a province with a major source of the world's opium. It's an example of a U.S. strategy to focus on population centers and separate the Taliban from Afghan civilians.It's about the security of the population, not fighting down insurgent numbers
, British Gen. Gordon Messenger has said.About 3,000 U.S. Marines will be involved in the fight.The advance notice given to residents will help avert civilian casualties, a problem that has hurt the military's credibility among Afghans. They are also trying to get those Taliban who aren't hard-core to turn in themselves and their weapons.Reaching the battleground could be one of the biggest challenges for NATO and Afghan troops. It's a tough terrain hard to cross with tanks.
The town of Marjah is surrounded by a deadly ring of roadside bombs, military officials say.They say the Taliban has had months to plant bombs in the ground, most of them homemade mixes of ammonium nitrate, shrapnel fuel, salt or flour.Such bombs have caused about 80 percent of the deaths in past fighting in Helmand province, military officials said. They are detonated remotely or by pressure plates.This is possibly the largest IED threat NATO has ever faced, Nicholson has said.Massive armored vehicles, called assault breacher vehicles, were to lead the charge into Marjah, coalition authorities said before the offensive.The tank-like vehicles can destroy roadside bombs.
US Marine Breachers
Even with their help, though, military officials have increased staff at the hospital at Camp Bastion, in the capital of Helmand province, in anticipation that roadside bombs would cause casualties. Troops also expect to encounter booby-trapped houses as well as fierce urban combat.
Breachers in Action.
May the Good Lord protect all of our NATO troops in this massive action. You have our prayers with you for a successful mission.
ADDENDUM 0950 ET SHAME on Canada POST
Mom says mail to her daughter serving overseas returned for insufficient postage THE CANADIAN PRESS
OROMOCTO, N.B. - A woman in Oromocto, N.B., says Canada Post has returned cards and letters sent to her daughter serving on HMCS Fredericton for insufficient postage.
Lorraine Robichaud says she has spoken to a member of the military at CFB Gagetown and has been told similar complaints have been received.
Canada Post announced last year that it was extending a program that allows family and friends of deployed troops and sailors to send letters free throughout 2010.
Robichaud says Canada Post has given her a case number and she has been told it will take a week to investigate her complaint.
She says member of the military like her daughter, who is aboard HMCS Fredericton off the Horn of Africa, look forward to mail from home and to have it returned is disheartening.
A spokesman for Canada Post could not be immediately reached for comment.
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
