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Afghanistan
Shah-i-Kot looks like a victory
2002-03-12
  • U.S. and Afghan troops are mopping up a shrinking force of al Qaeda fighters blasted by more than 2,500 bombs in the eastern Afghan mountains but the 11-day battle is not over. "Much fewer in number, al Qaeda forces are still holed-up in small pockets scattered throughout the area," Air Force Brig. Gen. John Rosa told reporters. "Operation Anaconda continues. In the last 24 hours we have flown more than 180 sorties over Afghanistan and dropped more than 100 bombs, bringing the total bombs dropped in this operation to more than 2,500... I wouldn't characterize it as being over ... there is still work to be done." Most of the more than 40 caves in the area had not been searched for remnants of up to 800 or more guerrillas believed to have regrouped there two weeks ago.

    "We have started, but are nowhere near completing entering the large majority of those caves ... With the booby traps, with the land mines, with the unexpended ordnance, we have got to go very slow, very calculating, very carefully." But a senior Afghan general said U.S. and Afghan troops had overrun Taliban and al Qaeda rebels around Shah-i-Kot on Tuesday, sending them fleeing toward Pakistan and effectively ending the biggest battle of the Afghan war.
    It's not over, but it's down to mopping up. That means it's a victory. Never bitch about victory, even though you're learning from any mistakes you made.
    • Posted by:Fred Pruitt

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