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| Afghanistan/South Asia | |||||||||||
| U.S. Forces Set Up Hunting Camp | |||||||||||
| 2004-03-23 | |||||||||||
| EFL: Using bulldozers to slice bunkers and a helicopter landing pad out of a mountainside, U.S. special operations forces dug in Tuesday on a peak overlooking Pakistan - fortifying the area for the intensifying battle against al-Qaida and Taliban forces. Remote posts like this one near the Afghan city of Orgun, scratched out of a mountainside to house a small contingent of U.S. forces and a larger Afghan militia unit, serve as forward launch pads for the fight.
Village elders in this hamlet of 45 families in Paktika province said the Americans arrived 18 days ago with Afghan militia. The camp is home to 60 Americans, working with 200 Afghan militia, the Afghan militiamen say. The Westerners wear T-shirts and sunglasses, and most sport beards and mustaches, with pistols strapped to their legs. Rank and file U.S. soldiers must remain in uniform and are banned from growing beards, but special operations forces are not subject to the same regulations.
Villagers see the Americans out building their base and patrolling, at times with allied Afghan militia - helping close the border against what villagers say are frequent incursions by al-Qaida and Taliban. The U.S. military says its forces also are sharing information with Pakistani troops across the border - intelligence typically coming everywhere from satellites to intercepted radio calls.
On Tuesday, the Americans were erecting 100 yards of wire fence along the border beside their base. They also dug holes, which will become bunkers, to live in while their Afghan allies put up tents. Workers used construction equipment to level a helipad.
Americans around the camp refused to speak to AP. Relaying their request through Afghan militiamen, they eventually asked the reporter to leave, saying no journalists were allowed in the area.
The U.S. military as a matter of policy does not comment on special operations. But asked about buildup along the Afghan-Pakistan border in the area, U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty said: "We do have some positions that are constantly changing. We are constantly rearranging." On the Pakistan side, President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has said about a dozen U.S. "technical experts" are in his country. Some are located across the border from the special operations post in Miran Shah, Pakistani intelligence officials told AP. Last week, a Pakistani army spokesman, Gen. Shaukat Sultan, said a dozen or so U.S. intelligence agents were in the country "assisting Pakistan in technical intelligence and surveillance." The CIA declined to comment.
Afghan villagers near the new post said they welcomed the U.S. crackdown, saying they have come under a growing cross-border rocket barrage from Pakistan. "So many rockets. We are living in fear of rockets," said shopkeeper Shawar Khan in Sisandi, a village near the U.S. encampment.
Both sides of the border around Miran Shah have come under repeated rocket attacks by militants hoping to hit U.S. or Afghan military posts. Authorities blame al-Qaida fugitives and allied Pakistan tribesmen. Taliban fighters are believed to be hiding in the mountains as well.
No uniformed American forces have been seen in recent days along one of the front lines in the U.S. campaign against terror suspects based in Pakistan's North and South Waziristan, locals say.
Across the border and about 45 miles to the south, in South Waziristan, Pakistan's military has arrested scores Village leaders say Taliban and al-Qaida attackers cross the border at will. Asked for proof, they laughed, as if there could be no doubt. "Everyone can come easily into Afghanistan. Everyone can go easily into Pakistan," said Mohammed Khan, another shopkeeper in Sisandi. "There are no Afghan checkpoints."
"For 2 1/2 years, they are coming and attacking" from Waziristan, said Shawar Khan. "That's why in this area, there are no schools, there's no health clinics, there's no development. Everyone is afraid to come to our area." Since the Americans' arrival, villagers have stayed inside after dark, saying the U.S. security outweighed the inconvenience of the curfew.
The U.S. and Afghan forces have closed this part of the border, at least, to any attacks, Mohammed Khan said. "Right now, from this area, it's impossible that anyone can come," the villager said. "But it's a huge border." | |||||||||||
| Posted by:Steve |
| #13 nothing against the buffs but I'd prefer an AC-130 or two in proximity |
| Posted by: hairofthedawg 2004-3-23 11:41:36 PM |
| #12 Be vewy,vewy quit,we'er hunting Roberts. |
| Posted by: Raptor 2004-3-23 8:17:14 PM |
| #11 Want some more? Surah 5: The Table Spread 44. It was We who revealed the Torah (to Moses): therein was guidance and light. By its standard have been judged the Jews, by the prophets who bowed (as in Islám) to Allah's will, by the rabbis and the doctors of law: for to them was entrusted the protection of Allah's book, and they were witnesses thereto: therefore fear not men, but fear Me, and sell not My signs for a miserable price. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are unbelievers. 45. We ordained therein for them: "Life for life, eye for eye, nose or nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal." But if any one remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for himself. And if any fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are wrong-doers. 46. And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the Torah that had come before him: We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light, and confirmation of the Torah that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah. 47. Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) those who rebel. By your own holy writings are the retaliatory actions of the Israelis upheld. You slaughter their people with the misled children of misfortune, and they respond âLife for life, eye for eye, nose or nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal.â |
| Posted by: cingold 2004-3-23 8:06:17 PM |
| #10 Oh, and here's one that should really make your head spin. Ready for this? Surah 2: The Heifer 62. Those who believe (in the Qurán), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. |
| Posted by: cingold 2004-3-23 7:59:58 PM |
| #9 Musharaff is nothing but a stooge of U.S. Only a fool makes war in their own house -- Oh wait, thatâs what the Islamofacists did to Musharaff. Check, Islamofascists are fools! No surprise here. You take a religion and turn it into a cult that allows you to aggress against the very Children of the Book that the religion is supposed to honor. What do you do with: We believe in Allah, and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ismaâil, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in (the Books) given to Moses, Jesus, and the prophets, from their Lord: We make no distinction between one and another among them, and to Allah do we bow our will (in Islam). [ALR, 260 (3:84)]? |
| Posted by: cingold 2004-3-23 7:36:54 PM |
| #8 "Robert" - I hope Perv got the message and cleans house - your Jihadi-lovin ISI need the cig/blindfold routine |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-3-23 7:26:57 PM |
| #7 Carl, as Mark Steyn would say, we're into month 28 in awaiting the arrival of that 'brutal Afghan winter." |
| Posted by: Jen 2004-3-23 3:32:05 PM |
| #6 Be wery, wery qwiet. We're hunting wabbits. Carl, these are Spec Ops. It ain't cold until it's Antarctic cold. |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2004-3-23 3:30:26 PM |
| #5 "The Westerners wear T-shirts and sunglasses" In the Afghanistan mountains, in March. Some brutal winter, hah ? |
| Posted by: Carl in N.H 2004-3-23 3:15:47 PM |
| #4 "Rabbit Season!" "Duck Season!" "Rabbit Season!" "Duck Season!" "Taliban Season!" "Fire!" |
| Posted by: Mike 2004-3-23 3:13:24 PM |
| #3 Any bets on there being other firebases being setup along the border? |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2004-3-23 3:10:16 PM |
| #2 Musharaff is nothing but a stooge of U.S. He has compromised the security of Pakistan by using Paksitan Army for U.S. interest....Unfortunately pakistan have no General man enough to question Musharaff |
| Posted by: robert 2004-3-23 3:09:15 PM |
| #1 Americans around the camp refused to speak to AP. Relaying their request through Afghan militiamen, they eventually asked the reporter to leave, saying no journalists were allowed in the area. Probably my cynicism, but sounds like the reporter was hoping for a more 'enthusiastic' ejection. I suppose we should be glad it was the AP. If it were Reuters, there'd probably be base/building dimensions, ranges from possible firing points, etc. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2004-3-23 3:05:36 PM |