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| Afghanistan |
| Fracture In Taliban Forces Reported By Canadians |
| 2006-06-28 |
| Taliban fighters have had a falling-out in one of their strongest mountain redoubts in northern Kandahar province, with one faction apparently prepared to give up the fight against Canadian combat forces deployed in the area, coalition officials say. "What I'm seeing is very positive here. There has been a split in the local leadership," said Lt.-Col. Ian Hope, commander of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry battle group. "There are indications that one group does not want to fight any more. There have been yelling matches with words that are not characteristic in the culture. That is tremendous for the people here and has really boosted our morale." The Canadian battle group is wrapping up its part in Operation Mountain Thrust, which has been the biggest coalition offensive in Afghanistan in more than four years. The operation has involved Canadian, American, British and Dutch forces moving into remote Taliban-held areas across Afghanistan's four southern provinces to counter a large and violent push by Taliban insurgents infiltrating back into the country from Pakistan. The offensive has been backed by U.S. air power including B-1 and B-52 bombers. "The Taliban are literally watching us all the time, but they are unable to mount co-ordinated attacks," said Maj. Kirk Gallinger of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, PPCLI. "They are very cognizant that they cannot meet our force with force. We are convinced the days of the Taliban are over. Every now and then they do something that the media thinks is spectacular. They are a threat and a security issue, but they run from us. While there has been no fighting between Canadians and the Taliban in northern Kandahar recently, Hope said that Panjwai, an agricultural area just to the west of Kandahar City, remained "the main centre for Taliban now. That's where their numbers are." Canadian troops have already been involved in several deadly battles with the Taliban in Panjwai's labyrinthine orchards and vineyards. Commanders have indicated they will return there as often as necessary to deal with the Taliban threat. As Hope spoke, some of his troops provided security during a joint Canadian-American medical clinic in the Meinshin District, about 100 kilometres northeast of Kandahar City. The area has long been one of the greatest hotbeds of Taliban activity and support. Meinshin's deeply conservative Islamic traditions, which underscore why it has been a good refuge for the Taliban, were much in evidence Tuesday. All 167 patients seen by military doctors, nurses and medics in the village of Zamto Kalay were boys and men. It was the same story two days ago when a similar Canadian-American clinic in neighbouring Gombad saw 469 boys and men and no women. "Unfortunately, the women are reluctant to come out in some communities. In such places, no amount of coaxing can change that," said Maj. Tony Littrell, a U.S. army epidemiologist from the Special Operations Command. As well as receiving de-worming medicine, the boys were given oral polio vaccine supplied by the United Nations. As part of the charm offensive, all boys and men also lugged away goody bags stuffed with items such as shovels, rice, cooking oil, groundsheets, pots and wind-up radios. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #6 Dang...I thought this Taleban push to retake the 3 southern provinces, and then the country was paralyzing the coalition...er, the US effort? That's what I have been reading in the NYTLATREUTERSCNNMSNBCCBSNBCABCAP. |
| Posted by: anymouse 2006-06-28 22:41 |
| #5 Hurrah for the Princess Pats! |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-06-28 18:48 |
| #4 All 167 patients seen by military doctors, nurses and medics in the village of Zamto Kalay were boys and men. It was the same story two days ago when a similar Canadian-American clinic in neighbouring Gombad saw 469 boys and men and no women. So, why didn't they have female doctors seeing female patients in a segregated area? Oh, let me guess...it wouldn't look good if it was written up in the New York Times. Accessory to discrimination, and all that. Better that we should feel good about ourselves. |
| Posted by: gromky 2006-06-28 16:50 |
| #3 Every now and then they do something that the media thinks is spectacular. Didn't take them long to figure the MSM out. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-06-28 16:36 |
| #2 You've got to hand it to the Canadians. They've really hammered them with the help of the USAF. If any group of Talibs surrender, they should be hauled into Kabul to sign some papers in front of the Press. It's about time those treacherous media dicks learnt who's winning this war. |
| Posted by: Apostate 2006-06-28 16:28 |
| #1 Fracture In Taliban Forces Reported By Canadians Here's hoping it's a compound fracture with lots of splintering. |
| Posted by: Xbalanke 2006-06-28 15:17 |