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| Afghanistan |
| US-led offensives strike terror among local Afghans |
| 2010-02-20 |
| [Iran Press TV Latest] Afghan civilians based in the south flee in droves from the US-led offensives that are reported to be taking their toll on the local population and their sources of livelihood. I wonder which grunt unit Iran Press TV's guy is embedded with? The 'Operation Moshtarak' has enlisted 15 thousand troops against the Taliban militants in the Helmand province. The campaign is allegedly intended to purge the militant strongholds of Marjah and Nad-e-Ali and establish Afghan governance. The offensives have rendered thousands homeless. Marjah villagers are currently heading on foot towards the neighboring city of Lashkar Gah, Reuters reported. "There was fighting going on in our village, helicopters and planes were bombing our village, all our crops were destroyed whether it was wheat or poppy," said Jan Mohammad who has been forced to leave his home. Nick Carter, the British commander of NATO forces in southern Afghanistan, meanwhile, said it could be some three months before one could say the US-led alliance has succeeded at all. "The government is saying that the operation is to take 3 mouths. If this operation is going to continue for two more months people will not be able to go to their villages and our crops will be destroyed," the Afghan civilian added. "...there was fighting every where, all the roads were closed, we have walked a long way," another displaced person, Haji Abdul Rahim, was quoted as saying. Lieutenant Colonel, Martin Moore, however, claimed, "...The situation is great, we did our first combat logistic patrol today and it went very well, I was on the ground myself. I think the freedom is pretty apparent and actually the atmosphere has been very good, I think the patrol went very well, we were well protected, the locals there were very pleased to see us." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #4 If only... |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2010-02-20 13:27 |
| #3 taking their toll on the local population and their sources of livelihood. Their sources of livelihood were 1) providing shelter & sustenance to the Taliban, and 2) growing opium. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2010-02-20 09:09 |
| #2 "What? You mean we shouldn't have let the Taliban live with us for years? Was that bad?" |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2010-02-20 08:28 |
| #1 Civilians based? hmmmmmmm I'd venture it's not the same unit as Michael Yon. "rendered thousands homeless"? Holy mackerel, has Ronald Reagan risen from the dead? heh Yeah, well, too bad about the poppy there jan. |
| Posted by: Last Breath Farm Resident 2010-02-20 05:26 |