Article

2009-07-02 Afghanistan

U.S. Marines launch assault in S.Afghan valley

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by tu3031 2009-07-02 00:00|| || Front Page|| [1 views ] Top

#1 Basra Part Deux

Thousands of British forces, fighting under NATO command, have been in Helmand since 2006 with broadly the same strategy, but security has deteriorated. They have met with stronger resistance than initially expected against Taliban fighters bankrolled by the vast opium and heroin trade.

Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2009-07-02 03:47|| 2009-07-02 03:47|| Front Page Top

#2 word on Fox was that the Talibs have grabbed a US soldier. My prayers taht he gets out whole and alive and the turbans eat painful death

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2009-07-02 09:41|| 2009-07-02 09:41|| Front Page Top

#3 There has bot to be a story behind this one Frank, and I fear not a very good one.

Posted by Besoeker 2009-07-02 09:46|| 2009-07-02 09:46|| Front Page Top

#4 US: American soldier captured in Afghanistan
Insurgents have captured an American soldier in eastern Afghanistan, the U.S. military said Thursday.

Spokeswoman Capt. Elizabeth Mathias said the soldier went missing Tuesday.

"We are using all of our resources to find him and provide for his safe return," Mathias said.

Mathias did not provide details on the soldier, the location where he was captured or the circumstances.

"We are not providing further details to protect the soldier's well-being," she said.

An Afghan police official said the soldier went missing during the day Tuesday in the Mullakheil area of eastern Paktika province. Gen. Nabi Mullakheil said there is an American base in the area.

Posted by ed 2009-07-02 09:49|| 2009-07-02 09:49|| Front Page Top

#5 If he is still alive then probably in Pakistan by now.

Posted by ed 2009-07-02 09:51|| 2009-07-02 09:51|| Front Page Top

#6 Fox just reported he's "been missing for 3 days" and was "outside the wire with three indig." Bad smell to it, very bad.

Posted by Besoeker 2009-07-02 10:04|| 2009-07-02 10:04|| Front Page Top

#7 I wonder if this is a repeat of the episode in Iraq when a Lebanese immigrant US soldier essentially defected and went back to Lebanon.

Posted by ed 2009-07-02 10:08|| 2009-07-02 10:08|| Front Page Top

#8 Saw in the paper this a.m. that Gen. Nicholson said the marines were going to build and live in small outposts among the local population. He said: "We're going to be with the people. We're not going to drive to work. We're going to walk to work."

O.K. to try to win the "hearts and minds" but such policies may lead to more kidnappings.

Posted by JohnQC 2009-07-02 10:36|| 2009-07-02 10:36|| Front Page Top

#9 Are the Marines operating under the new ROE here, or are there special tougher ROE in force for such an operation?

If it's the former then the Taliban could just hide behind ~~illegal combatants pretending to be~~ civilians and be safe.

Posted by Crinelet Thegum2264 2009-07-02 12:52|| 2009-07-02 12:52|| Front Page Top

23:59 trailing wife
23:52 trailing wife
23:43 trailing wife
23:40 Mullah Richard
23:39 Jumbo Slinerong5015
23:03 Old Patriot
22:59 Broadhead6
22:56 Old Patriot
22:53 Old Patriot
22:43 Barbara Skolaut
22:24 SteveS
22:16 ed
22:15 JohnQC
22:12 ed
22:11 Frank G
22:04 Barbara Skolaut
21:37 Glenmore
21:23 anymouse
21:13 CrazyFool
21:03 CrazyFool
20:42 no mo uro
20:36 no mo uro
20:35 Frank G
20:30 crosspatch