Taliban Loses Grip on Last Major Town

[Gunny]

By TAIMOOR SHAH and ABDUL WAHEED WAFA
Published: December 11, 2007

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Dec. 10 — Afghan and NATO troops retook the town of Musa Qala in southern Afghanistan on Monday, forcing the Taliban to withdraw from the only sizable town they hold in the country, Afghan and NATO officials said. There was no clear picture of casualties, but the Taliban and civilians said there had been heavy bombardment overnight.

The news came as Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain made a surprise visit to Afghanistan and met with President Hamid Karzai. About 7,000 British troops are deployed in Helmand Province, in southern Afghanistan. Retaking Musa Qala, which they abandoned more than a year ago, has been one of their main objectives in the province, which has the highest level of Taliban activity as well as illicit opium production.

Wali Muhammad, police chief of the neighboring district, Sangin, said Afghan and NATO forces entered the town at 2 p.m. after heavy fighting. “The Taliban are gone,” he said. “They faced humiliation and heavy casualties.”

more ... http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/11/w...e25d9ed19a7199&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

They'll run across the border to Laos ... errr ... Pakistan and regroup where we can't get to them.

 

[CSM]

They'll run across the border to Laos ... errr ... Pakistan and regroup where we can't get to them.

Hmmm...perhaps our enemies learn from our mistakes!

 

[Gunny]

Hmmm...perhaps our enemies learn from our mistakes!

I would have NO problem supporting locating their camps, crossing the border, hammering them, then just leaving.

 

[CSM]

I would have NO problem supporting locating their camps, crossing the border, hammering them, then just leaving.

That works for me! A few precision strikes here and there might have some pretty good effects.

 

[Alpha1]

Seems like only a couple of weeks ago they were in control of 54% of the country....

 

[Gunny]

Seems like only a couple of weeks ago they were in control of 54% of the country....

Which is a technically true, but misleading point. This article is about control of cities. The article you cite is about control of uninhabited areas.

Both can in fact be true. The article you cite was just propaganda to paint the coalition effort as a failure. Who cares if they occupy the Area 51 of Afghanistan?

 

[CSM]

Which is a technically true, but misleading point. This article is about control of cities. The article you cite is about control of uninhabited areas.

Both can in fact be true. The article you cite was just propaganda to paint the coalition effort as a failure. Who cares if they occupy the Area 51 of Afghanistan?

The aliens care (or whatever is the Afghan equivalent).

It is my opinion that no matter where or what, the media MUST paint the situation in the most dire light. How the heck can you sell acne cures if you do not claim EVERYONE is subject to terminal acne?

 

[Gunny]

The aliens care (or whatever is the Afghan equivalent).

It is my opinion that no matter where or what, the media MUST paint the situation in the most dire light. How the heck can you sell acne cures if you do not claim EVERYONE is subject to terminal acne?

The only thing the media has a cure for is individual thought.