In Afghanistan, Marines Begin Assault On Taliban

Team Infidel

Forum Spin Doctor
USA Today
April 29, 2008
Pg. 6
By Paul Wiseman, USA Today
CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan — Hundreds of U.S. Marines launched an assault early today against a Taliban sanctuary in southern Afghanistan's lawless Helmand province.
The operation marks the first combat operation of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, based at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, since it started arriving in Afghanistan more than a month ago. About 3,000 Marines are adding muscle to a 40-nation NATO force short of manpower against an intensifying Taliban insurgency.
The Taliban, toppled from power almost seven years ago by U.S. and allied forces for sheltering Osama bin Laden, is now fighting to overthrow the pro-U.S. government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for Sunday's assassination attempt against Karzai during a military ceremony in Kabul that killed three people. The attack was a brazen sign of the Taliban's ability to sow terror across the country and illustrated the fragility of the Afghan government.
The Marines bring experience fighting insurgents that was earned in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006 and 2007. "These are not kids," says their commander, Col. Peter Petronzio. "Most of them are on their second or third deployment."
Their first task is daunting: Clear the Taliban out of a patch of southern Helmand, where it's been operating with impunity for more than a year. British troops, part of the NATO force, could use the help. More than 7,000 British soldiers have been tied up fighting the Taliban in northern Helmand province.
In the southern part of the province, an overstretched company of 120 British troops is hunkered down near the Helmand River in the market town of Garmsir. The Taliban control most of the town; the bazaar has been closed for months because of fighting. Across the river, the Taliban run free to the Pakistan border 110 miles away.
The operation this morning has "been going smooth," says U.S. Marine Maj. Tom Clinton, executive officer of the Marines' infantry battalion. But the situation could change by afternoon, he says: "It could go from a walk in the park to something ugly."
The Marines are entering an area lush with opium poppies. The Marines don't want to antagonize the local population by joining U.S.-backed efforts to destroy the crop. "We're not coming to eradicate poppy," Clinton says. "We're coming to clear the Taliban.''
Clinton believes there are 50 to 100 Taliban fighters in the area, led by a mid-level commander — someone equal to Marine platoon leader. He expected the Taliban leadership to flee as soon as the shooting starts, leaving the rank and file behind to fight.
If successful, the Marines will clear the way for NATO forces to move south of Garmsir and deeper into Helmand and will disrupt Taliban escape routes to safe havens across the border in Pakistan.
Clinton expected the operation to last about two weeks, depending on how much resistance the Marines meet. "It would be naive to think the enemy didn't know we're coming," Clinton says.
After all, long convoys of Marine Humvees and cargo trucks have been turning up the dust, carrying ammunition, food, water and fuel.
Before today, the Marines had few glimpses of the enemy. On patrols outside the compound, Gunnery Sgt. Javier Duarte, 34, of Miami spotted men watching the Marines from pickups. When he maneuvered his Humvees into attack position, the trucks took off.
Lt. John Branson, 25, of Washington, D.C., says the Marines shouldn't underestimate an enemy that has spent decades fighting — against Soviet invaders in the '80s, against other Afghans in a civil war during the '90s and against U.S., NATO and Afghan government forces since 2001.
"Most of the people we're going to be fighting have been fighting for 30 years," he says. "The stupid ones are dead."
 
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