ARmy Rumour SErvice

The fightback in Afghanistan begins
Published: July 2 2009 19:34 | Last updated: July 2 2009 19:34
Thursday’s operation by 4,000 US marines in southern Helmand marks the start of a critical new phase in America’s Afghan strategy. For years, western leaders have feared that Nato is losing the fight against the Taliban, that the US-led operation is under-resourced, that President Hamid Karzai’s government is too weak. Now, hopefully, things are about to change. Barack Obama began as president making clear he wanted to devote more resources to Afghanistan, despatching 21,000 extra US troops to the country. In southern Helmand on Thursday, those troops began the fightback.

The Obama administration is right to have begun this full frontal assault on the Taliban’s strongholds. Of course, as Mr Obama recognises, many of Afghanistan’s problems can only be solved by action outside the military sphere. The security of the region depends on stability in Pakistan as much, if not more, than Afghanistan. Success in Afghanistan also depends on boosting civilian and humanitarian assistance from the west.
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http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/15c06d3a-6...0779e2340.html

On the ground: Forces donate supplies, celebrate mothers in Afghanistan

Source: Government of the United States of America
Date: 02 Jul 2009

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 2, 2009 – In an ongoing mission to provide support to the Afghan people, Afghan and coalition forces distributed humanitarian aid to several villages and a reconstruction team helped celebrate mothers in recent days in Afghanistan

Afghan commandos and coalition forces distributed much-needed school supplies and clothing to children near Chahar Asiab district in Kabul province June 29.

The commandos led the coordination and distribution efforts while coalition forces provided some of the school supplies and clothing for more than 100 children.

The Afghan-led force also conducted a key-leader engagement with village elders to discuss the needs of the village and security in the area.

Elsewhere, Afghan National Army commandos, assisted by coalition forces, delivered aid to villagers in Paktia province's Gardez district June 27.

The combined forces handed out about a dozen backpacks, blankets, radios, children's items, women's clothes and dental hygiene supplies to more than 300 villagers.

In Panjshir province, Nearly 150 women gathered for a celebration of Afghan mothers June 23 with guest speakers and a luncheon at the Astana Guest House in Bazarak district.

The event, organized by the Panjshir director of women's affairs, featured a series of speakers who highlighted the role of mothers in Afghan society. They also talked about the importance of education and offered a reminder to vote in the Aug. 20 presidential and provincial council elections.

Former Afghan judge, Rahila, who was recognized as "Panjshir's Woman of the Year," talked with the women about her role as a working mother and encouraged them to pay attention to the election and campaign process.

"I'm proud of the women here who are running for a position on the provincial council and I offer my support to them," Rahila said.

As a testament to women's advancement in Panjshir, seven local women are competing for three provincial council positions. Once elected, they serve four years and help determine the provincial development objectives of the government in areas such as economic, social, health, education and reconstruction.

"One of the highlights of this deployment has been attending events like this mother's day celebration where I've had the chance to interact with Panjshir's women," said Air Force Capt. Stacie Shafran, a member of the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team, who has served a mentor for Panjshir's women.

"During my time in Afghanistan, whether I've talked to mothers, professional women or school girls, I've learned that they are all striving for a successful, brighter future," Shafran said

U.S. soldier sold to Afghan militant clan, official says

KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- An American soldier captured in southeastern Afghanistan is being held by a notorious militant clan, a senior U.S. military official said.

The American and three Afghan soldiers were captured by low-level militants and then quickly "sold" to the clan led by warlord Siraj Haqqani -- believed to be deeply involved in the action.

The Haqqanis operate on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and are well known to the U.S. military. They are assembling shuras, or local councils of leaders, to talk and try to "legitimize" what they have done, the official said.

U.S., Afghan and Pakistani troops are sealing off the area and also are talking to tribal chiefs, village elders and leaders.

They are telling them to "do the right thing and solve this," the official said
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http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/as...ier/index.html

In Tactical Shift, Troops Will Stay and Hold Ground in Afghanistan

By THOM SHANKER and RICHARD A. OPPEL Jr.
Published: July 2, 2009
WASHINGTON — The first major operation launched with the additional troops ordered to Afghanistan by President Obama is devised to clear Taliban havens across a strategic southern province — and then, in a marked departure from past practice, to leave clusters of Marines in small bases close to the villagers they were sent to guard and aid, according to senior military officers.

Despite the troops’ substantial numbers and firepower, the strategy is not without risks. Indeed, on Thursday, the first Marine was killed in the operation.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/03/wo...n.html?_r=1&hp

Papers report Afghanistan tragedy

Britain's papers have reported the latest deaths of British soldiers - and the huge assault that the Americans have unleashed there.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8131934.stm

Pakistan redeploys troops to stop Afghan Taliban escape
Friday July 03, 2009 (1040 PST)

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is redeploying some of its border forces to an area opposite Afghanistan’s Helmand province to block any Taliban trying to flee the US offensive launched there on Thursday, a military spokesman said.
Nearly 4,000 US Marines plus 650 Afghan forces moved into Afghanistan’s Helmand province early Thursday to take on the Taliban in one of their strongholds. Southern Helmand shares a 200 km desert border with Balochistan and troops were being moved there to “challenge any crossing�, said military spokesman Major-General Athar Abbas.
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http://paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=216612

Plymouth Marines to return to Afghanistan
Friday, July 03, 2009, 07:00
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ARMED forces personnel in Plymouth are in line to return to Afghanistan in the summer of 2011.

Sources have told The Herald that Stonehouse-based 3 Commando Brigade – home of the Royal Marines – has been earmarked to deploy to the conflict zone in just under two years' time.

It will be the brigade's first major deployment to the war-torn country in the summertime and, once again, it is likely to see more than 1,200 servicemen and women involved.

It will come as a blow to hundreds of Plymouth-based families, who only welcomed back their loved ones from their last six-month deployment entitled Operation Herrick 9, in April.

The brigade – which is the commando formation of the British Armed Forces – is gearing up for a rigorous training period with Arctic warfare training in Norway set for early next year.


The commandos believe if you can operate in temperatures of -30 degrees, you can operate anywhere in the world.

Afghanistan's summers are harsh with daily temperatures peaking at around +38 degrees.

A source at 3 Commando Brigade's headquarters told The Herald: "We are now constantly thinking of Herrick 14. It's all about getting as much experience as possible now by training for it.

"Being our first summer deployment it will be tough.

"Working in those sorts of temperatures will be at the extremes of human endurance."
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http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news...l/article.html

Return of the sniper: How ancient skills are experiencing a modern renaissance in Afghanistan

Their deadly art was neglected for decades. But the pressures of modern warfare mean their ancient skills are needed on the frontline once more

Saturday, 4 July 2009

All around, the thunderous chatter of machine-gun fire mingles with the smoke of the mortars and the acrid stench of gunpowder. Some soldiers are bellowing battle orders; others strain to hear above the noise. The scene is chaotic but one thing is clear to all: the danger is imminent, the enemy close at hand.

Seemingly oblivious to the cacophony, however, two Lance Corporals crouch calmly amid the mêlée. Quietly, they exchange wind-speed, temperature, elevation and distance calculations. One holds a ferocious-looking, long-barrelled rifle. Focusing on the red glow of the crosshairs, he breathes out slowly and carefully squeezes the trigger.

The ear-splitting boom of the gun drowns out everything else as a wave of pressure reverberates backwards. A single brass casing spins through the air and clatters to the ground, dwarfing piles of smaller spent bullets.

And more than half a kilometre away the target drops. One shot, one kill – the sniper's way.

IN FULL: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...n-1727300.html