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**jumpinjarhead** · 09-02-2010, 03:43

Special Forces Assassins Infiltrate Taliban Stronghold in Afghanistan

Sunday, February 07, 2010

AP

Feb. 7: U.S. soldiers of the 4th Battalion, 23th Infantry Regiment, 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division train in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

American and British forces poised to assault the Taliban stronghold of Marjah, in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province, have begun targeting insurgent leaders for assassination, The Sunday Times reported.

Special forces have been infiltrating the town on "kinetic" missions — jargon for armed attacks.

"Special forces guys have been going in on assassination missions with the aim of decapitating the Taliban force," a military source told the Sunday Times.

At U.S. Marine base Camp Leatherneck and the adjoining British base of Camp Bastion, troops and munitions have been airlifted in by night to avoid enemy rockets. In a break from traditional military secrecy, American, British and Afghan commanders have revealed that Marjah, the last town in Helmand under Taliban control, will in fact be the site of fighting in the near future.

Though Operation Moshtarak —Operation Together — has been widely publicized by top military leaders, the timeline for the offensive has not been revealed.

The success of the planned campaign depends on how quickly troops and civilian development workers can get public services up and running once the Taliban have been driven away, the top U.S. and NATO commander said Sunday.

The military has widely publicized the upcoming offensive in Marjah — the biggest Taliban-held community in the south — although the precise date for the attack in Helmand province remains classified.

Gen. Stanley McChrystal said the element of surprise is not as important as letting Marjah's estimated 80,000 residents know that an Afghan government is on its way to replace Taliban overlords and drug traffickers.

"We're trying to create a situation where we communicate to them that when the government re-establishes security, they'll have choices," McChrystal said.

Establishing functioning government has been messy even in the relatively safe parts of Afghanistan. NATO forces and international diplomats have to balance the need to increase security with the desire to build up Afghan institutions that have too-often been corrupt or ineffective.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,...est=latestnews

**eodmatt** · 09-02-2010, 05:09

Bin Ladens cave somewhere in the mountains....

Duty clerk: Effendi have you seen this thread on Arrse? It says that we have been infiltrated by special forces.

Field officer: By the beard of the Prophet (may he rest in peace in the gardens of heaven with 72 virgins) this is terrible news. We must double the guard at once to prevent the infidel from reaching our inner security sanctum. Ahmed, you, chalky and smudger take the first shift and make sure Johnno is on the gate. Chuck, Jarhead and Mo take the second shift, .... oh and send someone out for a big Mac with fries, this is going to be a long night....

**jumpinjarhead** · 09-02-2010, 05:22

Originally Posted by eodmatt

Bin Ladens cave somewhere in the mountains....

Duty clerk: Effendi have you seen this thread on Arrse? It says that we have been infiltrated by special forces.

Field officer: By the beard of the Prophet (may he rest in peace in the gardens of heaven with 72 virgins) this is terrible news. We must double the guard at once to prevent the infidel from reaching our inner security sanctum. Ahmed, you, chalky and smudger take the first shift and make sure Johnno is on the gate. Chuck, Jarhead and Mo take the second shift, .... oh and send someone out for a big Mac with fries, this is going to be a long night....

As-Salaamu ‘Alaykoum--I would prefer the third watch to the second. :D

One can but hope that the "powers that be" know what they are doing by the extent of this information campaign.

**DeltaDog** · 09-02-2010, 05:43

Originally Posted by jumpinjarhead

One can but hope that the "powers that be" know what they are doing by the extent of this information campaign.

McChrystal seems like an impressive guy. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt.

**the_boy_syrup** · 09-02-2010, 07:43

They are aware that Carry on up the Khyber was a p1ss take and not a blue print for winning

Lets hope the Jocks have taken their kilts with them

**InVinoVeritas** · 09-02-2010, 08:38

Originally Posted by the_boy_syrup

They are aware that Carry on up the Khyber was a p1ss take and not a blue print for winning

Lets hope the Jocks have taken their kilts with them

The "Devils in Skirts" have been informed that the Taliban have a heavily defended Buckfast dump in the region.. I almost pity Terry when the Jocks get their hands on that objective!