US Marines taking over towns in Afghanistan
NAWA, Afghanistan — U.S. forces have encountered little resistance in the initial phase of a massive operation by some 4,000 Marines in Taliban-controlled areas of southern Afghanistan, but that’s a common tactic by insurgents.
The hard part will be winning support in a region where few foreigners have ventured. The lack of resistance by insurgents in Helmand province in the mission’s first phase could change in coming days, said Capt. Bill Pelletier, a spokesman for the unit, on Friday.
The operation’s focus is not killing the Taliban but winning the local population over, Pelletier said — a difficult task in a region where foreigners are viewed with suspicion, and few have stayed for long.
“We are not worried about the Taliban, we are not focused on them. We are focused on the people,” Pelletier said. “It is important to engage with the key leaders, hear what they need most and what are their priorities.”
The offensive along 55 miles (88 kilometers) of Taliban-controlled areas in southern Afghanistan will test the Obama administration’s new strategy of holding territory to let the Afghan government sink roots in Helmand.
The insurgency has proven particularly resilient in the area, and foreign troops have never before operated in such large numbers here. Large areas have been under Taliban control, with little or no government presence.
As the operation entered its second day, the units secured control of the district centers of Nawa and Garmser, and negotiated entry into Khan Neshin, the capital of Rig district, Pelletier said.
“They waited for the local and village elders,” outside Khan Neshin and “with their permission they went in and now are engaged in talks,” Pelletier said.
One Marine was killed and several others injured or wounded on the first full day of the assault Thursday, the largest military operation in Afghanistan since the fall of Taliban government in 2001.
But there have been no big battles, with militants choosing to mostly keep their guns silent, Pelletier said.
Taking ground from the Taliban in Afghanistan has always proved easy. Keeping it and ensuring the government’s presence has been the difficult part. When the area happens to be the world’s largest producer of opium that feeds the insurgency and corrupts government officials, the challenge becomes monumental.
Haji Akhtar Mohammad, from Gereshk village now living in Helmand’s capital of Lashkar Gah, said the U.S.-led force will not have community support in the region weary of any foreign interference.
“It is difficult to tell who is Taliban and who is civilians,” Mohammad said. “They all have the same face, same beard and same turban,” he said. “It is very difficult to defeat them.”
Three years ago, only a handful of U.S. troops were in Helmand, Afghanistan’s biggest province that is bisected by the Helmand river.
Afghanistan accounts for more than 90 percent of the world’s production of opium, and Helmand alone is responsible for about half that amount.
While Pelletier said winning hearts and minds was the mission’s main focus, other military officials have said the immediate goal of the offensive is to clear away insurgents before Afghanistan’s Aug. 20 presidential election.
Southern Afghanistan is a Taliban stronghold but also a region where Afghan President Hamid Karzai is seeking votes from fellow Pashtun tribesmen. Without such a large Marine assault, the Afghan government would likely not be able to set up voting booths where citizens could safely travel.
The Pentagon is deploying 21,000 additional troops to Afghanistan in time for the elections and expects the total number of U.S. forces there to reach 68,000 by year’s end. That is double the number of troops in Afghanistan in 2008 but still half as many as are now in Iraq.
Even bigger challenges, perhaps, will come in the weeks and months after the Marines have established their presence here.
The U.S. will have an opportunity to help develop alternate livelihoods for farmers whose opium poppy crops bankroll the Taliban, who have made a violent comeback since the U.S.-led invasion ousted them from power in 2001.
Associated Press writer Amir Shah in Kabul contributed to this report.
Related News
US Marines assault Taliban-held town in southern AfghanistanAugust 12th, 2009 US Marines assault Taliban town in AfghanistanDAHANEH, Afghanistan — U.S. Marines have mounted a helicopter assault to seize the Taliban-held town of Dahaneh in southern Afghanistan and are fighting gain control of the area ahead of next week's presidential elections.
British soldier killed by roadside bomb while on foot patrol in southern AfghanistanAugust 9th, 2009 British soldier on patrol killed in AfghanistanKABUL —Britain's Ministry of Defense says one of its soldiers has been killed by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan. The soldier died Saturday during a foot patrol in the southern province of Helmand.
2 US troops, 1 Briton killed in bombings in AfghanistanJuly 22nd, 2009 2 US troops, 1 Briton killed in AfghanistanKABUL — Bombs killed two U.S. troops and one Briton in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday, as the death toll mounts in the bloodiest month of the war.
2 US troops killed in Afghanistan blastJuly 22nd, 2009 2 US troops killed in Afghanistan blastKABUL — A bomb blast killed two U.S. troops in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday, raising the American death toll in what already is the deadliest month for U.S.
Obama says Afghan elections may open door to new phase in operationsJuly 14th, 2009 Obama hopes for new phase after Afghan electionsWASHINGTON — Raising expectations for scaling back military operations in Afghanistan, President Barack Obama said Tuesday he hopes U.S. involvement can "transition to a different phase" after this summer's Afghan elections.
US military says 2 Marines killed in southern AfghanistanJuly 14th, 2009 US: 2 Marines killed in southern AfghanistanKABUL — A U.S. military spokeswoman says two Marines have been killed in southern Afghanistan.
2 US Marines killed in southern Afghanistan; transport helicopter crashesJuly 14th, 2009 2 US Marines killed in southern AfghanistanKABUL — Two U.S. Marines were killed in a "hostile incident" in southern Afghanistan, where a white transport helicopter also crashed, officials said Tuesday.
Officials say 1 Marine killed, several injured in fighting in southern Afghanistan offensiveJuly 2nd, 2009 Marines say 1 killed in new Afghanistan offensiveCAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — The Marine Corps says one Marine has been killed in fighting in southern Afghanistan during a major offensive against the Taliban.
2 NATO troops killed, 6 wounded in southern Afghanistan blastJuly 1st, 2009 2 NATO troops killed in AfghanistanKABUL — NATO said an explosion Wednesday in southern Afghanistan killed two of its troops and wounded six others. The military alliance did not reveal the troops' nationalities or the exact location of the blast.
Marine commandant says his force will be out of Iraq by spring 2010June 11th, 2009 Marines will come out of Iraq by spring 2010WASHINGTON — All but a few dozen of the 16,000 Marines now in Iraq will be out by next spring, the Marine Corps commandant said Thursday, putting a solid end date on a long-anticipated exit. Gen. James T. Conway said his Marine commanders are already moving equipment out of Anbar Province, where his forces have largely been concentrated.
Dutch commander says extra troops will allow coalition to penetrate deeper into AfghanistanJune 10th, 2009 Dutch general says new troops will disrupt TalibanHOUTHEM-SINT GERLACH, Netherlands — The Dutch general commanding NATO-led troops in southern Afghanistan says new forces pouring into the region will allow coalition allies to push deeper into the heart of Taliban-held territory. Thousands of extra American troops are arriving in southern Afghanistan to strengthen the fight against insurgents in the Taliban's heartland.
New US troops in southern Afghanistan to be a 'game changer' in border area, commander saysJune 9th, 2009 US: New forces in Afghanistan to be 'game changer'CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Newly arrived U.S. forces in southern Afghanistan will target insurgents crossing into the country from Pakistan and be a "game changer" in a region long dominated by the Taliban, a top commander said Tuesday.
New US troops in southern Afghanistan to be a 'game changer' in border areaJune 9th, 2009 New US forces in Afghanistan to be 'game changer'CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Newly arrived U.S. forces in southern Afghanistan will target insurgents crossing into the country from Pakistan and be a "game changer" in a region long dominated by the Taliban, a top commander said Tuesday.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates tells US Marines in Afghanistan they won't be sent to PakistanMay 9th, 2009 US troops in Afghanistan won't be sent to PakistanCAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — There are no plans to deploy U.S. ground troops to Pakistan, U.S.
US Defense secretary Robert Gates tells US Marines they won't be sent to PakistanMay 8th, 2009 Gates: US troops won't be sent to PakistanCAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says there are no plans to deploy U.S.
Loading ...