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Afghanistan
Taleban return as British depart
2006-11-02
AMONG the many battles in his life, Nafaz Khan recalls the long fight for Musa Qala as one of special significance. As the former chief of police and militia commander in the northern Helmand town it was there that he fought alongside British troops against the Taleban.

“I loved those British soldiers,” he said. “They were great fighters and knew each of my men by name. Together we killed many, many Taleban.”

Soldiers from the Royal Irish Regiment, who were withdrawn from Musa Qala this month as part of a deal with Afghan tribal elders after more than two months of heavy fighting, remember the experience as one of violence, dirt, heat and lack of water. For Mr Khan, though, it held particular deprivation.
Posted by:Nimble Spemble

#5  For generations, Afghans seem to love and worship entropy. It must be a cultural thing.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2006-11-02 11:22  

#4  It's not the west's responsibility to garrison the whole of Afg. If the locals or central gov cannot or are not willing to do it, then the best use of western manpower is to go in and kill off the idiots every few months. Terminix® care of the western taxpayer.
Posted by: ed   2006-11-02 08:45  

#3  But what if the "enemy" is half the residents of the area? The Afghans love to fight with each other. Always have. The Taliban may just ride on the coat tails of one side or the other. We need to let every body know that we'll kill whoever lets the Taleban come back.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-11-02 08:45  

#2  What is this whole "kill all the enemy in one area, then fail to garrison, opening up room for the enemy to just march right in and take it again"? Didn't we do this in Vietnam, and it was a losing strategy?
Posted by: gromky   2006-11-02 08:38  

#1  Most of the fighters werenÂ’t real Taleban, most were local men who were angry with the Government, its robbery and corruption, who were persuaded to fight against the foreigners by our preachers in the mosques.
Posted by: trailing wife   2006-11-02 08:03  

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