Article

2003-08-25 Afghanistan

Taliban Force Under Fire in Afghan Mountains

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Posted by Steve 2003-08-25 9:37:46 AM|| || Front Page|| [6 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Oooooh, target-rich enviroment! Go for it, Air Force!

Posted by Barbara Skolaut 2003-8-25 9:56:06 AM|| 2003-8-25 9:56:06 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 That's "environment" - if I could type, I'd be dangerous. :-p

Posted by Barbara Skolaut 2003-8-25 9:58:05 AM|| 2003-8-25 9:58:05 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Just like I thought, they had a couple of successful attacks on police stations, got overconfident, massed their forces, and got caught.

That's guerrilla warfare by definition - attacking isolated outposts or convoys with superior numbers at a time and place of the Taliban's choosing. The problem they're running into is precision air support, in form of attack helicopters, warplanes and armed UAV's on patrol. (I don't think we have much artillery on the ground, and their limited range coupled with Afghanistan's rugged terrain, makes the use of big guns a difficult proposition).

Posted by Zhang Fei 2003-8-25 10:29:27 AM|| 2003-8-25 10:29:27 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 It's been a good day for hunting:
KABUL (Reuters) - Up to 50 Taliban fighters were killed in a big joint operation by U.S. and Afghan forces on Monday in the southern province of Zabul, a spokesman for the governor said. "The deaths were the result of heavy bombing by U.S. forces and ground attacks by government forces," Hamdullah Watandoost told Reuters. "We have seen 40 to 50 dead bodies."

Posted by Steve 2003-8-25 10:55:04 AM|| 2003-8-25 10:55:04 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 40 to 50 dead bodies.......probably more casualties, but the Reuters guys don't have the stomach for assessing miscellaneous scattered body parts.......a 250/500/1000 pounder normally doesn't leave the body intact.

Posted by SOG475 2003-8-25 11:05:57 AM|| 2003-8-25 11:05:57 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 ...and there was much rejoicing.

Posted by Hiryu 2003-8-25 11:24:38 AM|| 2003-8-25 11:24:38 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 That, and the Taliban most likely carried away some of the dead and wounded. SOP for guerrilla forces to hide how badly they lost.

Posted by Steve 2003-8-25 11:25:15 AM|| 2003-8-25 11:25:15 AM|| Front Page Top

#8 wounded = soon to be dead in that environment, good point though, Steve. Another Taliban victory when it's retold in NWFP

Posted by Frank G 2003-8-25 11:55:06 AM|| 2003-8-25 11:55:06 AM|| Front Page Top

#9 "Put the sceear in'um."

Posted by Lucky 2003-8-25 12:07:42 PM|| 2003-8-25 12:07:42 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 The Virgins will be working OT tonight. Wonder if they have a union...

Posted by Ned 2003-8-25 12:41:53 PM|| 2003-8-25 12:41:53 PM|| Front Page Top

#11 The attack was part of joint operations between the U.S. military and local Afghan militia hunting down Taliban fighters blamed for a series of attacks mostly in the south and east of the country, according to Ahmad Khan, a spokesman for the governor of Zabul province. Khan said Afghan forces collected the bodies of at least 50 Taliban fighters after the bombardment. The bombing destroyed a Taliban mountain camp near the border with Pakistan, he said.
We tag them and they bag them, I like these joint ops. Keep hitting them all the way back to the border, then take pictures of where the survivors go.

Posted by Steve 2003-8-25 12:55:59 PM|| 2003-8-25 12:55:59 PM|| Front Page Top

#12 Stoping at the border is the problem,Steve.
The VC had the same deal,attack then scurry across the border into Loas and Cambodia.These attacks are going to continue until we go in and clean out the roches.

Posted by raptor 2003-8-25 2:19:06 PM|| 2003-8-25 2:19:06 PM|| Front Page Top

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