Updated 12 Mar 10:
U.S., Afghan and NATO Forces Begin Offensive Against Taliban – FoxNews – 12 Feb 10
“…The objective of Operation Moshtarak, which means ‘together’ in Dari, is to secure the region from narcoterrism and establish basic services under supervision of the Afghan government, a senior defense official told Fox. To do that, Afghan and NATO forces need to defeat the remaining insurgents and drastically reduce the number of heroin producing crops that fund the Taliban. U.S. commanders are confident they’ll win the fight, but removing the poppy will prove harder than the battle…”
Clearing Operations Begin in Central Helmand – DoD – 13 Feb 10
U.S., Afghan and NATO Forces Begin Offensive Against Taliban – FoxNews – 13 Feb 10
Slide show: U.S., Afghan Forces Storm Taliban Stronghold – FoxNews – 13 Feb 10
Taliban Sniper Teams Attack U.S., Afghan Troops – FoxNews – 15 Feb 10
Army Aviation Plays Key ‘Moshtarak’ Role – DoD – 17 Feb 10
Forces adjust to unusual Taliban tactics – ArmyTimes – 17 Feb 10
Op-Ed: Empty Skies Over Afghanistan – New York Times – 18 Feb 10
McChrystal Apologizes to Afghans for Civilian Deaths – FoxNews – 23 Feb 10
Marja Operations Move Toward ‘Holding’ Phase – DoD – 25 Feb 10
Marja Clearing Phase Nears Completion – DoD – 2 Mar 10
After Marja, ‘Kandahar Will be Next,’ Mullen Says – DoD – 4 Mar 10
EDITORIAL: Ready, aim, hold your fire – The Washington Times – 6 Mar 10
McChrystal Details Lessons of Marja Offensive – DoD – 8 Mar 10
Marjah Battle Yields Lessons for Future – Military.com – 12 Mar 10
Finally, an operation to take the poppy crop out of the hands of our enemy which provides them funds to attack the troops and the Afghan people!
The article, “Marjah Battle Yields Lessons for Future” strongly indicates the rules of engagement may be getting in the way. On the surface it looks like “whack-a-mole” at the expense of our troops!
You can fire at NATO troops and just lay your weapon down and walk away to fight another day? How’s that work? And what Marine is going to understand that policy?
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