U.S. and allied commanders in Afghanistan are getting ready for the largest battle of the eight-year war, the outcome will reveal the chances of success for President Obama’s revamped Afghan strategy. About 20,000 U.S., British and Afghan troops will soon storm Marja, the Taliban’s hideout in the southern province of Helmand. With a population of 80,000, Marja has for years been a den of narcotics traffickers and insurgents, acting as a launching pad for suicide attacks. If the U.S. and its allies succeed in driving out the Taliban, U.S. officials believe it will mark a turning point in the war.
In recent weeks, Taliban forces have been burying hundreds of improvised explosive devices around the town according to U.S. and Afghan officials. Ali Jalali, who served as Afghanistan’s first post-Taliban Interior Minister and now works with the Pentagon’s National Defense University in Washington said, “It could be very bloody, and that could affect public opinion in Europe and the U.S.”
If forces prevail, it will serve as the template for the challenging battle this summer for the Taliban capital of Kandahar, which is located about 100 miles to the east. Success in Kandahar, would signal that the U.S. is on track to achieving Obama’s ultimate goal: to start sending U.S. troops back home in July 2011. What do you think?
Follow Us On Twitter
This is huge for Obama …I hope the outcome of this battle brings peace …. it sucks that it has to go this far … we need to pray for the troops!
OK I’m confused. If these are the Taliban’s “capital” cities… then WHY didn’t we just target them years ago?
I’m still iffy about this… let’s remember who trained and weaponized the Taliban in the first place (cough, that would be us), but I agree w/ James and hope that the outcome is “successful”.
Perhaps Obama is finally just trying to get to the point of this whole thing instead of dragging it out. I’m curious though as to how many civilians live in these cities.
AND IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE HURT LOCKER – YOU NEED TO! The reality of this “War on Terror” is beyond what any of us at home can even begin to imagine.
I agree with the two of you about everyone needing to pray. This all is a lot for me since I kinda believe in 2012…Besides that, I am sure the Taliban are well prepared, and what if they force the civilians to participate…If you don’t shoot the innocent bystander than they will shoot you…It happens in the movies all of the time; and although they are just movies, where do they get these ideas from…reality! I hope this does help Obama reach his goal, and I hope as less people as possible are hurt and/or killed [both sides]. War isn’t the answer, but because so many feel it is lives are being lost. Let’s put the momentum into fixing our own country and the many many problems it has of it’s own.
S.
everytime i think of this “war”, one word comes to mind, senseless…
for an update on what’s happening: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8515141.stm