This Time for Keeps
There's a resolve in the air. Canadian troops in Kandahar province are jubilant that they will soon be joined by an increasing number of American troops. Everyone is getting ready to kick ass. So to speak. Better yet, ridding the area, it is to be hoped, of the opportunity and the inclination to incessantly plant those devilish IEDs.Even though it's not yet spring, when the Taliban are expected to begin mounting their usual insurgent-repulsive attacks, the past months have seen more than enough NATO and Afghan-police, -army, and civilian deaths. Some from accidental and regretted NATO strikes, but far more from fall-out from Taliban attacks.
To cleanse provinces like Helmand and Kandahar of the Taliban is the near goal, to enable NATO to achieve some measure of success in causing the Taliban to fall back to a purely defensive position and decreasing their numbers in the process, permitting a future where an increased and resources-enhanced Afghan military and police can begin to mount their own defence successes unaided by a foreign presence.
A coalition of British, U.S., Afghan, Canadian, French and Estonian forces is preparing to launch a massive onslaught against the Taliban within Helmand province, the largest such yet in the 8-year war. President Obama's 30,000-strong 'surge' is expected to finally turn the tide of growing Taliban advantage.
With the anticipated liberation of a town in full control of the Taliban whose villagers have been subjected to summary justice inclusive of public beheadings, a situation whereby Afghans themselves will finally be able to see that the Taliban can be beaten. Currently, any villagers seen talking to ISAF forces are beaten; any who give information are executed.
It has been reported that Taliban have resorted to using children as living shields while firing rocket propelled grenades on International Security Assistance Forces troops. Villagers have been driven into open areas with the intent that they be used as decoys to be fired upon by foreign forces, and the resulting deaths then be used for propaganda purposes.
There are stories to the effect that the Taliban have taken to burning copies of the Koran, then blaming the atrocious offence against Islam on the maliciously-insulting work of ISAF troops. The town set to be liberated of Taliban clutches, Marjah, is held to be the last and most important bastion for the Taliban in Helmand province.
But the Taliban are prepared for the onslaught, they claim that they intend to "stand and fight against foreign troops and their Afghan slaves. We know they are preparing to attack the mujaheddin in thousands, but we are not afraid. Let them come. They will meet the fate of others we have already sent to hell", warned one commander.
The Taliban represent a purported scholarly group of Muslim fundamentalist warriors dedicated to ridding their land and their country of the presence of foreigners. Fighters dedicated to guerrilla warfare - which the Taliban, comprised of the majority Pashtun tribe of the country practise - actually have an advantage; psychically and strategically.
The long and noble tradition defending honour and perseverance in the face of ongoing adversity which the mujaheddin represent, carries the Taliban forward as a heritage movement to free their country from foreign domination in a land that has long been violated by foreign interests.
That's a tough angle to square.
Labels: Political Realities, Traditions, Troublespots
posted by Pieface @ Sunday, February 07, 2010
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