Larry R
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Um... do you have anything to back this up?
I haven't heard of it. In fact the US/Afghan and Canadian forces just won a major victory in Kandahar .....
Calm returns to Afghan district but blast wounds Canadian in Leopard tank
3 hours ago
ARGHANDAB, Afghanistan - A calm has returned to the Arghandab district north of Kandahar city following days of fierce fighting between coalition forces and the Taliban.
The insurgents had hoped to gain a foothold in this region and with it a ready-made entry into its former stronghold of Kandahar city.
But despite fielding a force of some 300 fighters, the Taliban suffered heavy losses. Final numbers indicated 50 dead and an equal number wounded.
The fighting may be over but a strong NATO presence remains in the area. Canadian troops and tanks are in the area, along with U.S. and Afghan forces.
Despite the fact that thousands of residents had fled the region during the fighting, there was no shortage of people on Friday. The area, accustomed to years of conflict, has already shrugged off the momentary excitement and quickly returned to normal.
The Arghandab River, just south of the major battles, is remarkably full for this time of year. There are hundreds of lush orchards of grapes and pomegranates, and farmers could be seen working in their fields once again.
Each modest hut along the road boasts local produce, most noticeably giant pomegranates. Unlike many parts of this desert country, there are trees with bright green leaves along the narrow roads of Arghandab.
The roads appear more suited to the donkeys used to haul carts of produce for their masters.
Canadian Leopard tanks, perhaps not ideal for the terrain, nonetheless were an imposing sight as they kept a vigil to the north of the now-silent battle zone.
"We've just been doing our job watching checkpoints and things like that," said Cpl. Krista McKeough, from Vancouver Island, as she leaned down from her vehicle.
"We've seen a lot of the culture and tried some of the local pomegranates, you know," she laughed.
Troop leader Capt. Chris Duncan said the tanks are there to provide some heavy muscle.
"It's different. It's not a classical role for the tanks and it's a little bit different to adapt, but again we're a big deterrent here and whenever we show up they kind of skedaddle and leave us alone," he said.
However, just over an hour after a refuelling convoy had left the area, the reality of the battlefield was driven home once again.
Ten kilometres to the north, one of the Leopard tanks had driven over an improvised explosive device, or IED - a parting shot from the retreating Taliban, buried in a narrow road. The tank was immobilized and a wounded soldier inside was flown to hospital at Kandahar Airfield.
He was listed in fair condition with what was believed to be a fractured leg.
"The soldier was able to call his family," said Lt.-Cmdr. Pierre Babinsky, a spokesman for Joint Task Force Afghanistan. "It means the vehicle did its job and protected personnel."
Word about the blast caught up with the refuelling convoy, which was headed back to Kandahar Airfield.
"It makes me realize that I am lucky," said the convoy commander, Sgt. Remy Pichette. "I hope he will be all right. When something like that happens, we realize that we always need to be alert and ready."
The Taliban were hoping to take advantage of a leadership vacuum in the Arghandab district. The powerful former warlord, Mullah Naqib, died of a heart attack last month, plunging the area into uncertainty.
Naqib had been a supporter of coalition troops remaining in Afghanistan and an enemy of the Taliban.
HERES ANOTHER
Canadians, Afghans celebrate Taliban retreat
ANA takes lead role in battle that returns control of area north of Kandahar to government with apparent lack of civilian casualties
GRAEME SMITH
From Friday's Globe and Mail
November 2, 2007 at 5:14 AM EDT
KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN — The Canadian military and their Afghan allies congratulated each other, even holding a triumphant tour of the battlefield, just hours after the Taliban retreated from the heart of a key district north of Kandahar city.
Insurgents started falling back from their positions on the north bank of the Arghandab river in the early hours yesterday morning, police officials said. Eager to reassure the villagers fleeing the district, and reduce the public-relations damage caused by the Taliban's bold attack near the city, local authorities organized a well-publicized visit to the front lines.
That's how Lieutenant-Colonel Bob Chamberlain, commander of Canada's Provincial Reconstruction Team, found himself taking off his helmet and sitting among Afghan elders for a meeting in the village of Chahar Ghulba, the scene of heavy fighting over the past three days.
The Canadian commander was joined by several politicians, including Kandahar Governor Asadullah Khalid, who brought a group of Afghan journalists to record the fact that his government was back in control of the district.
"We actually moved forward pretty close to the front lines, closer than we probably would allow a member of our Parliament, but the governor here has a pretty high risk tolerance," Lt.-Col. Chamberlain said, after returning to the city. "It was a very moving sight, because there's a very sincere willingness to lead from the front."
Kandahar police chief Sayed Agha Saqib said on Wednesday that hundreds of Taliban were surrounded by government forces, but he acknowledged yesterday that nearly all of them escaped. The day brought no new casualties and only 11 arrests of suspected Taliban, Chief Saqib said.
Fighting continued as the Taliban left small groups of fighters behind during their withdrawal to the north. A Taliban source said last night that all insurgents had left Arghandab and retreated to havens in nearby Zhari and Shah Wali Kot districts.
Although the Taliban said it was a tactical retreat because villagers had asked them to take their fighting elsewhere, the insurgents admitted that the Canadian and Afghan forces' counteroffensive had been stronger than expected.
"The operation is going very well," said Major Eric Landry, the Canadian chief of planning. "We are very effective against the insurgents, and we have the support of the local population which is very important."
He continued: "They are trying to leave pockets of resistance, but as I say, they are being very ineffective. ... The city is stable. It's not under any threat at the moment."
The response to the insurgents' encroachment involved troops from the Canadian battle group, the provincial reconstruction team, reconnaissance squadron, and the Afghan army mentoring teams, Lt.-Col. Chamberlain said, but the biggest role was played by the Afghan National Army.
Observers say the Canadians were forced to rely on the Afghan army because they didn't have enough troops to take a lead role on the new northern front, but Lt.-Col. Chamberlain said the ANA passed the test admirably.
"A couple months ago, it took a while for the ANA to react to attacks on district centres," Lt.-Col. Chamberlain said.
This time, the ANA arrived on the same day they were requested, the Canadian commander said.
"Personally, that's the most promising thing about this," he said.
Afghan and Canadian officials also pointed to an apparent lack of civilian casualties during the fierce battles, suggesting that their forces are growing more disciplined. Civilian deaths have been a major source of anger among villagers, and a reason why recruits join the Taliban.
"Those lessons have been learned," Lt.-Col. Chamberlain said.
Still, the attack on Arghandab has forced the Canadians to rethink their strategy for defending Kandahar city. The district served as an important buffer zone between urban neighbourhoods and the rough northern terrain occupied by Taliban. The recent death of Mullah Naqib, a prominent tribal leader, has stripped the district of a legendary warrior who once guarded it.
A tribal shura, or council meeting, is expected in the coming days, as Mr. Naqib's tribe gathers to decide how best to defend itself from future attacks.
WAIT HERE"S ANOTHER
NATO beats back Taliban
Kelly Cryderman, Calgary Herald; With files from Global National and Reuters
Published: Friday, November 02, 2007
The Taliban is on the run north of Kandahar city after a joint counter-attack by Afghan and NATO forces, Canadian officials say.
Following three days of intense fighting, about 200 to 300 insurgents have been killed, injured, arrested or are headed back to districts further north.
The battle was waged in the Arghandab district,
Canadian Cpl. Ryan Sebo from the NATO-led coalition holds a position as other troops search for a possibly wounded or dead Taliban fighter after they opened fire on the suspected insurgent who had crept overnight into the mountains above Ma'sum Ghar base in Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan, October 30, 2007.
Finbarr O'Reilly, Reuters
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Font:****12 kilometres north of Kandahar's provincial capital. The area is usually a quiet buffer to protect the major southern city from northern Taliban havens such as Khakrez and Shah Wali Kot districts.
The Taliban, say Canadian officials, were trying to capitalize on the recent death of a powerful district leader who had stood as a key southern ally to Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
"The Afghan national security forces and the coalition forces are pushing back the insurgents," Maj. Eric Landry, chief planning officer for Canada's Joint Task Force Afghanistan, said Thursday. "We are very effective against the insurgents and we have the support of the local population, which is very important because they have been giving us information about the insurgents' activities."
Earlier this week, groups of Taliban attacked three centres in Arghandab district. Landry said this offensive from the Taliban was particularly well organized, as the insurgents synchronized their attacks. Their target, he said, was Kandahar City.
But Afghan and mostly Canadian troops from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force struck back, killing at least 50 rebels, according to Afghan police. Three Afghan police officers and one Afghan soldier died in the fighting.
"They are trying to leave pockets of resistance," Landry said.
"We also know that they're not being reinforced," he said. "They are retreating."
However one local observer said no matter what the outcome in Arghandab, the Taliban has won in one respect.
"What I think is key to note is the symbolic, emotional weight of the Taliban being in Arghandab," said Sarah Chayes, an American writer and humanitarian who has a home in Kandahar City. "Even if the government and ISAF drive them back out in short order, which looks like it's going to happen, they have scored a major (psychological operations) point."
The battle has also pushed about 400 families from their homes in Arghandab into Kandahar City, said a local official with close ties to police who wished to remain unnamed. Most have been able to lodge with family members, he added. But others reported there are dozens of Arghandab families living in camps in the city.
Landry said Canada's provincial reconstruction team, located on the northeast side of the city, will devise a project to help people who have fled Arghandab.
"We are certain that the local population will come back to their homes in the next days."
The regular shura, or tribal council, proceeded in Arghandab Thursday.
"We are proud and grateful for what you have done. Thank you for everything," said Kandahar Gov. Asadullah Khalid, who toured the district. He added that of the dozens of Taliban killed, two were commanders.
BUT WAIT THERES MORE
Taliban flee after fierce battles
KANDAHAR -- Taliban rebels retreated yesterday after Afghan and Canadian troops foiled their attempt to seize control of a coveted corridor into Kandahar city.
"The insurgents are actually fleeing the Arghandab district," Maj. Eric Landry told reporters at Kandahar Airfield yesterday. "We also know they are not being reinforced."
"They are trying to leave pockets of resistance but they are being very ineffective and we are pushing them out of the Arghandab district," Landry said.
The Taliban had massed in unusually large numbers to attack three towns this week.
About 300 Taliban militants were involved in the fighting over Arghandab, 25 km north of Kandahar. At least 50 were killed and 50 wounded in three days of fierce firefights with Canadian, U.S. and Afghan forces. One Afghan soldier and three police officers were also killed.
So the Talaban get their butts kicked and the Liberal Trolls say this is a loss.... HINT... try to get your facts straight... makes you look a teensy weensy bit less moronic.
BTW you will notice that the Liberal US press didn't cover this... apparently Brittany's divorce was just too important. |
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