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Soldiers reveal horror of Afghan campaign
Soldiers deployed in Helmand province five years on from the US-led invasion, and six months after the deployment of a large British force, have told The Independent that the sheer ferocity of the fighting in the Sangin valley, and privations faced by the troops, are far worse than generally known.
"We are flattening places we have already flattened, but the attacks have kept coming. We have killed them by the dozens, but more keep coming, either locally or from across the border," one said. "We have used B1 bombers, Harriers, F16s and Mirage 2000s. We have dropped 500lb, 1,000lb and even 2,000lb bombs. At one point our Apaches [helicopter gunships] ran out of missiles they have fired so many. Almost any movement on the ground gets ambushed. We need an entire battle group to move things. Yet they will not give us the helicopters we have been asking for.
"We have also got problems with the Afghan forces. The army, on the whole, is pretty good, although they are often not paid properly. But many of the police will not fight the Taliban, either because they are scared or they are sympathisers."
British officers in Helmand acknowledge that the next few months will be crucial in this conflict, which they insist can still be won with an additional thousand extra fighting troops.
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http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/article1523144.ece
"We have also got problems with the Afghan forces. The army, on the whole, is pretty good, although they are often not paid properly. But many of the police will not fight the Taliban, either because they are scared or they are sympathisers."
British officers in Helmand acknowledge that the next few months will be crucial in this conflict, which they insist can still be won with an additional thousand extra fighting troops.
More
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/article1523144.ece
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IMC Network
Wednesday September 13, 2006
Guardian Unlimited
Tony Blair today called on Nato members to contribute more troops to Afghanistan.
The prime minister's appeal came as a difficult campaign to take control of two insurgent-held districts approached its second week.
"Nato is looking at what further requirements there are and ... Nato countries have got a duty to respond to that," Mr Blair said. "It is important that the whole of Nato regards this as their responsibility."
The prime minister was speaking after Washington's ambassador to Nato today urged other members of the military alliance to send forces to help stabilise the country.
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http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/story/0,,1871541,00.html
The International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) is fighting intense battles in the south of the country but says it needs more resources.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice earlier warned that Afghanistan was at risk of becoming a "failed state".
Differing rules of engagement between Nato states are creating difficulties.
There are at least 18,500 foreign, mainly Nato soldiers in Afghanistan in addition to about the same number of US troops deployed.
Half of them are in the south where Canadian and British forces are sharing the burden with US aircraft support and special forces on the ground.
In the latest violence, Afghan police say they killed 16 Taleban fighters in a fierce gun battle overnight in Helmand province.
Differing rules
The Dutch, Australians and Estonians are also in southern Afghanistan but many other countries are reluctant to commit troops to what is currently the most dangerous part of the mission, the BBC's Alastair Leithead reports from Kabul.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5341654.stm
Members are meeting in Belgium amid pressure from the International Security Assistance Force, which is fighting in southern Afghanistan.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice earlier warned that Afghanistan was at risk of becoming a "failed state".
Differing rules of engagement between Nato states are creating difficulties.
"No formal offer was made at the meeting," spokesman James Appathurai told a news briefing.
However, he said there were "positive indications" that some allies might consider providing additional forces, Reuters news agency reported.
More
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5341654.stm