Strike of the Sword
Keep our Marines in your prayers as head off for the holiday weekend. Freedom is not free. Via AHN, the latest on the surge in Afghanistan:
One American Marine has been killed as U.S. and Afghan forces on Friday continued their massive offensive deeper into Helmand River valley. The assault, the first major Afghan operation by the Obama administration, is part of an overall effort to secure militant strongholds ahead of Afghanistan’s national elections next month.
Nearly 4,000 Marines and about 600 Afghan soldiers are expanding their sweep of southern Afghanistan, securing the Garmsir, Nawa, and Rig districts.
One Marine has died in action and several others wounded in the offensive. No civilian casualties have been reported, according to the Pentagon, and U.S. and Afghan forces have refrained from using artillery and other indirect fire weapons. No air strikes were conducted, but the 82nd Airborne Division Combat Brigade provided aviation support.
Called Operation Khanjar or Strike of the Sword, the operation was launched on Thursday, two days after American forces withdrew from the cities of Iraq, and less than two months before Afghanistan’s Aug. 20 presidential elections.
Similar NATO operations are underway in other parts of Helmand and Kandahar, such as the British led Operation Panchai Palang launched last week.
Over 90 percent of Afghanistan’s opium is harvested in Helmand, where militants support their activities from one of the world’s largest poppy fields. Most of the crop is made into black tar opium and then smuggled out of the country to be processed into heroin. The province’s opium economy constitute half of miltant funding, according to the Pentagon.
“Where we go we will stay, and where we stay, we will hold, build and work toward transition of all security responsibilities to Afghan forces,” Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson, commanding general of Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, said in a statement. “The Taliban offer no future, no hope, and we will work to provide immediate security gains to the local citizens of the Helmand River Valley.”
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Related reporting from Matt Sanchez in Afghanistan:
In a Class By Themselves: It’s hard to imagine what Americans back home are willing to risk their lives for, but here in Afghanistan no imagination is needed.
‘Incorruptible’ Commandos Sign of Hope for Afghanistan’s Future
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- Latest in Afghanistan: Operation “Strike of the Sword”
- Freedom is NOT Free | Fire Andrea Mitchell!
- Michelle Malkin » Independence Day: America turns 233
- Celebrate Independence Day By Rallying Your Family, Friends and Community At An Ice Tea Party! « Pronk Palisades
- Afghanistan & Opium: US Marine Killed During Operation ‘Strike of the Sword’ « Frugal Café Blog Zone
- Strike of the Sword | www.virginiaright.com
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Categories: Afghanistan
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I am in awe of our Marines.
God Bless them.
That’s the key lesson we learned from failure in Vietnam and success from the surge in Iraq.
The first thing the locals are going to ask when our troops arrive is, “Will you stay?” If the answer is in the affirmative, then there’s a good chance that they can be eventually won over.
Otherwise, why should they stick their necks out?
My only concern is, with a de facto cap placed on any further reinforcements for Afghanistan, the more troops we devote to “holding” ground, the fewer will be available for taking it.
And with NATO having already given Hope-a-Dope the middle finger when he asked them to pony up more troops, if more troops become necessary to sustain the offensive, where are they going to come from?
4,000 US and only 600 Afghans? Good. A ratio that may work this time.
Michelle, Marines are not the only ones who are fighting in Afghanistan. I think it would be best if you keep all US Forces and our allies in your prayers, not just the Marines.
*God bless them all that fight on the front lines of freedom.
*Sounds like a surge to me, and with a winning strategy; But not a peep out of P-BO, Harry Reid, Nazi Pelosi, and many other Dems that had openly expressed their wish that our fighting men and women would be defeated in Iraq; Some things will never change, like liberals being liberals.
Ditto. It takes a really special individual to do what they do, even when their commander-in-chief is a complete looser and not on their side.
Not the best choice of words considering who our Marines are fighting.
Go Army Aviation!!!
Please, please, please, let the Taliban mass for a fight!!!
I’m glad that somebody is recognizing the fact that we have warriors showing their love for this country, as opposed to merely talking about their love for this country or, worse, just partying and listening to child-molester, I mean, M.J. coverage without a clue as to what’s happening outside their own little world.
The existing method to fight the “war on drugs” has been employed for over 50 years. It’s clear by now and billion$ spent that that method does NOT work! The way to win it is to attack the ‘trade’ side of the ‘drug trade’.
Here’s a plan.. 1. The US government BUYS up all the Afghan opium fields. 2.Heroin clinics are set up all over the US to give real heroin for free ONLY to blood test positive heroin addicts with no strings attached other than signing a waiver to take full responsibility for their own demise and get a picture ID drug addict card. (eliminate the methadone program) 3. All interdiction and distribution laws can stay on the books. 4. Drug pushers are forced to find new careers because they suddenly have ZERO financial incentive to get anyone hooked. 5. New addiction rate will fall to near ZERO because there won’t be any pushers and therefore no stuff on the street. 6. World demand for heroin decreases dramatically, price plummets, terrorists get no money from heroin. 7. Number of existing heroin addicts will eventually decline over the years as they die off or get clean; many clinics can be closed. 8. Farms sold/given back to Afghans will be farmed for food crops once again.
Marine Corps Hymm
Taps, taps, taps. Lights are out and silence will be maintained throughout the night.
Every day in the Marine Corps is like a Sunday on a farm. Every meal a feast.
233 years of rompin’, stompin’, a$$ kicking, hell, death and destruction.
A Marine is a forward echelon of blood and guts. An amphibious monster that trives on $hi!.
He can jump higher, fall flatter, stick more in, break more off and still have more left over than any man from any land.
What’s best, he can do it neater & sweet with less – well you know.
Amen, Gung Ho and pray for war.
Semper Fi!
Go Marines! May God Bless and protect you!
I don’t like the sound of that. Reminds me of another liberal democratic president’s rules of engagement in the Sudan.
May God Bless and protect all of our fighting men and women. Our prayers are with you.
G-d’s speed to all American military persons fighting on the front line.
When you are finished in Afganistan, please come clean up Deerbornstan, CAIR, and the Muslim brotherhood. Enemys within our borders.
My youngest son is fighting in Operation Khandar. God bless them all
Having served in a Joint Service Unit back in my active duty days the one thing I learned about the US Marines I served was I was glad they were on our side. I would hate to be on the receiving end of what they can dish out. I have been thinking about these devil dogs since the operation was announced. May God keep them safe!
Good hunting Marines. May you find a target rich environment.
4000 marines and 600 afghan military personnel? sounds like the corp is moving heavier these days than in the past if they need 600 luggage carriers to get them to the fight. yo karzai, get off your butt and start training your military to fight your war in your country. we already have enough exiled potentates who wouldn’t engage in a fight in this country. vietnamese wussies, iranian wussies, haitian wussies, venezuelan wussies, we just landed an honduran wussie, and we’re trolling for pakistani and burmese wussies now, or has president and general for life pakistani potentate already landed in l.a.
I can’t speak for everyone of course but I pray for all of our troops (and more) every day. Being the fourth of July, I figure drinking a beer on their behalf is an appropriate gesture … the hot dogs here are not that great or I would go further in my efforts.
How sad is it that we shackle our troops like that? It’s like they are prevented from actually waging a winning strategy against the enemy.
And how difficult must it be for our brave soldiers and sailors to keep up a positive attitude when they are essentially not allowed to kick ass nor take names…?
Right on!!! Were you a pilot by any chance? Just figuring you were an officer from your posts.
I was a 67 victor from 83 to 86 at FT. Hood.
I also get tired of hearing how it’s always the Marines doing all the fighting, far from the facts. All the services play a VITAL role in getting the missions done. Don’t try to tell me air support isn’t as valuable as anything else.
robhic #20–Over an 8-year period I served 33 months in Viet Nam. Our hands were tied on a regular basis. The appropriate saying so commonly used is, “we won our battles, but the politicians lost the war.” I too wish them well with all my heart.
Cal City #21–Toward the end of the Tet offensive in 1968 we were being overrun in our area in I Corps. The army came from the south and saved our behinds. I have nothing but respect for ALL members of the U.S. armed forces.
Glad they could lend a hand! I agree with your last sentence for sure!
During my active duty, I saw some 82ed Airborn folks. I thought they were a lot like us except they jumped out of perfectly good aircraft.
I too have respect for all our armed forces. However, I am not to keen on pink panty wearing fools letting women into my Marine Corp. That was a shock.
Women can do some good things in the military. Like flying helos, birds, and even driving ships. I just do not think they belong at the point of the spear. Sorry.
I think of what is going on over there for our toops every day, and I pray G-d sends his strongest Angels to watch over them.
I suspect the draw down in Iraq is where they will come from, nothing that happens there will keep BHO from doing that so he can send whatever number may be needed in Af’stan. And you won’t hear a peep from the left about how much time soldiers may have at home before they are re-deployed.
Though ‘bama has been an offensive presence since his inception, the very first time he takes the offensive militarily is to secure the outcome of a foreign election.
Why is this not surprising given that he saw how well it worked in Iran?
That’s because they don’t/can’t take credit for continuing the policies of Bush.