Offensive in Afghanistan

The US Army has launched the biggest ground offensive in Afghanistan since the invasion of the country. The operation takes place in Helmand province, in the south border with Pakistan. In it are involved at least 4,000 marines and several hundreds of Afghan troops. The British, who hold the control -just nominally- of the province, are also involved.

The operation is the fire test for the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, deployed just a few weeks ago after Obama’s orders. The strategy is identical to Iraq: take control of the cities to isolate the insurgency -and secure the area before next August presidential elections. Talibans, for once, are not the primary target.

Something weird in all this is that Marines aren’t using the V-22 Ospreys, but Army helicopters. After all the pain and critics around the trilrotor, now that they have the machine they are not using it. According to some analysts, this is just because they still don’t have a clear doctrine for their use.

Anyway, it’s being difficult, as always. In the first day of offensive there was already one American casualty and several Afghans and insurgents died. British forces, however, carry the worst part. Apart from a private, they have lost Rupert Thorneloe, a Lt. Col. It’s the highest rank official down in duty since the Falkland’s war.

They way one and the other died is also a mirror of new times and new wars. In the Falkland, Herbert Jones died while he was in front of an assault. Thorneloe died when an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) exploded as his Viking passed by.

The debate about soldiers’ security in war zones is old in Europe and the USA. But the Americans are being better students. Since Iraq invasion, the Americans have tested and acquired new, better protected MARP vehicles and they are applying it to Afghanistan. In Europe, however, they just patch their old vehicles with frequency inhibitors or more shields that are, on the light of the results, not enough.

Meanwhile, the aerial offensive continues. Several drone attacks last week certifies it. Also the manned jets are getting extra time. New McChrystal’s doctrine can wait for now.

To know how are the combats in Helmand province, the best resources are Richard Engel live reports from the Korengal valley or the series of reports Ross Kemp in Afghanistan, from the British actor. It’s the closest you can be to the bullets from your sofa.

Let’s hope that at least this time they don’t fuck it up.



Photo: British Army

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