Monday - June 08, 2009
Plenty of Sand, No Surf
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Some 7,000 of the new U.S. troops ordered to Afghanistan are fanning out across the dangerous south on a mission to defeat the Taliban insurgency and to change the course of a war claiming American lives at a record pace.
The Marines represent the first wave of 21,000 troops ordered to Afghanistan this summer by President Barack Obama. Most of the Marine buildup will occur in Helmand, the world’s largest opium poppy-growing region and Afghanistan’s most violent province. Helmand borders Pakistan, where the Taliban’s top leadership is believed to be based.
“This is where the fight is, in Afghanistan,” said 1st Sgt. Christopher Watson, who like many here has also served in Iraq. “We are here to get the job done.”
Some 7,000 Marines from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, are now in the country, Marine spokesman 1st Lt. Abe Sipe said. The forces have brought fighter aircraft, transport helicopters, artillery and the infrastructure needed to support what will ultimately be a force of around 11,000.
Most of the newly arrived Marines are now stationed at Camp Leatherneck, a small base in the center of Helmand expanding by the hour as workers build permanent structures. Some Marines have moved out to smaller outposts and are patrolling Helmand’s deserts under a harsh summer sun.
Commanders warn that U.S. deaths are likely to increase this summer, the traditional fighting season in Afghanistan.
Assuming Obama lets them, these guys are there to do what Marines do: go to some God Awful place to do some God Awful job with the least possible resources, only to be ignored or vilified by the press or forgotten about by most citizens.
The deserts of Afghanistan in summer. To root out the Talies and the druggies, who don’t even need to change their clothes to hid amongst the civilians. This is the new theater in the ongoing fight.
You do know that the AnySoldier.com program has an AnyMarine.com branch? Aside from cards and letters, these folks need all sorts of hot weather items, plus the usual baby wipes, snacks, magazines, paperback books, AA & AAA batteries, beef jerky, and so forth. Let us not forget those who still serve.
Click this for more information
... you know, I’m thinking back to when Kim DuToit and everybody did that Walter-Adam project for the Deuce Four in Mosul ...
Posted by Drew458
on 06/08/2009 at 09:24 AM
Filed Under: • Middle-East • Military •
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