Civilian Casualties in Marjah 'Inevitable' as Largest Military Operation in Afghanistan War Begins
http://rethinkafghanistan.com/blog/?p=1676
sports programming will continue here as usual..
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Largest Military Operation in Afghan War Begins - Civilian Casualties 'Inevitable'
Mon, 2010-02-22 08:54
#1
Largest Military Operation in Afghan War Begins - Civilian Casualties 'Inevitable'
Thu, 2010-02-11 12:43
#2
This Helmand offensive will mean an escalation of the war, an escalation of violence, an escalation in U.S. and NATO casualties and an escalation in civilian casualties.
According to a local Taliban commander, the forces in Marjah intend to "wait out" the long threatened NATO invasion, with fighters blending into the region disguised as civilians."We will not fight them face-to-face," insisted the commander, "we will shake their hands, as civilians. Then they will leave." With US officials telegraphing the invasion for the past month, insurgents have had plenty of time to prepare roadside bombs and whatnot for the troops.
http://news.antiwar.com/2010/02/08/commander-taliban-to-wait-out-nato-in...
This sounds like Yosef Stalin ordering civilians to stay in Stalingrad in 1942:
Hundreds of civilians have already fled Marjah, and the Afghan government insists it has made preparations to feed up to 6,000 displaced families. But with the Helmand region containing over 100,000 civilians, the largest NATO offensive since the 2001 invasion could easily overwhelm this capacity.
This has led NATO and the Afghan government to urge Marjah's civilian populace to "stay put" while the troops mass along the outskirts of their region. They insist civilians "will not be harmed," but with an enormous number of foreign troops primed for action and the Taliban planting explosives anywhere and everywhere, a significant civilian toll seems inevitable.
... The US says that the primary goal of the Marjah invasion is to install Haji Zair, who Afghan President Hamid Karzai appointed as governor of the region but who has been unable even to travel to Marjah, where the Karzai government has no presence. Marjah has not been under the control of the Afghan government since the 2001 invasion.
http://news.antiwar.com/2010/02/10/nato-urges-civilians-to-stay-put-as-h...
Thu, 2010-02-11 12:47
#3
I think that McChrystal is incapable of thinking in any other terms. I'm sure that Marjah looks like Fallujah to him. I can't believe how unchecked that guy is -- he's my first reason for writing Obama off.
Thu, 2010-02-11 12:52
#4
The timing of this extreme offensive is remarkable. I expect that VANOC and the GG will speak out against this inappropriate timing.
Canada's governor general will be the patron of peace at the 2010 Olympic Games.
Vancouver's Olympic organizing committee, or VANOC, announced Monday that Michaelle Jean will lead the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Truce, a program that calls for peace and solidarity during B.C.'s Games.
Canada plans to bring a resolution before the United Nations next month.
http://www.ctvolympics.ca/about-vancouver/news/newsid=16433.html
Thu, 2010-02-11 13:09
#5
I think that McChrystal is incapable of thinking in any other terms. I'm sure that Marjah looks like Fallujah to him. I can't believe how unchecked that guy is -- he's my first reason for writing Obama off.
McChrystal is the one who, when he announced his COIN strategy stressed the U.S. and NATO forces must alter their tactics to reduce civilian casualties.
The year 2009 saw an increase in civilian casualties, mostly caused by U.S. and NATO aerial bombings from ground attack planes, attack helicopters and pilotless drones.
Thu, 2010-02-11 13:12
#6
Canada's governor general will be the patron of peace at the 2010 Olympic Games.
That's an oxymoron if ever there was one. Who comes up with these lunatic fringe ideas?
Thu, 2010-02-11 13:15
#7
But of course you have to keep in mind that some of them are Viet Cong [Taliban] villages so the inhabitants are thus at least partially guilty by association.
How many new resistance fighters will be created amongst the families of the inevitable "collateral damage"?
Thu, 2010-02-11 13:18
#8
So much for McChrystal's new old strategy of "Winning the Hearts and Minds"
Thu, 2010-02-11 15:37
#9
McChrystal is a war criminal, pure and simple. Have y'all read the long Esquire article about him as JSOC commander in Iraq from a couple of years back? When I have a bit more time, I'll find it, but you can probably google for it. It's absolutely hair-raising.
He's like Petraeus, though (surprise!), very political, very practised at knowing how to sound good to the media and present well at congressional hearings. I'm much more worried about the political ambitions of those two than I am about cartoon characters like Palin.
Thu, 2010-02-11 15:41
#10
I expect that VANOC and the GG will speak out against this inappropriate timing.
I don't know about VANOC, but Mme. Jean is our glorious Commander-In-Chief, is she not?
Does anyone know how I can start a Facebook group to have her vice-regal ass sent to the front lines of this fresh offensive? Show our boys how to kill them Taliban! That's what leadership is about.
Thu, 2010-02-11 21:33
#11
I don't know about VANOC, but Mme. Jean is our glorious Commander-In-Chief, is she not?
Does anyone know how I can start a Facebook group to have her vice-regal ass sent to the front lines of this fresh offensive? Show our boys how to kill them Taliban! That's what leadership is about.
Whoa Nellie, good one Unionist!
Even though, according to the BNA, Common Law, procedure and precedence and the Constitution, etc., the Governor is the Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces, I consider Prime Minister Stephen Harper to be far more dangerous. He introduced into the House not one, but two, War Resolutions that escalated Canada's military engagement in Afghanistan until at least 2011(?)
I'd like to see him drafted and his smug, conniving, anti-democratic ass sent to Afghanistan. It will add a new definition to that "We Support The Troops" b.s.
Fri, 2010-02-12 00:47
#12
Tribal Elders Seek Assurances from NATO as Afghan Offensive Looms
http://vancouversun.com/news/Tribal+elders+seek+assurances+from+NATO+Afg...
"About 40 Canadian mentors are with a Kandahar based Afghan army battalion that moved to Helmand last month. According to an Afghan Army general, that battalion is slated to take part in the impending operation.."
Fri, 2010-02-12 11:57
#13
US [and Canada] Poised to Commit War Crimes in Marjah:
http://www.countercurrents.org/naiman120210.htm
"If the US assault in Marjah results in large scale civilian casualties, the US will have committed a major war crime.."
Fri, 2010-02-12 14:27
#14
It looks like a huge civilian massacre is possible with this US-led operation. Major war crimes are likely in the encirclement-and-slaughter Marjah kill zone:
US Blocks Escape Routes as Helmand Attack Looms
Taliban Dismisses Significance of Raid
by Jason Ditz, February 11, 2010With NATO already urging civilians to “stay put” during the invasion of the Marjah region of Afghanistan’s Helmand Province, the US is making it virtually impossible for anyone to leave, as Marines have now effectively circled the area....
http://news.antiwar.com/2010/02/11/us-blocks-escape-routes-as-helmand-at...
From the previous post link it seems likely that NATO will claim any trapped and killed civilians as Taliban supporters:
A report in the Wall Street Journal cast fresh doubt on the ability -- and even on the interest -- of U.S. forces to distinguish combatants from civilians. "Across southern Afghanistan, including the Marjah district where coalition forces are massing for a large offensive, the line between peaceful villager and enemy fighter is often blurred," the Journal says. The commander of the U.S. unit responsible for Pashmul estimates that about 95% of the locals are Taliban or aid the militants.
....
Today, AFP reports, military helicopters dropped leaflets over Marjah as radio broadcasts "warned residents not to shelter Taliban ahead of a massive assault." Doesn't this suggest that the invading U.S. forces may regard any civilian alleged to be "sheltering Taliban" as a legitimate target, including women and children?If the U.S. assault in Marjah results in large scale civilian casualties, the U.S. will have committed a major war crime. If the United States cannot protect civilians in Marjah, as the U.S. is required to do under the laws of war, the assault should be called off. Under international law, every U.S. citizen is legally obligated to work to bring about the compliance of the United States with international law. Raise your voice now, before it is too late.
Robert Naiman is Policy Director at Just Foreign Policy
http://www.countercurrents.org/naiman120210.htm
Sun, 2010-02-14 08:01
#15
Mr_Nobody
So is littering a town with thousands of unmarked IEDs, booby-traps and mines before you run away a war crime as well?
Just wondering...
Sun, 2010-02-14 08:42
#16
So is littering a town with thousands of unmarked IEDs, booby-traps and mines before you run away a war crime as well?
Just wondering...
You're right. The only appropriate response of the [s]Palestinian[/s] Afghan people to this military onslaught is unconditional surrender. Any attempt at self-defence would be unsporting, especially given their unwillingness to buy high-tech weaponry.
[size=10][Holy Crow, Batman, this Mr_Nobody is great - I can use the same template to answer all his posts! I guess he must use a template for his...][/size]
Sun, 2010-02-14 09:33
#17
So is littering a town with thousands of unmarked IEDs, booby-traps and mines before you run away a war crime as well?
Just wondering...
No, but I'd call it a good way to get war criminals out of your country.
Sun, 2010-02-14 10:05
#18
If the war machines from other countries would just stop leaving their things lying around the countryside there would be none to use. Don't worry the vast majority of the locals know where they are planted and it is the occupying troops and their corrupt drug dealer allies who are at the greatest risk and all they have to do is leave the country and they will stop being in any harms way. Afghans have never attacked Canada, so far, I hope our murderous actions over in their country don't start an equal reaction to our slaughter of innocents.
Sun, 2010-02-14 10:57
#19
Mr_Nobody
You guys crack me up... Keep up the good work.
Unionist; I mostly grin at stuff that's posted here but comparing Afghans to Palestinians, that made me laugh out loud for real.
Thanks man.
Sun, 2010-02-14 12:13
#20
[URL=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20100214/afghanistan... rockets kill 12 civilians[/URL]
NATO said two rockets from a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System were aimed at insurgents firing on coalition forces, but fell 300 metres from their intended target."We deeply regret this tragic loss of life," said Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top NATO commander in Afghanistan. "The current operation in central Helmand is aimed at restoring security and stability to this vital area of Afghanistan. It's regrettable that in the course of our joint efforts, innocent lives were lost.
May Stanley McChrystal, war criminal many times over, rot in hell. (Are we allowed to say that on babble?)
Sun, 2010-02-14 12:13
#21
comparing Afghans to Palestinians, that made me laugh out loud for real.
That's why Canadian soldiers are in Afghanistan: to make you laugh.
There should be a youtube video showing a montage of NATO airstrikes and civilian casualties, burned kids and raped women, all set to "Yakity Sax". That should make you howl!
Sun, 2010-02-14 12:30
#22
Mr. Nobody, I've just been reviewing your recent posts and took a brief sampling of older ones. you support oppressive ideologies, suggest babblers want to see civilian casualties, and are generally contemptuous of this forum and it's values. I have no idea how you've survived here this long, but you're gone now.
Sun, 2010-02-14 13:51
#23
NDPPNATO said two rockets from a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System were aimed at insurgents firing on coalition forces, but fell 300 metres from their intended target."We deeply regret this tragic loss of life," said Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top NATO commander in Afghanistan. "The current operation in central Helmand is aimed at restoring security and stability to this vital area of Afghanistan. It's regrettable that in the course of our joint efforts, innocent lives were lost.
The real purpose of McChrystal's murdering: [drift alert]
"The purpose of all this killing is to prevent alternative, independent, self-defining nations from emerging.."
What Do Empires Do?
Sun, 2010-02-14 15:00
#24
A Taliban spokesman said a large battle still awaits the larger Marjah force.
“They didn't get in to Marjah yet. We are all waiting for them to come and fight,” Qari Yousef Ahmadi told The Canadian Press. “Isn’t it a shame for them - they are saying that it is one of the biggest operations in the last eight years, but how come they can't get it to Marjah yet? [b]It is because they are scared.[/b]”
Are our brave NATO boys gonna let that guy taunt us like that? Go git 'em!
[url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/nato-strikes-kill-12-civilians...
Mon, 2010-02-15 00:36
#25
A Taliban spokesman said a large battle still awaits the larger Marjah force.
“They didn't get in to Marjah yet. We are all waiting for them to come and fight,” Qari Yousef Ahmadi told The Canadian Press. “Isn’t it a shame for them - they are saying that it is one of the biggest operations in the last eight years, but how come they can't get it to Marjah yet? [b]It is because they are scared.[/b]”
Are our brave NATO boys gonna let that guy taunt us like that? Go git 'em!
[url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/nato-strikes-kill-12-civilians...
"Hello Stalingrad, here we come. Right back where we started from."
Mon, 2010-02-15 01:51
#26
Moloch in Helmand: A Price Worth Paying for Imperial PR
http://www.chris-floyd.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/1925-...
"The grand attack was scarcely out of the starting blocks before it claimed its first child sacrifices: five children blown to pieces in a rocket strike on 'a compound crowded with Afghan civilians..
The entire operation reeks of 'Hamburger Hill' style futility: sending in a great wad of cannon fodder to foster the illusion of momentum and success in an endlessk, pointless, war of corporate profiteering and imperial chest-beating...
but the deaths of the 5 slaughtered children in Marja--just like the deaths of at least 500,000 Iraqi children from the pre-war, bipartisan sanction-strangulation of Iraq [Canada assisting] are 'worth it', of course.."
Military Resistance 8B7
http://www.newsfrommiddleeast.com/?xstart=lfdlm&new=63257
"Between patrols, soldiers openly speak of being betrayed: 'It doesn't matter if we get killed, we're here to die. Our lives are not valuable enough to protect. About 95% of the locals are Taliban or aid the militants. People here are on the side of the Insurgency and have no trust in the government.."
More Civilian Deaths as US Launches Offensive in S Afghanistan
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/feb2010/afgh-f15.shtml
"The claim that a full-fledged and permanent 'Afghan Administration' will be established is ludicrous, given the character of the Karzai government in Kabul, an unstable stooge regime entirely dependent on US funds.."
Mon, 2010-02-15 12:05
#27
Don't need a medium sized city in the region they need a secure pipeline route. If they raze the towns and turn the people into refugees outside the valley the Empire will consider that a victory.
Mon, 2010-02-15 23:03
#28
Operation Moshtarak: A Code For Ethnic Cleansing
http://www.counterpunch.org/ridley02152010.html
"Ordinary Afghan men, women and children are paying the blood price for a war launched by politicians from the West. The Afghan Army and British, [Canadian], and US troops have so far driven thousands of innocent people out of their villages in Helmand.."
Mon, 2010-02-15 23:16
#29
Operation Moshtarak: A Code For Ethnic Cleansinghttp://www.counterpunch.org/ridley02152010.html
". . . The Afghan Army and British, [Canadian], and US troops have so far driven thousands of innocent people out of their villages in Helmand.."
Earlier in the thread Afghan and NATO forces were condemned for not removing civilians from Marjah, so which is it?
Mon, 2010-02-15 23:33
#30
Operation Moshtarak: A Code For Ethnic CleansingEarlier in the thread Afghan and NATO forces were condemned for not removing civilians from Marjah, so which is it?
Don't know about the argument of the link. It is logically possible:
Prior to the battle, the U.S. and British militaries and the Karzai government were asking Marjah residents not to leave the city, even though they had been announcing the coming offensive for the past month. Hence my reference to Stalingrad where Yosef Stalin ordered Russian civilians to remain in 1942 when it was obvious the Germans were going to attack the city.
Now that the offensive is in its third day, these are the civilians who have been forced into becoming refugees because their houses have been consequently destroyed (they have been "dehoused") or it is too dangerous to remain in the battle zone or they have been injured and the nearest hospital or medical clinic or First Aid station is 40 km away.
Tue, 2010-02-16 00:07
#31
"so which is it?"
How the hell should I know? One looks at the various accounts and tries to determine the situation as best we can. However there seems no contradiction between first trying to hunker down and stay put in your home until the situation deteriorates and enough of your neighbors or their kids are killed such that panic ensues and people try to flee, as suggested by Frmrslder above.
I don't see Canadians unduly disturbed yet by any of this death either of theirs or ours alas. Sports programming continues to draw much more attention.
Tue, 2010-02-16 00:08
#32
[restoring order to posts]
Tue, 2010-02-16 00:08
#33
Invaders kill more and more civilians in their frenzied "offensive":
In two days, coalition forces have killed as many as [b]20 Afghan civilians in five separate incidents[/b].
[url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/afghan-offensive-marred-by-civ...
Tue, 2010-02-16 00:38
#34
AJ you are right the only answer to that difficult question is to not invade the valley the people live in.
Tue, 2010-02-16 01:10
#35
I don't see Canadians unduly disturbed yet by any of this death either of theirs or ours alas. Sports programming continues to draw much more attention.
That has been the problem all along. That is why the Harper administration got re-elected in '08. That is why former Gen. Hillier, Brig. Gen. Serge Labbe, Harper and MacKay are able to get away with war crimes and human rights atrocities when it comes to Afghanistan.
Tue, 2010-02-16 01:42
#36
20 years after the Red Army Fled Afghanistan - sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words: (click on image to enlarge)
http://www.straight.com/article-288436/vancouver/games-boycott-echoes-today
Tue, 2010-02-16 13:48
#37
Colonialist Motives Behind Marjah Operations
http://www.alemarah.info/english/index.php?option=com_content&view=artic...
"In fact Marjah is a geopolitically important area because it borders on Baluchistan, Pakistan where China has a vast development project in the shape of Gwader seaport. The invading America wants to control the transit way to Gwader in order to ensure a short-cut for supply of its logistics which are now shipped through Karachi, Pakistan and through Tajikistan to the north of Afghanistan.
They also want to stymie Chinese involvement in the Gwader project. Similarly, in light of the new round of the politically tense situation between Washington and Tehran over uranium enrichment and Iran`s missile program, the White House wants to install new espionage equipment in Marjah close to the Iranian border.
In addition to this, British invaders have been extracting uranium in Sangin district. The British are also involved in drug trafficking in Helmand province. They are secretly taking heroin in British planes to black markets in Europe.
No question, the war fought under the name of terrorism has other political and economic motives including expansionist goals rather than the so called War on Terror. The Afghani Mujahideen have been sacrificing their lives to ensure the independence of their country and put an end to the colonialist game.``
How much longer Canada
Wed, 2010-02-17 02:18
#38
In two days, coalition forces have killed as many as [b]20 Afghan civilians in five separate incidents[/b].[url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/afghan-offensive-marred-by-civ...
I call this praising with faint damn.
I can just hear the remarks about one hand tied behind back.
Thanks, Unionist. We may need to hold this up and wave it a week or two from now. And what can we do now, except make it clear that people are paying attention.
We don't want another Op Medusa.
Wed, 2010-02-17 10:03
#39
Usually when militaries change their official story about killing civilians it is designed to explain away innocent deaths as an accident. Today, however, NATO took the exact opposite approach with Sunday's Marjah killings, revising their story to insist the killings were not an equipment error, but were part of a deliberate US targeting of a house full of civilians.
... Readers will recall that NATO urged civilians not to flee before the invasion.
http://news.antiwar.com/2010/02/16/nato-changes-story-house-full-of-afgh...
Wed, 2010-02-17 11:33
#40
Canadians To Be 'Tip of the Spear' in Kandahar
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/canadians-to-be-tip-of-the-spe...
"By late spring or early summer, Canada will be at 'the tip of the spear' of NATO's efforts in Afghanistan, leading a massive push in Kandahar Province on the scale of this month's attacks in nearby Helmand, a top soldier says.."
Thu, 2010-02-18 00:49
#41
Canadians To Be 'Tip of the Spear' in Kandahar
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/canadians-to-be-tip-of-the-spe...
"By late spring or early summer, Canada will be at 'the tip of the spear' of NATO's efforts in Afghanistan, leading a massive push in Kandahar Province on the scale of this month's attacks in nearby Helmand, a top soldier says.."
Helmand offensive a test bed for a future Kandahar offensive:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/michael-jackson/sc-dc-afghan-n...
Thu, 2010-02-18 01:56
#42
All Systems Go: No Dysfunction in Profitable Afghan Enterprise
http://www.chris-floyd.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/1927-...
"And what is the ultimate goal of this system, the purpose of the killing, destroying and dominating? Profits.
As we noted here not long ago, quoting Alex Cox: The Purpose of a System is What It Does.."
Thu, 2010-02-18 03:42
#43
Thanks NoDiff for the chris floyd link, which I read aloud here and there, dog sat up. Yow.
The role of Caspian Sea oil and gas needs mention, if only as whirling past the weaponry details. CBC etc. are now allowed to say "fart", providing they sound a bit awkward, but "Caspian Sea" is still forbidden, or they've all decided over coffee that it's not as important as pencils for children and democracy, and Sally Armstrong has persuaded them we need the military there for women's rights. The main real change being ready access to satellite porn in Kandahar.
Meanwhile with how many thousands in Marjah, generals/media have called for air support? Enough of this swamp-draining with one hand tied behind our backs. Air support sounds so benign and useful, like the latest bra. Or a pillow for people whose necks hurt.
Is it true the US air support misapplied on day 2 of Op Medusa, wounding over 30 Canadians and killing a former Olympic athlete, involved bullets the size of pop cans?
An A-10 (Warthog) is armed with huge stuff and "a General Dynamics GAU-8/A Avenger 30mm cannon, mounted in the nose of the aircraft.
"Using the cannon, the A-10 is capable of disabling a main battle tank from a range of over 6,500m. The cannon can fire a range of ammunition, including armour-piercing incendiary rounds (API) weighing up to 0.75kg, or uranium-depleted 0.43kg API rounds.
"The magazine can hold 1,350 rounds of ammunition. The pilot can select a firing rate of 2,100 or 4,200 rounds a minute."
Thu, 2010-02-18 11:29
#44
"detestable murderers and scumbags"
Fri, 2010-02-19 00:13
#45
Aged Woman Kills 3 American Invading Terrorists in Marjah, Wounds 1
http://milnewsca.wordpress.com
Helmand - Thursday, 18 February, 2010: 0725 by Qari Yousef Ahmadi
"A brave elderly woman out of high Islamic spirits killed 3 US soldiers besides wounding 1 in Lui Char Rahi area of Marjah, in Nad Ali district of Helmand province on Tuesday. According to details, the old woman known as Badu Amah, picks up the Kalashnikov rifle when she sees some US soldiers leaning against the wall of her compound and immediately opens fire at the soldiers, emptying the entire magazine into them and ends up killing 3 US soldiers and injuring another. The elderly woman embraced martyrdom when she was shot dead by US soldiers soon after the incident.."
Fri, 2010-02-19 01:26
#46
Canadians To Be 'Tip of the Spear' in Kandahar
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/canadians-to-be-tip-of-the-spe...
"By late spring or early summer, Canada will be at 'the tip of the spear' of NATO's efforts in Afghanistan, leading a massive push in Kandahar Province on the scale of this month's attacks in nearby Helmand, a top soldier says.."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has repeatedly stated that "We will not be in Afghanistan beyond 2011."
Chief of Defense General Walter Natynczyk gave the general order to his officers to prepare for the orderly scheduled withdrawal of Canadian forces, weapons, equipment, etc., by July 2011.
It will take a year to execute an orderly, planned withdrawal. Is this then a dirty, underhanded means of, yet again, escalating Canada's military engagement?
It's amazing the lengths the War Party, the arms industry, NATO and the Pentagon will go to try to keep Canada militarily engaged in Afghanistan beyond 2011.
It will be very interesting to see the political dynamics unfold of these two contradictory positions.
The Vietnam War destroyed two Presidencies and nearly destroyed the Democratic Party.
Let's hope the Afghan war does the same to Harper and the Conservatives.
New
The Netherlands is facing the same dilemma as Canada:
"Should I stay or should I go?" - The Clash.
Fri, 2010-02-19 01:31
#47
Naturally, but it's a great story anyway and I hope it's true
Fri, 2010-02-19 01:53
#48
Aged Woman Kills 3 American Invading Terrorists in Marjah, Wounds 1
http://milnewsca.wordpress.com
Helmand - Thursday, 18 February, 2010: 0725 by Qari Yousef Ahmadi
"A brave elderly woman out of high Islamic spirits killed 3 US soldiers besides wounding 1 in Lui Char Rahi area of Marjah, in Nad Ali district of Helmand province on Tuesday. According to details, the old woman known as Badu Amah, picks up the Kalashnikov rifle when she sees some US soldiers leaning against the wall of her compound and immediately opens fire at the soldiers, emptying the entire magazine into them and ends up killing 3 US soldiers and injuring another. The elderly woman embraced martyrdom when she was shot dead by US soldiers soon after the incident.."
No wonder, so far, no details are being provided on the deaths of the 3 U.S. soldiers in the mainstream media(!)
The offensive is going slower than hyped in most mainstream media:
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N18199530.htm
More U.S. and "friendlies" casualties:
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/bomb-explodes-marja-casualties-abound/story?id=...
Fri, 2010-02-19 16:39
#49
Interesting. The ABC news link above suggests at least some more substance to the claims made at what is listed as TALIBAN PROPAGANDA WATCH (RC South) - 190100UTC Feb 10 .
http://milnewsca.wordpress.com/
Here is an example, one of several for 18 Feb:
38 Americans and Britons killed, 11 U.S soldiers injured with 7 tanks eliminated in Marjah
Thursday, 18 February 2010 18:43 By Qari Yousuf Ahmadi
HELMAND, Feb. 18 - About thirty eight Americans and Britons have been killed as well as eleven U.S soldiers wounded through much of Thursday in Marjah, Nad Ali district. According to the details, 6 tanks of the U.S-led coalition forces were hit by roadside bombings separately in Yazdah, Shor Shorak, Sefen, Gudamunah, and Camp areas of Marjah, while the seventh tank was targeted by missile strike in Bazgaru village in Marjah. The report adds all the seven tanks were destroyed in the bombings, killing at least 30 Americans and Briton who were inside the tanks. Separately, About 6 U.S soldiers were killed and 4 others injured in the blasts tearing through some groups of U.S foot soldiers in Lui Char Rahi, Kalifah Ahmad Shah Char Rahi and in Block Now ares of Marjah, on Thursday. Also on Thursday, the U.S-led coalition forces suffered deadly losses in the face-to-face fighting with the Mujahideen in Sefen area of Marjah. Likewise, on later Thursday afternoon, Mujahideen killed 2 U.S soldiers and wounded 4 during an ambush attack in Sayedabad area of Nad Ali, while the Mujahideen, by the virtue of Allah's mercy and bounty, have suffered no losses during the attack. However, 3 children were and 2 women of the civilians were martyred in the U.S blind airstrikes during the Thursday's battles but the Mujahideen were not harmed in the U.S aerial attacks.
Sat, 2010-02-20 09:11
#50
First off, thanks for the mentions.
Before believing too much detail of Taliban statements, keep in mind Canadian casualty rates are routinely exaggerated.
In January, for example, 1 Canadian was killed, while the Taliban claimed responsibility for almost 160. Over the past year or so, the Taliban has claimed responsibility for about 15 Canadians killed for every one that has been killed. More here (Scribd.com) - caveat lector.
Sat, 2010-02-20 10:17
#51
Two Coalition Soldiers Die in Afghan Shootings
http://wireupdate.com/wires/1900/two-coalition-soldiers-die-in-afghan-sh...
Two coalition soldiers were killed in two separate shootings in southern Afghanistan on Friday, said Iain Baxter, a spokesman for the NATO-led ISAF alliance. He said the soldier was killed by small arms fire in the southern part of the country.."