Afghanistan: Fighting In A "Hornet's Nest"

U.S. General Tells 60 Minutes More Soldiers And Assets Needed To Defeat Enemy

(CBS)  This story was first published on Oct. 19, 2008. It was updated on Sept. 3, 2009.

Last month was the deadliest month for American troops since the start of the war in Afghanistan in 2001.

Responding to calls for more troops by U.S. commanders, President Obama has pledged to nearly double the number to 68,000 troops by this fall. What will they be facing?

We're going to tell you about a small group of American soldiers on the frontlines of the war. 60 Minutes lived with them for a month last September on a small forward operating base in eastern Afghanistan, not far from the Pakistani border. It's where the real fight against the Taliban and al Qaeda is happening - in canyon valleys and jagged mountain hideouts which are crawling with enemy fighters.

There is a reason the base 60 Minutes and correspondent Lara Logan traveled to is called "Wilderness." It's in the middle of nowhere, with nothing but desolate mountains stretching endlessly into the distance, until you drop onto a tiny patch of ground not much bigger than a football field in the heart of enemy territory.

"I thought it was gonna be a little bit quieter here. But we landed in a hornet's nest when we got here," explains Staff Sgt. Jake Schlereth.

When Schlereth, 27, and 33-year-old Sgt. First Class Anthony Barnes were sent to Afghanistan, they thought the fight was mostly over.

When he arrived in Afghanistan, Sgt. Schlereth didn't think he'd be landing in a hornet's nest. "I guess I really didn't know what to expect when I got here. I'd never been here before, I'd only been to Iraq. And you didn't hear too much about Afghanistan on the news. It was all about Iraq."

"Iraq, yeah. … Roles are reversed," Sgt. Barnes comments.

"Yeah. Reversed. And now it's all about here," Schlereth agrees.

It's all about "here" because the fight in Afghanistan is worse than ever. The tiny base has been hit by rockets and mortars at least 30 times since these soldiers arrived in March.

And that's only part of it: Barnes, Schlereth and their fellow soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division have survived 20 ambushes on their patrols.

American casualties are highest in the East, where they are fighting an Afghan warlord, Jalauddin Haqqani and his son, who are closely allied to al Qaeda and share al Qaeda's goal of driving America out of Afghanistan.

They've also publicly stated that targeting the base is one of their top priorities.

The base commander, 29-year-old Captain Thomas Kilbride, has seen more combat than any of his soldiers, constantly deployed since 9/11.

Asked if now, on his third tour in Afghanistan, things have changed in the country, Capt. Kilbride tells Logan, "In regards to enemy activity, I think it's increased. We need to deal with them deliberately, and, you know, immediately."

Their mission for 12 months is to protect a road, which is the only direct link between the East and the capital Kabul. "The road is a livelihood for everybody, it's a line that connects the rest of Afghanistan. It's a bloodline, an opportunity for all of Afghanistan to kind of develop," Kilbride explains.

Part of that development is a planned $121 million project to rebuild the road, paid for by U.S. taxpayers.

The enemy doesn't want to see that happen, so Kilbride is unrelenting about going after them. And doing that there means getting up every day to face these mountains, every inch of them enemy territory.

Asked how bad this area is, Kilbride says, "It’s one of our worst areas. They have the advantage, they know this terrain more than we do."

It often takes eight hours or more of climbing to 10,000 feet, even if they don't find the enemy, just to let them know they're not out of reach.

"The first time I did it, I thought I was gonna die because I'm from the East Coast. I'm from the South. The highest mountain we got's 5,000 feet," Barnes recalls.

"The terrain here will kick your ass. I mean, it's not a joke. You can feel it in your lungs. Feel it, you get that feeling in your chest when you're like 'Wooh!'" Kilbride explains.

He says it's a daily experience.

On one mission, after a steep - at times vertical - climb to the top of the mountain to search for a weapons cache, they found nothing.

The terrain and the enemy are relentless.

Asked if he ever let his guard down, Schlereth says, "Can't. Security's a must around here. Don't take anything for granted."

"If they catch you slippin', they will definitely make your day hard," Barnes adds.

[fightnirishman]

HOW TO DEFEAT THE TALIBANIN 5DAYS ?
HOW TO STOP THE TALIBANCOLD -ELIMINATE THEIR MOBILITY,AS THESE CIVILIAN DRESSED SCUM MURDER AND MAIM THE AIRBORNE AND US MARINES .SADDLED WITH MORONIC RULES OF ENGAGMENT?
THE TALIBAN SEEK TO DEPRIVE US OF BOTH MOBILTY ANS FIREPOWERWITH CONSTANT MINING OF THE ROADS AND TRAILS WITH IEDS

THE SOLUTION
WATER
NEUTRALIZE EVERY STREAM,LAKE WELL,CISTERN-USE AGENTS THAT INDUCE VOMITING-FEVER -DEHAYDRATION

MAKE THE CIVILIANS COME TO FIXED BASES FOR WATER -MAKE THE INNOCENT AND COMPLICIT WALK THE MINED ROADS FOR WATER-GIVE UP THE TALIBAN LOCATIONS -IDENTITY OR THE ''INNOCENT'' CIVILIANS GO INTO DEHAYDRATION
NO NAPALM- NO WHITE PHOSPOROUS NO AIR STRIKES FO FEAR OF ''COLLATERAL DAMAGE
OUR MEN LOSE THEIR LIVES AND LIMBS FOR WHAT?
NO TALIBAN CAN HUMP A LOAD OF RPG7S AND A 60 LB PACK AT 5000FETT WITH NO WATER
IF SECRETART GATES IS ''OFFENED'' BY APHOTO OF A VALIANT MARINE -THE SON OF A MARINE POST ALL THE WOUNDS TO IMPEL THE DEPRIVATION OF ALL-ALL -ALL WATER
THE SCUM WILL STOP IN A WEEK
GENERAL MC CRYSTAL WOULD DO WELL TO RE READ CESAR'S PUNIC WARS-EVEN GENERAL SHERMANS TACTICSAGAINST THE CONFEDERACY IN GEORGIA

ELIMINATE ALL WATER AND THE SCUM WILL FALL AND FAIL
JIM D BIG SUR CALIFORNIA

[samsel3]

The US needs to get out of Afghanistan. It is over. Iran, Pakistan & India have signed an agreement for the IPI Pipeline which circumvents Cheney s Big Pipe Dream.

Former Afghan President Karzai was protecting a US led consortium for the TAPI Caspian Sea Pipeline which will supply Southeast Asian markets. Additionaly, 1.6 billion barrels of oil,in the Afghan-Tajik Basin, and 15.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, in the Amu Darya Basin will be exploited.
The Taliban reneged on an agreement with Big Oil & Gas before the invasion holding out for a larger share of pipeline tariffs for their people. The US decided a regime change was a better choice.
Taliban leader Mullah Omar said: "There are thousands of security forces ... and it is clear that they are criminal, thieves, and the people can not trust the security forces at all,"
February 12, 1998 John J. Maresca vp of UNOCAL oil appeared before a House sub committee. The purpose of the meeting was to gain support for exploitation of oil & natural gas resources, for the rights purchased by BIG OIL in the Caspian Sea area.

In his testimony he stated, "The key question is how the energy resources of Central Asia can be made available to nearby Asian markets ".

The exploitation option stated : "One obvious route south would cross Iran, but this is foreclosed by American companies because of U.S. sanctions (with Iran ) . The only other possible route is across Afghanistan,

[jellolion]

vietnam war all over again. our technology doesnt help us in this place.

[jellolion]

so sad. so tragic. what a waste.

[jellolion]

Bin Laden was NEVER in Iraq. Taliban was NEVER in Iraq. The reason Taliban is strong now is because we beat them down in 2002-2003, then left without finishing the job. They went up to the mountains, regrouped, rebuilt their strength, learned how to fight us. Now they are in their best form-small bands of guerilla fighters taking advantage of the harsh terrain. They are fixing to do to us what they did to the soviets. If we had finished them off, and left sadam in power, things would be pretty good right now. With sadam there, the radicals couldnt get in to Iraq. Man did we screw up. All this for what? We will lose 2 wars, destroy 2 countries, lose lots of our soldiers, and become a hated nation around the world, and gain absolutely NOTHING.

[wogerwabbit]

Asked how he sees the purpose of his mission in Afghanistan, Sgt. Barnes says, "I tell you like I told my daughter when I left. She asked my why was I leavin'' again. And I told her, I said, ''I gotta go over, and I''m gonna help the good people. I''m gonna help their army. And I''m gonna try to get, you know, put their bad people away.'' And she was like, ''Okay.'' And that''s my goal, to help as many good people as I can help, to get rid of as many bad people as I can get rid of, and to take as many of mine back home with me as I can take."

Now that''s a soldier. If it wouldn''t insult him, I''d salute him.

And to you grasshopper,

Posted by Speakinup21 at 04:35 PM : Oct 20, 2008

if you''ve never been there, you''re talking out your a$$. You should keep your mouth shut and learn something when adults are speaking.

[mwashington8]

This is in response to speakinup21...Have you been to either battle ground? Do you even know what the hell you are talking about? Have you lost a loved one in Afghanistan or watch as the body of one of our fallen has come off the plane? If not, I sugguest you sit in your cozy home and reap the benefits of what these Soldiers do everyday or pick a weapon and join them so you know what your talking about!!

[hothot342]

What I want to know is why the U.S. taxpayers are having to pay for the $121million roadway project.If they want to blow it up let them blow it up.Haven''t we been screwed enough!

[rivermom1]

This was a very needed piece on the war in Afghanistan and good as far as it went with real info. To support our Soldiers in war zones - regardless of your views on the war itself- please check out AnySoldier.com., a strictly non-political site to show US troops that we, at home, care about their safety and well being.

[grouchyjohn]

Cry to your Messiah Obamma about it. He''''s the one who wants to wage war on Pakistan now.......

Posted by hillaryin012 at 12:28 PM : Oct 20, 2008





(sarcasm)

Obama wants to hunt down, fight, and kill al Qaeda terrorists, EVEN IF they''re in Pakistan?!?!

WHAT A VILLAIN!!!

Doesn''t he know that our military now exacts personal revenges, and is in the dictator removal business, AND NOT into chasing those that attacked us?!?!

(/sarcasm)

[nowarforzion]

Lara Logan will never tell those courageous soldiers why they are in Afghanistan (because US support for Israel''s brutal oppression of the Palestinians was the primary motivation for the tragic attacks on the World Trade Center in 1993 and on 9/11 - look up ''''Israel as a terrorist''''s motivation'''' in the index of James Bamford''''s ''''A Pretext for War'''' book and access the following youtube from NEOCONZIONISTTHREAT.COM

What Motivated the 9/11 Hijackers?:

http://tinyurl.com/5nlhs6

[easeup-2009]

You gutless little idiot---how many wars have you fought in? Any??? Ever put on a uniform (other than haloween)?
Only the cowards that haven''''t been in a conflict agree that we should still be in Iraq and Afganistan!

If you so disagree with my saying we have nothing to win james, lets here from you what there IS to win!!

Posted by liberalme at 12:35 PM : Oct 20, 2008

The armed forces is mostly Republican--liberals avoid military service like the plague.

[yongamerica]

The US military and NATO allies have been saying this from the onset of the war. The US policies that led to the crisis mode of Afghanistan are similar to those that led to the policies that led to the financial crisis.

It seems as if the Bush Administration, Cheney included, have been on vacation the last four years because the management of resources to prevent both this military shortfall and the economic shortfall have been absolutely not present. There should be criminal inquiries into the administrations handling of these voids.

[liberalme]

With the Democrats now fairly certain Obama will win the election, suddenly $150 million new dollars flood into the Obama campaign? The only conclusion one can draw in this economy is the muslims now smell victory so Arab oil money is flooding in to buy their "advisory" position to the muslim sympathizer, Barack Obama''''s government. Israel can kiss its but goodbye. Women, prepare to wear a black veil, and be stoned if you do not do exactly what your husband says. Obama today anounced that Colin Powell would definitely play an advisory role in his administration but then immediately covered his butt by following with the statement "a formal role is something he and I would have to discuss to see if there is a fit". Goodbye Colin Powell. You will be advising on the layout of the Philidelphia flower show.



Posted by mroutside12 at 12:43 PM : Oct 20, 2008

What a good little hannity and lintball cult member you are---by spewing the garbage you do--you are showing just how stupid you are--you don''t even check what you say!!

Well we all know--ya can''t fix stupid--it''s a choice and you''re good at it!!!

[liberalme]

Afghanistan did not attack us lib. It was Al-quida not the taliban. No wonder your voting for a Messiah to liberate you from your own mind.


Posted by hillaryin012 at 12:30 PM : Oct 20, 2008

We were attacked by Bin Laden who was believed to be in Afganistan---and most of the terrorists involved in 911 were from Saudi Arabia---we never caught Bin Laden did we?

Bush manufactured the Iraq war for Oil--he didn''t succedd at that either did he?

Nope---Bush is a loser, a liar and a warmonger--there is absolute nothing good to say about that piece of trash.

[liberalme]

chill out psycho!! i said it was her "life" motto...has nothing to do with afghanistan.....go take your medication


Posted by jamesm12341 at 09:16 AM

You gutless little idiot---how many wars have you fought in? Any??? Ever put on a uniform (other than haloween)?
Only the cowards that haven''t been in a conflict agree that we should still be in Iraq and Afganistan!

If you so disagree with my saying we have nothing to win james, lets here from you what there IS to win!!

[walt1944-2009]

It has been learned that after he is elected Great Emperor, Obama will "volunteer" both former VP Darth Vader Cheney and Sarah "Moose-hunter" Palin for a tour of duty in Afghanistan!

The feeling is that with Cheney''s reputation of shooting first and asking questions later, and Palin''s love of firearms, that their presence there will create a favorable outcome for the USSA in its war against the Taliban and Al Qeada. There would be no need to send additional forces to Afghanistan with both Cheney and Palin "on the ground"!

In addition, Obama intends on "volunteering" John McBush McCain for duty in Afghanistan, placing him in charge of all latrines and other plumbing projects in Kabul as needed.

SIG HEIL, I NEED MORE OF YOUR MONEY!!!, BUSH!!!
sig heil, SEND JOE INSTEAD!!!, McBush!!!
sig heil, I CAN SEE AFGHANISTAN FROM MY FRONT PORCH!!!, Palin!!!

[jellolion]

OBAMA SAID LETS SIT DOWN WITH THE TALIBAN AND TALK IT OVER WITH SOME FRESH OPIUM.

OBAMA SAID, DONT WORRY, BE HAPPY AND BRING THE TROOPS HOME.

George Bush PROMISED to get those responsible for 9-11, Al Queda and Taliban. 6 Months later in a press conference he said he was no longer interested in going after Bin Laden. Face it, 9-11 was just an opportunity for Bush to push what he really wanted to do since day 1 in office - invade Iraq. The reasons were secondary. He used 9-11 to help him justify invading Iraq. That was his only interest in 9-11. You might say 9-11 was a lucky break for George Bush.

[grouchyjohn]

Pulling our troops out of Iraq and Afganistan NOW, would be the best thing we have done militarily since 2001.

Posted by ObamaUberAll at 10:47 AM : Oct 20, 2008





I agree.

Our military should be protecting OUR country - not "nation building", "dictator removing", or anything else.

[jellolion]

it looks like pakistan will get wrapped up in this too. If they get an unfriendly government, then we will really be in a pickle. Packistan has nukes. We looked the other direction when they were developing the nukes. This gets worse and worse. It is very similar to Vietnam. The enemy has its strongholds out of our reach in Pakistan(cambodia), and we are limited in what we can do to them, the rugged terrain makes it difficult to use our technology, and the enemy can use it to their advantage. Population is friendly to the taliban, unfriendly to us. The taliban obviously learned some lessons after being beaten up by us back in 2002-2003. Back then they were the government and had to defend against US in a conventional war. Now they are in their strongest role- a geurilla army, hiding out in small bands in the mountains, making surprise attacks on an established military strongholds of an invading army. We are in our worst role- waging a convention war against a geurilla force. Vietnam II.