7,000 Marines Join Fight In Afghanistan

Troops From Camp Lejeune Are 1st Wave Of Obama's "Surge", To Total 21,000 This Summer

(AP)  Some 7,000 of the new U.S. troops ordered to Afghanistan are fanning out across the dangerous south this week 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," 1st Sgt. Christopher Watson, who like many here has also served in Iraq, said Monday. "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.

The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in late 2001 because the country's extremist Taliban leaders were sheltering Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda, the Islamist terror group behind the Sept. 11 attacks.

The forces quickly defeated the Taliban, pushing the militants out of Kabul and their southern base in Kandahar. But the international coalition and Afghan government have been bedeviled by a guerrilla war ever since, one that turned dangerously violent in 2006.

Along with this summer's troop buildup, the United States is training more Afghan security forces, increasing its spending on aid projects and working to strengthen government institutions, vital elements in a plan to stabilize the country and allow foreign forces to one day withdraw.

But adding troops also risks adding to the resentment of Afghans, especially if it brings about more civilian casualties, long an hot-button issue in this impoverished country. There are also fears that the new forces, which will bring U.S. troops levels to about 68,000 around the country, will simply push the Taliban elsewhere.

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.

At least 70 American troops have been killed in Afghanistan this year, according to an Associated Press count, a 75 percent increase over the 40 U.S. troop deaths through the first week in June last year. A record 151 American forces died in Afghanistan in 2008.

The Afghan government controls some of the major towns and roads in Helmand, but most of the province of around 1 million is under the sway of the Taliban. Thousands of British forces have been deployed in Helmand since mid-2006, but there have been too few to provide security and counterinsurgency operations for the entire province.

Taliban militants and the drug lords they protect are believed to reap hundreds of millions of dollars from Afghanistan's drug trade. U.S. and NATO troops have stepped up attacks this year on drug labs after concluding the drug trade and the insurgency are intertwined.

[hower4]

Hower4, He went & goes through training. They don't just toss them out there.
Posted by TNisgoodenoughforme at 1:06 PM : Jun 10, 2009
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
You are very naive aren't you? That's not an insult. It's actually quite refreshing, but a little sad. This is my last post on the subject. I hope your boy comes home safely and without killing or injuring anyone else. I also hope he leaves the American military as soon as he can and takes up a more honourable and constructive profession.

[TNisgoodenoughforme]

Hower4, He went & goes through training. They don't just toss them out there.

[hower4]

Hower4, Your right I don't know who the other side is. The Taliban? The simple or poppy farmer living the only way he knows how? I can still pray for peace between us.
Why are they gunning for my son/ our military? Because our government has us in a war. Our government. Those people we vote in to speak for us, but they don't, those people who run are country for the people, but don't. They play games. No matter the reason, my son is stuck in it & I will support him.
Posted by TNisgoodenoughforme at 7:23 AM : Jun 10, 2009
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If you don't know then I presume that your son doesn't know either. So how the **** does he decide who to shoot and who not to??????

[TNisgoodenoughforme]

Hower4, Your right I don't know who the other side is. The Taliban? The simple or poppy farmer living the only way he knows how? I can still pray for peace between us.
Why are they gunning for my son/ our military? Because our government has us in a war. Our government. Those people we vote in to speak for us, but they don't, those people who run are country for the people, but don't. They play games. No matter the reason, my son is stuck in it & I will support him.

[hower4]

1. When the term "UN forces" is used that equates to American forces doing the bulk of the fighting.
2. Name one war where America was militarily defeated? Dont say Vietnam, because American forces pounded them on the battlefield.
3. The war in Afghanistan is not against a defenseless country or the people therein, it is against the Islamic fundamentalists who ONCE dominated the country and government.
4. Your facts are skewed, European military powers practically invented imperialism. Self defense for centuries? WWI or WWII ring a bell? How about the British Empire, France, Austro-Hungarian, Russian, Spain, Portugal? Shall i continue? No I think not, here ends your lesson.
Posted by Tu_eres at 6:27 PM : Jun 9, 2009
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
1. What???? American forces doing most of the fighting? You were referring to the wars in the former Yugoslavia, where in fact the American forces provided ONLY air strikes (and as usual very inaccurate). This ensured that Americans stayed nice and safe. You call that fighting?
2. I AM going to say Vietnam....... America retreated, therefore America lost, pure and simple. Are you also going claim that America won the Korean war?
3. So you think you're at war with all fundamentalist Muslims do you? How do you know one when he/she is in your gun sights? And how do you think you're going to defeat them? Kill them all? How about fundamentalist Christians? Do you think they should all be killed too?
4. I said "quite a few", not "all" European countries. Only an idiot would think I meant Germany or Britain........... so apparently that's what you are!

[hower4]

Hower4, You have no idea how much I pray that never happens. You have no idea the tears I cried when he told me he was joining the USMC. You have no idea how many times I asked him how will he feel if he kills a child by accident. As a parent & a single one at that I brought it all up & talked & begged . Now all I can do is support my son & pray for him & the the rest of the Marines & all others in the military branches. Believe me I pray for all sides. it is the other side after all that is gunning after my son. I want peace. I will not say I'm sorry for thinking of or praying for my child first, again God hears it all not just the first list, but all listed/ prayerd for. We humans have made these wars, not God. We need to stop what has been started.
Posted by TNisgoodenoughforme at 2:20 PM : Jun 9, 2009
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
I don't doubt your sincerity now, though I do doubt your wisdom. Why do you refer to "the other side"? I am sure you don't know who "the other side" actually are. Nor do your military or your government seem to know, or how to defeat them.

Who do you think "the other side" are, and why would they be "gunning" for your son?

[Tu_eres]

The primary function of a military force should be to defend their own country and people, not attack other defenceless countries. Quite a few European countries have done exactly this for a few hundred years. Get back to me when America can say the same.
Posted by hower4

1. When the term "UN forces" is used that equates to American forces doing the bulk of the fighting.
2. Name one war where America was militarily defeated? Dont say Vietnam, because American forces pounded them on the battlefield.
3. The war in Afghanistan is not against a defenseless country or the people therein, it is against the Islamic fundamentalists who ONCE dominated the country and government.
4. Your facts are skewed, European military powers practically invented imperialism. Self defense for centuries? WWI or WWII ring a bell? How about the British Empire, France, Austro-Hungarian, Russian, Spain, Portugal? Shall i continue? No I think not, here ends your lesson.

[TNisgoodenoughforme]

Hower4, You have no idea how much I pray that never happens. You have no idea the tears I cried when he told me he was joining the USMC. You have no idea how many times I asked him how will he feel if he kills a child by accident. As a parent & a single one at that I brought it all up & talked & begged . Now all I can do is support my son & pray for him & the the rest of the Marines & all others in the military branches. Believe me I pray for all sides. it is the other side after all that is gunning after my son. I want peace. I will not say I'm sorry for thinking of or praying for my child first, again God hears it all not just the first list, but all listed/ prayerd for. We humans have made these wars, not God. We need to stop what has been started.

[hower4]

Hower4, I answered once yesterday & I will answer one more time. I will pray for my son first, who is a Marine. I don't think God cares about the order of who is prayed for first, just parying counts.
Posted by TNisgoodenoughforme at 10:58 AM : Jun 9, 2009
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I just thought it was significant that you didn't mention anyone except the American soldiers until I prompted you, but no doubt it was just an oversight and in fact you diligently pray every night that your son and his colleagues will not kill, maim or torture anyone.

[TNisgoodenoughforme]

Hower4, I answered once yesterday & I will answer one more time. I will pray for my son first, who is a Marine. I don't think God cares about the order of who is prayed for first, just parying counts.

[berniew4]

OBAMA's WAR ! . Today the pentagon admitted {WITH LITTLE COVERAGE FROM LIBS } that they made a grivious error ion an attack on TALIBAN and accidently killed some innocent civilians. i think the Obama white house sholud hire BUSH/Cheney to advise how to kill only the enemy. NOTICE. CBS ABC CNN MSNBC etc don't post this release from the PENTAGON ...

[quapawsix]

Hope it works, but the reality of it is if the Afghan people don't back your plan or believe in their government then this is going to be another wasted trip like Vietnam.

[hower4]

Apparently you can't genius. Kuwait ring a bell? Whose military stopped the ethnic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia? The people of Iraq have a democratically elected government. The Taliban are no longer controlling the government of Afghanistan. So come on back with some more of your stupidity. You failed to name another country whose military has achieved what America's military has done. Come on loser4, think real hard!
Posted by Tu_eres at 4:19 AM : Jun 9, 2009
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I thought it was UN forces in the former Yugoslavia!!!! You think it was the USA, do you? Are you trying to rewrite history? George Orwell must be turning in his grave. I'm trying very hard to think of a country that has lost as many wars as America in the last century, but I can't!

............. and if you think the Taliban are no longer controlling Afghanistan (and elsewhere)then you are a fool. In fact they have become far more powerful since your immoral invasions.

The primary function of a military force should be to defend their own country and people, not attack other defenceless countries. Quite a few European countries have done exactly this for a few hundred years. Get back to me when America can say the same.

[Tu_eres]

I only asked for the LAST time American troops helped liberate a country from oppression. You can't answer, but I can - it was 1944.
Posted by hower4

Apparently you can't genius. Kuwait ring a bell? Whose military stopped the ethnic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia? The people of Iraq have a democratically elected government. The Taliban are no longer controlling the government of Afghanistan. So come on back with some more of your stupidity. You failed to name another country whose military has achieved what America's military has done. Come on loser4, think real hard!

[hower4]

To: TNisgoodenoughforme
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
It's odd that you didn't mention "the innocents" until you were prompted, and then you mentioned them last of all. Don't you think you should pray for them first? Especially as they are the most likely to be killed or maimed. Or do Americans always come first?
Posted by hower4 at 12:31 PM : Jun 8, 2009
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No answer? I thought not!

[hower4]

Quit turning our military into a political argument. The military has nothing to do with politics.
Posted by stuart2000 at 5:27 PM : Jun 8, 2009
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Are you an idiot? The military carries out the decisions of the politicians. It is for the military AND THE INDIVIDUAL SOLDIER to decide whether their orders are moral and legal, or if they are war crimes. Have you learned nothing since the Nuremberg trials?

[hower4]

The Shia majority are thankful.

Posted by trapbreaking at 4:17 PM : Jun 8, 2009
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You mean the Shia majority who are poorer, more likely to die from disease or violence, have worse sanitation, worse nutrition, fewer hospitals and schools (etc. etc.) than before the invasion?

You don't have a clue about the reality, because all you know is what your biased media and government tell you. If you're interested, why don't you search for some facts for a change? I know Americans prefer patriotism to facts, but why don't you buck the trend?

[hower4]

I will not dignify your ignorance with a list of nations the U.S. Armed Forces have either liberated, or assisted with relief in the wake of disasters............
Posted by TPS2 at 2:46 PM : Jun 8, 2009
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I only asked for the LAST time American troops helped liberate a country from oppression. You can't answer, but I can - it was 1944.

[trapbreaking]

Are you seriously suggesting that Iraqis should be thankful for your invasion? Do you have any idea what conditions are like now? - posted by hower4

The Shia majority are thankful.

.

[TPS2]

and when was the last time????????
Posted by hower4

I will not dignify your ignorance with a list of nations the U.S. Armed Forces have either liberated, or assisted with relief in the wake of disasters. You obviously have issues with the U.S. military, whether real or imagined, and that is fine and well. However, the reality that the rest of the world accepts as fact, seems to escape you. What you will fail to do, is provide any other nation's military who has accomplished what the U.S. military has done. Keep posting your ignorance in your vain attempts to discredit an organization you obviously do not understand. Peace.