Canadian troops lead new hunt for Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters

[Chris]

I know there is probably people sick to death with more talk of the conflict in Afghanistan. But yesterday Canadian soldiers of a battalion size (600+) will attempt to destroy a small pocket of Taliban and al-Qaeda rebel fighters.

"The joint Canadian-American force was dropped into a combat zone south of Gardez early Wednesday morning. Senior Canadian military officials say the mission, code-named Operation Harpoon, carries high risks...[The] new mission will dispense with enemies who were not killed during Operation Anaconda." The mission is largely Canadian and lead by Canadians.

Also "Canadian snipers successfully killed enemies in the previous mission, and they could kill more in this new operation. These sniper teams suppressed enemy mortar and heavy machine gun positions with deadly accuracy," he told a news conference in Ottawa."

"Maddison [Vice-Admiral Greg Maddison, the deputy chief of defence] won't speculate on how many people Canadians have killed. He said soldiers aren't in the business of counting bodies as they move on to their next objective. "Our troops are doing us a great honour in Afghanistan."

Incidentally this is the first time Canadian forces have used lethal force since the Korean War

 

[junglisthead]

humm and here i thought the war was over in afghan, you know with the lack of news from the front lines.........sarcasm

and whatever news does come through is 800 taliban dead, larger groups of al queda destroyed, many areas cleared

with all this positive news of the bad guys being destroyed you'd think this would be over by now, especially considering the gulf war took less time.................humm just something to ponder

 

[Chris]

This is a little different, and not fought on a conventional scale and tactics. Small units, difficult terrain, and no infrastructure to destroy means this will take a little more time. I don't think its fair to compare it to the Gulf War, the two are on completely different levels.

 

[Subsonic Chronic]

at least the snipers aren't indiscriminantly killing civillians...

Pete

 

[junglisthead]

think about the size difference, there really isnt that many taliban and al qaeda forces to have kept this going this long


people mention that these are the same fighters9mujahdeen)as the one who defeated the russians.......but that is a half lie, this is only less than half of the fighters, for the fact the other half of the mujahdeen forces are now helping the americans (northern alliance)

the only targets they are hitting are most likely assumed fighters and are mere civilians that are being slaughtered out there

prime example:

WASHINGTON (UPI) - A U.S. fighter aircraft bombed a single vehicle in eastern Afghanistan March 6, killing 14 people, including women and children, and wounding one child, U.S. Central Command announced Tuesday.

"Most of the dead were adult males but some were women and children," Central Command stated in a written release Tuesday.

The wounded child was taken to a military hospital for "immediate medical care" and is listed in stable condition.

The vehicle was near Shikin, a village in eastern Afghanistan. It was traveling from a "suspected sanctuary for al Qaida in the vicinity of a current operational area," Central Command stated.

The people in the vehicle were believed to be linked to al Qaida activities, Central Command stated.

At a Pentagon press conference March 6, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld acknowledged that al Qaida and Taliban might be traveling or hiding with their families. He indicated that fact in no way influenced battle plans, and gave no hint about the fighter strike on the vehicle which occurred around 1:20 a.m. that morning.

"We have assumed that where you find large numbers of al Qaida and Taliban, that there may very well be non-combatants with them who are family members or supporters of some kind, who are there of their own free will, knowing who they're with and who they're supporting and who they're encouraging and who they're assisting," Rumsfeld said.

Shikin is on the edge of the area where the battle known as Operation Anaconda has been going on since March 2.

"We're at a point where we had enough information and enough clarity to provide the information we've provided," said Central Command spokesman Maj. Brad Lowell Tuesday.

Lowell said Central Command still believes the vehicle contained al Qaida members, despite the presence of women and children.

"I don't think we are saying we made a mistake. This vehicle was traveling from a suspected sanctuary," Lowell said.

Copyright © 2002 United Press International. All rights reserved.

 

[Subsonic Chronic]

Originally posted by junglisthead
"We have assumed that where you find large numbers of al Qaida and Taliban, that there may very well be non-combatants with them who are family members or supporters of some kind, who are there of their own free will, knowing who they're with and who they're supporting and who they're encouraging and who they're assisting," Rumsfeld said.

Fucking double standards.

He's implying that innocent civillians killed by U.S. bombs aren't even considered civillians if they happen to be among Taliban and Al-Queda fighters.

Rumsfeld is such a jerk.

Pete

 

[Sporty Dan]

Originally posted by Subsonic Chronic


Fucking double standards.

He's implying that innocent civillians killed by U.S. bombs aren't even considered civillians if they happen to be among Taliban and Al-Queda fighters.

Rumsfeld is such a jerk.

Pete

So are you saying that they should put forth no effort to kill or capture Al Queda members that are sitting around with their families?




dan.