More than 200 Andar village elders met with Col. Rajmund Andrzejczak, Task Force White Eagle Commander, Feb. 5th for the biggest shura in the village since 2003.

The meeting was arranged by the Governor of Ghazni Province, Dr. Usman Usmani, and Andar sub-governor, Mr Mohammad Jusuf. The participants of the meeting discussed what they felt were the most important issues facing the village.

Governor Usmani said that the development of Andar District depends on increased security and on the citizens. They have to fight against the Taliban and the insurgency. The Coalition Forces and Afghan National Army soldiers support the village citizens in this effort.

“I’m proud that my soldiers cooperate with Afghan National Army soldiers. I know that they need more equipment and better weapons, but they have something that is priceless: the pride on their faces and bravery in their hearts,” said Col. Andrzejczak.

At the end of shura, the men danced a traditional dance called watan. The meeting closed with the distribution of humanitarian aid and gifts delivered by the Polish soldiers.

ISAF

Boats? The Taliban has boats in a landlocked country???

July 13, 2008 – At least 40 insurgents during an ongoing operation in Afghanistan’s Helmand province yesterday, military officials said.

The fight began when insurgent forces attacked an Afghan and coalition security patrol yesterday in Sangin district. From multiple concealed and fortified positions, the insurgents used small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. The ensuing fight led the combined forces to return fire and call for precision air strikes.

The friendly forces destroyed four insurgent fortified fighting positions, two bunkers, two trench lines, one improvised-explosive-device site, and more than 30 enemy boats, officials said.

Elsewhere, Afghan and coalition forces killed several insurgents while conducting a security patrol in the Shaheed Hasas district in Oruzgan province.

The combined forces noticed several armed militants moving into a fighting position. The militants attacked the patrol with small-arms fire, officials said. The combined forces responded with small-arms fire, killing several insurgents.

No Afghan, coalition or civilian casualties were reported, officials said.

In July 10 operations, four militants were detained during a coalition operation in Ghazni province.

Also July 10, coalition forces searched several compounds in the Andar district targeting a militant involved in transporting foreign fighters in the area. During their search, forces discovered a trap door under which three militants and a child were hiding. The three militants were detained, while the child was returned unharmed to the care of his mother, officials said. A fourth militant was detained during the course of the operation.

DoD

Several insurgents were killed by Polish troops in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, June 16.

Troops from the Polish battle group were on patrol when they were attacked by the insurgents near the village Nerkh.

No one from the Polish battle group was injured.

DVIDS

A young girl eats a bag of cookies given to her by a U.S. Soldier, Jan. 13, at a clinic in Nawa District, Afghanistan

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