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America's North Shore Journal » Entries tagged with "Konar province Afghanistan"

Task Force Chosin Closes Afghan Smuggling Routes

June 8th, 2009 | Comments Off

Task Force Chosin Closes Afghan Smuggling Routes

Konar province, a lush area near the Pakistan border, has in the past been a conduit for illegally smuggled goods from the Korengal Valley into Pakistan. Lately however, Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, Task Force Chosin, have been making a difference against one of the biggest culprits, timber smuggling. “The enemy funds their operations a number of ways,” said Army Lt. Col. Mark O’Donnell, TF Chosin Commander. “They smuggle illegal gems, opium and timber.” In … Read entire article »

Filed under: Afghanistan, Crime and Punishment, Rebuilding, War on Terror

The Hardest Decision

May 2nd, 2009 | Comments Off

Raziqullah laid motionless on the green stretcher as blood oozed across his forehead, dripping onto the floor of Forward Operating Base Blessing’s aid station. Army Maj. Durren Hightower, a physician’s assistant, looked up from the massive head wound that exposed the 15-year-old boy’s brain, and sighed, “You know he isn’t going to have a good outcome, right?” One of the medics, fighting to keep the boy breathing by pumping oxygen into his lungs, replied quietly, “Yes sir.” Raziqullah, a shepherd, who like many Afghans has only one name, left home early on the morning of April 23 to tend to his flock in the mountains around his village of Gosalak. His family found him hours later at the mountain’s rocky bottom. He had fallen. The boy’s two uncles rushed him from his … Read entire article »

Filed under: Afghanistan, Medicine, Rebuilding, War on Terror

5 Tablibs Killed in Kandahar

April 28th, 2009 | Comments Off

Afghan and coalition forces killed five militants and detained 12 suspects during early morning operations to disrupt bomb-making and facilitation networks in southern and eastern Afghanistan. In Zharmi District, Kandahar province, approximately 30 kilometers southwest of Kandahar city, Afghan and coalition forces conducted a complex operation after receiving a tip on the location of Taliban operatives connected to bomb-making and other nefarious activities, including operating a checkpoint in Zharmi District to collect money from local citizens. When the assault force attempted to search several compounds in the targeted village, they encountered armed militants who did not comply with instructions to leave their buildings. Two men were killed when forces entered the building they would not leave and the men attempted to engage the force with small arms fire. Similarly, on three separate … Read entire article »

Filed under: Afghanistan, Terrorist Death Watch, War on Terror

ISAF kills 18 insurgents in Konar

April 13th, 2009 | Comments Off

Eighteen insurgents were killed during a pre-emptive defensive strike by International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Konar province on the evening of April 10. ISAF service members were on patrol throughout the day along a known insurgent infiltration route in the Pech District. The force then established a patrol base and deployed out an observation team. Approximately 26 insurgents with weapons and lights walked within six feet of the observers, giving the patrol positive identification of the group. As the group of insurgents moved toward the patrol, the observers radioed back to the patrol base. The patrol leader then repositioned his personnel to engage the militants. After the initial fire fight, close-air support and attack helicopters were called to support the ground forces. Following the … Read entire article »

Filed under: Afghanistan, Terrorist Death Watch, War on Terror