Wishy Washy Words in Afghanistan
I’ve been critical of NATO’s reporting in Afghanistan before, but their latest is especially laughable. Weasel words in bold.
ISAF air strike targets insurgent command post 1-25-2007
Today, ISAF conducted a successful precision air strike on a known insurgent command post in Helmand province.
The precision-guided munitions impacted on target, completely destroying the compound but causing no damage to the surrounding area. A senior Taliban leader and his deputies are believed to have been killed in this strike.
This successful air strike took place in the vicinity of Musa Qala but was outside of the area of the agreement between the Government of Afghanistan (GoA) and local elders. This is the latest in a series of operations, involving air strikes and arrests of senior Taliban commanders designed to bring security and stability to the inhabitants of the Musa Qala area.
“The message has been consistent and clear; the Taliban leaders have nowhere to hide and those who follow them should return to their villages and enter the reconciliation programme,” said Squadron Leader Dave Marsh, spokesperson for ISAF’s Regional Command-South.
In person, NATO spokesoldiers are reported as confirming these deaths but they haven’t put it in writing.
ANA and Coalition forces engage insurgents 1-28-2007
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (28 January) – Afghan National Army (ANA) and Coalition special operations forces were involved in three separate engagements against insurgents in Uruzgan province yesterday.
Near the city of Cahar Cineh, following an insurgent attack on ANA and Coalition forces, close air support was requested. The engagement resulted in the death of some insurgents and the capture of three others.
In two further engagements near Oruzgan city, Coalition special operation forces engaged insurgents with direct and indirect fire and again called for close air support. These engagements lasted more than six hours and resulted in more insurgent deaths.
Unfortunately, one Afghan National Army soldier died of wounds during the second engagement near Oruzgan city. There were no injuries to Coalition special operation forces or local civilians during the engagements.
I’m a cynical sort, so here’s my take. NATO doesn’t spend a lot of time on after-action assessment of terrorists deaths. They accept estimates, and appear to brag in person while not committing to the same information in writing. All in all it sounds like a snow job to me, and I grow increasingly reluctant to accept anything NATO puts out as entirely true. The last few months where NATO did report terrorist losses, they’re huge, really, really huge. And, too often, they are 50. A nice round, huge number.
Our allies in Afghanistan seeems to arrived with more PIO’s than troops, and certainly more PIO’s than bullets. Ill equipped and ill prepared, and poorly trained are some of the compliments our NATO bretheren are receiving from the soldiers actually doing the shooting. Old Europe, the French, Germans, Dutch, Spanish, etc. are those I am criticizing. Our newest friends seems to be willing to work and learn and fight. I salute the Canadians, though they, too, are poorly equipped. They have fought hard and well despite the lack of support that several governments at home have shown their military.
NATO got into Afghanistan because of the treaty obligations we called upon after September 11. At least we can be glad that the Soviets never came through Fulda Gap.
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