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Reproduced under the fairdealings provision of the copyright act...
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/05/24/afghan-soldiers.html
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/05/24/afghan-soldiers.html
Canadian troops begin major offensive against Taliban: 25 May 2007
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Touch more detail, shared with usual disclaimer...
Canadian soldiers roll into Zhari with Afghan army for Operation Hoover
JAMES MCCARTEN, Canadian Press, 25 May 07
Article link
MA'SUM GHAR, Afghanistan (CP) - A towering column of Leopard tanks and armoured vehicles rumbled into position in the volatile Zhari district of Afghanistan early Friday as Canadian soldiers prepared for their largest offensive against the Taliban in nearly two months.
Operation Hoover began under cover of darkness, amid the thunder of Canada's mighty guns, as illumination rounds cast an eerie orange glow over the rocky barrens beneath a star-studded Afghan night.
As the sun peeked over distant foothills, a squadron from the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) tank regiment barrelled past grape huts and mud-walled compounds before marshalling in a dusty tract of land near the edge of the Registan desert.
Behind them, Afghan National Army soldiers - trained and mentored by their Canadian counterparts - flashed confident grins and thumbs-up signs from the backs of their vulnerable pickup trucks as they prepared to lead the attack.
Many jumped out and after a quick scan of the ground, dropped to their knees and lowered their heads in fervent prayer.
Their initial caution appeared well-founded: within minutes of one convoy of vehicles pulling out, a loud explosion echoed off the mountains as a Canadian tank struck an improvised explosive device.
No injuries were reported.
The operation includes Canadian, Portugese and Afghan infantry, with support from the tanks, British air power and distant howitzer positions manned by gunners from the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery.
But it was the fierce-eyed soldiers of the ANA who were to lead Friday's charge, part of a conscious coalition effort to put local security forces in a leadership role.
"They're literally fearless," said Maj. James Price, of the Royal Canadian Regiment who's attached to Canada's Operational Mentoring and Liason Team.
The combination of the ANA's battlefield experience and the training and expertise the Canadians bring has proven highly effective, Price said.
"They have all the battlefield experience; we just have to fine-tune some of the things they do during battle," he said.
"A lot of them have been fighting the Taliban for years and even before the Taliban they were fighting."
With the ANA troops involved, it's the largest and most ambitious offensive for Canada in more than six weeks, said Col. Mike Cessford, deputy commander of Canadian forces in Afghanistan.
In addition to the armour and the ANA, The two-pronged offensive also included a significant contingent of soldiers from the 2 RCR battle group massing just north of the Arghandab River to prevent insurgents from escaping as the column of armour punched south.
"This is the anvil and this is the hammer," Cessford said, punching a fist into his open palm.
As he briefed soldiers on the details of the mission, Cessford pointed out planned troop movements on a classified map of the battlefield, like a football coach illustrating a tactical gambit for his players.
"The opposing team is pretty good," he said later.
"They've played this game for a while and we've been scrimmaging with them for a bit, so we need to step up with our game face and move it up a bit."
Also on the ground Friday were members of Canada's CIMIC team - Civilian Military Co-operation - to assist forces in their interactions with local civilians, who have been repopulating the region in recent months.
"It's all about the people - our chance to interact and provide security to the people but as a means to an end: development and governance, demonstrating that there is an alternative to a return to the harshness and the cruelty of the Taliban," he said.
"That is with a democratic government here in Afghanistan, who will provide to the people."
There again is where having local soldiers on the ground can be invaluable, Price said.
"We refer to a sixth sense; the ANA has it through and through," he said.
"They can distinguish between the locals and the Taliban that are out there; they're outstanding at that."
The fact the local army is also composed of members of various tribes from across the country helps to bridge regional divides and allows the soldiers to deliver the government's message, he added.
"They're excellent ambassadors for Afghanistan."
Unlike the operations Canadians have engaged in in previous years, Cessford said the return of local residents to battle-scarred Afghanistan has given insurgents the opportunity to hide among their ranks.
That makes the issue of ensuring no civilians get hurt a vital one, he said.
"We have to be very, very careful as we do our operations to ensure that no civilians are injured in this, either through our actions or through the actions of the Taliban, who are, frankly, absolutely less constrained in their use of force."
Cessford also warned his troops Taliban fighters might drop their weapons and blend in with locals just as easily as they could stand their ground and put up a fight.
"They may drop their AKs and pick up their hoes, or they may fight," he said.
"We'll see."
Canadian soldiers roll into Zhari with Afghan army for Operation Hoover
JAMES MCCARTEN, Canadian Press, 25 May 07
Article link
MA'SUM GHAR, Afghanistan (CP) - A towering column of Leopard tanks and armoured vehicles rumbled into position in the volatile Zhari district of Afghanistan early Friday as Canadian soldiers prepared for their largest offensive against the Taliban in nearly two months.
Operation Hoover began under cover of darkness, amid the thunder of Canada's mighty guns, as illumination rounds cast an eerie orange glow over the rocky barrens beneath a star-studded Afghan night.
As the sun peeked over distant foothills, a squadron from the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) tank regiment barrelled past grape huts and mud-walled compounds before marshalling in a dusty tract of land near the edge of the Registan desert.
Behind them, Afghan National Army soldiers - trained and mentored by their Canadian counterparts - flashed confident grins and thumbs-up signs from the backs of their vulnerable pickup trucks as they prepared to lead the attack.
Many jumped out and after a quick scan of the ground, dropped to their knees and lowered their heads in fervent prayer.
Their initial caution appeared well-founded: within minutes of one convoy of vehicles pulling out, a loud explosion echoed off the mountains as a Canadian tank struck an improvised explosive device.
No injuries were reported.
The operation includes Canadian, Portugese and Afghan infantry, with support from the tanks, British air power and distant howitzer positions manned by gunners from the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery.
But it was the fierce-eyed soldiers of the ANA who were to lead Friday's charge, part of a conscious coalition effort to put local security forces in a leadership role.
"They're literally fearless," said Maj. James Price, of the Royal Canadian Regiment who's attached to Canada's Operational Mentoring and Liason Team.
The combination of the ANA's battlefield experience and the training and expertise the Canadians bring has proven highly effective, Price said.
"They have all the battlefield experience; we just have to fine-tune some of the things they do during battle," he said.
"A lot of them have been fighting the Taliban for years and even before the Taliban they were fighting."
With the ANA troops involved, it's the largest and most ambitious offensive for Canada in more than six weeks, said Col. Mike Cessford, deputy commander of Canadian forces in Afghanistan.
In addition to the armour and the ANA, The two-pronged offensive also included a significant contingent of soldiers from the 2 RCR battle group massing just north of the Arghandab River to prevent insurgents from escaping as the column of armour punched south.
"This is the anvil and this is the hammer," Cessford said, punching a fist into his open palm.
As he briefed soldiers on the details of the mission, Cessford pointed out planned troop movements on a classified map of the battlefield, like a football coach illustrating a tactical gambit for his players.
"The opposing team is pretty good," he said later.
"They've played this game for a while and we've been scrimmaging with them for a bit, so we need to step up with our game face and move it up a bit."
Also on the ground Friday were members of Canada's CIMIC team - Civilian Military Co-operation - to assist forces in their interactions with local civilians, who have been repopulating the region in recent months.
"It's all about the people - our chance to interact and provide security to the people but as a means to an end: development and governance, demonstrating that there is an alternative to a return to the harshness and the cruelty of the Taliban," he said.
"That is with a democratic government here in Afghanistan, who will provide to the people."
There again is where having local soldiers on the ground can be invaluable, Price said.
"We refer to a sixth sense; the ANA has it through and through," he said.
"They can distinguish between the locals and the Taliban that are out there; they're outstanding at that."
The fact the local army is also composed of members of various tribes from across the country helps to bridge regional divides and allows the soldiers to deliver the government's message, he added.
"They're excellent ambassadors for Afghanistan."
Unlike the operations Canadians have engaged in in previous years, Cessford said the return of local residents to battle-scarred Afghanistan has given insurgents the opportunity to hide among their ranks.
That makes the issue of ensuring no civilians get hurt a vital one, he said.
"We have to be very, very careful as we do our operations to ensure that no civilians are injured in this, either through our actions or through the actions of the Taliban, who are, frankly, absolutely less constrained in their use of force."
Cessford also warned his troops Taliban fighters might drop their weapons and blend in with locals just as easily as they could stand their ground and put up a fight.
"They may drop their AKs and pick up their hoes, or they may fight," he said.
"We'll see."
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Go get ,em boys!
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Its good to see the ANA soldiers are fighting along side our troops, there knowledge on the area would be invaluable and a great moral booster for the locals to see their own kins men protecting them.
It's good to see a plan like this coming together.
It's good to see a plan like this coming together.
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