'Taliban surrounded' outside Kandahar

[GAP]

'Taliban surrounded' outside Kandahar
NOOR KHAN Associated Press October 31, 2007 at 6:48 AM EDT
Article Link

ARGHANDAB, AFGHANISTAN — Canadian, Afghan and U.S. troops have surrounded a pocket of some 250 Taliban fighters who have commandeered people's homes in villages just outside Afghanistan's major southern city, officials said Wednesday.

Hundreds of Afghans — their cars and tractors piled high with personal possessions — were fleeing the battleground about 25 kilometres north of Kandahar city.

The provincial police chief said the combined forces have killed some 50 Taliban in three days of fighting. Three police and one Afghan soldier also have died, said Sayed Agha Saqib.
End

 

[geo]

Heh...
One last fight before winter sets in & the passes close for the winter?

The TB want to fight, have a big fight?  Good for them. 
I think that we (NATO & ANA) will be happy to oblige them in a hard / short fight... we should be able to accomodate the 250 (or more)
Last one out - please take out the trash & turn off the lights

 

[DirtyDog]

Heh...
One last fight before winter sets in & the passes close for the winter?

The TB want to fight, have a big fight?  Good for them. 
I think that we (NATO & ANA) will be happy to oblige them in a hard / short fight... we should be able to accomodate the 250 (or more)
Last one out - please take out the trash & turn off the lights

As long as there's no repeat of last September, I argee.

 

[Timmy!]

Get give'em hell boys...  :evil:

 

[PPCLI Guy]

As long as there's no repeat of last September, I argee.

What do you mean?

 

[geo]

... I associated the comment with the Blue on Blue incident involving the A10.  I believe we lost something like 10 people in Sept 2006 during that offensive.

 

[RHFC_piper]

... I associated the comment with the Blue on Blue incident involving the A10.  I believe we lost something like 10 people in Sept 2006 during that offensive.

September 3rd 2006.  Op Medusa
4 KIA and 10 wounded.  2 platoons and a engineer det versus an estimated 400 - 600 Taliban in pre-dug entrenchments... a good 4 - 6 hours of fighting.

The A-10 was the next morning... a rough labour day weekend for Charles Coy.

 

[DirtyDog]

September 3rd 2006.  Op Medusa
4 KIA and 10 wounded.  2 platoons and a engineer det versus an estimated 400 - 600 Taliban in pre-dug entrenchments... a good 4 - 6 hours of fighting.

The A-10 was the next morning... a rough labour day weekend for Charles Coy.

Wasn't it over 50 casualties in 24rs? (for a company sized unit)

That's what I was referring to, hoping that the same "over-enthuisiastic" decisions won't be made by the senior leadership leading to such diastrous consequences.

I most definitely wasn't there (as you were) but I've heard quite a few cynical anecdotes of that day....

 

[Mike Baker]

Get give'em hell boys...  :evil:

+1!  :cdnsalute:

 

[vonGarvin]

Wasn't it over 50 casualties in 24rs? (for a company sized unit)

That's what I was referring to, hoping that the same "over-enthuisiastic" decisions won't be made by the senior leadership leading to such diastrous consequences.

STOP!

MOST of those casualties were due to the unfortunate friendly-fire incident.  EVEN IF you (or others) were there, you would have seen the situation from the ground, NOT the overall allseeing all knowing reasons for ANY decisions made that day.  All the deaths were tragic, but come on: compare that (4 KIA, 10 x WIA) to any non-descript day in world war two.  Yes it was as RHFC_Piper said, a rough labour day weekend, but also note what he said: look at what they were up against, and in spite of ANY decision made by ANY commander at ANY time, we seem to forget that the enemy gets a vote on how things will turn out.


As for the ongoing mission: all the best to our lads.

 

[RHFC_piper]

Wasn't it over 50 casualties in 24rs? (for a company sized unit)

4 KIA, 10 WIA on the 3rd
1 KIA, 38 WIA on the 4th

So... yeah... C Coy became combat ineffective.

That's what I was referring to, hoping that the same "over-enthusiastic" decisions won't be made by the senior leadership leading to such disastrous consequences.

I most definitely wasn't there (as you were) but I've heard quite a few cynical anecdotes of that day....

No comment.     

(Not against you... against the situation...)


I know these boy will hand them their asses.  Give 'em hell.

 

[DirtyDog]

STOP!

MOST of those casualties were due to the unfortunate friendly-fire incident.  EVEN IF you (or others) were there, you would have seen the situation from the ground, NOT the overall allseeing all knowing reasons for ANY decisions made that day.  All the deaths were tragic, but come on: compare that (4 KIA, 10 x WIA) to any non-descript day in world war two.  Yes it was as RHFC_Piper said, a rough labour day weekend, but also note what he said: look at what they were up against, and in spite of ANY decision made by ANY commander at ANY time, we seem to forget that the enemy gets a vote on how things will turn out.


As for the ongoing mission: all the best to our lads.

I was actually going to add that most of the casualties were related to the A10, I should of.  As I can only form an opinion of what I've heard from those on the ground, and from of what I've read, that was what I reflected.  I'm not trying to be an armchair general.

I'll bow of out of this now and wish the lads over there all the best.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Going merely from the press reports, ANP advised the military that Taliban were moving in to take advantage of the death of a respected leader, now they are cutoff and fighting for their lives. If this battle plays out well for us, it will seriously hurt the Taliban ability to set up a spring offensive, with morale low and a serious fight back in Pakistan draining off supplies and replacements.

I wonder how the Taliban are enjoying being some the first combat troops (using the term loosely) to experience the wrong side of the Leo 2 debut into real battle?

 

[vonGarvin]

I wonder how the Taliban are enjoying being some the first combat troops (using the term loosely) to experience the wrong side of the Leo 2 debut into real battle?

I wouldn't use the term "combat troops" loosely at all on the Taliban.  They have proven their mettle in battle, to varying degrees.  Hell, the Taliban have been in more firefights than I!  Having said that, would this be the Leopard 2's first EVER foray into battle?  EG: First shots fired in anger and all that?

 

[Colin Parkinson]

I consider many of the Taliban to be first rate fighters and Insurgents, but I don't know if I could really define them as combat troops.

As for the Leo2, I think it saw limited service in some UN zones, but I would say this is the first reallt test against people that are highly interested in killing one.

 

[geo]

It was discussed in the Leo2 thread but... it can be presumed that demonstrating the Leo2s abilities in combat is something the Germans (Mfg & military) want.  Hence the "loan" of 20 new Leo2 A6Ms.

 

[GAP]

One more article

Canadian Troops Engage In Major Firefight With Taliban Insurgents
Wednesday October 31, 2007 CityNews.ca Staff
Article Link

Canada's already-costly mission in Afghanistan took another violent turn Wednesday, as the sounds or mortars and machine-gun fire echoed through Kandahar city while Canadian troops confronted Taliban forces just outside the city limits.

The intense fighting has reportedly left 50 Taliban dead and 50 more wounded, and began when Afghan National Police and NATO soldiers surrounded two villages in the Arghandab district.

There were reports the Taliban had amassed about 300 fighters in the area in an attempt to capitalize on a leadership vacuum following the death of a pro-government leader in the area.

"The Taliban are hiding in the houses," said Provincial Police Chief Sayed Afgha Saqib. "We will try and capture them alive."

Panicked residents were quick to flee the embattled district, forming long lines as they made their way into the city centre for safety. The mass exodus was fueled by rumours the Taliban had overrun refugee camps in the area.

"There are a lot of wild stories going on here," one local said. "Some people say there are 250 Taliban and others say it is 1,500 ... People are worried."

The Afghanistan NGO Safety Office, or ANSO, issued a warning to non-governmental organizations Wednesday, advising them to stop moving about within Kandahar city and return to safe locations.

The warning added that armed opposition groups were reportedly seen nearby carrying weapons openly and establishing checkpoints, which could be a ploy to draw NATO forces away from the Arghandab fighting. Undeterred, NATO officials said coalition forces are in control of the area.

"The Arghandab district is very close to Kandahar city," said Maj. Eric Landry, chief of planning for the Canadian military contingent in Afghanistan. "This might be a vital ground for the insurgents. It is also a vital ground for us so we want to make sure this district is secure for the population, but also that we have freedom of movement in this district."
More on link

 

[vonGarvin]

Canada's already-costly mission in Afghanistan took another violent turn Wednesday, as the sounds or mortars and machine-gun fire echoed through Kandahar city while Canadian troops confronted Taliban forces just outside the city limits.

No bias there, eh?  I hate CITY TV.....


From what I gather over the OTHER news sites is that it is some 25 km to the north of the city.  Close?  Sure, but "just outside" the city limits?  Gimme a break!
AND the photo they have is of the TALIBAN, not our lads and lasses!  Imagine a news story of D-Day showing a bunch of Wehrmacht soldiers?  Putzes!

 

[muskrat89]

Canada's already-costly mission in Afghanistan took another violent turn Wednesday

Combat operations violent??  Whouldathunk?

 

[Timmy!]

From what I gather over the OTHER news sites is that it is some 25 km to the north of the city.  Close?  Sure, but "just outside" the city limits? 

Just outside city limits? Sounds like Operation Typhoon,  02 Oct  1941.  ;D