For U.S. Soldiers at a Remote Base in Afghanistan, Lots of Combat but No Clear Gains or Losses
Capt. Daniel Pecha, who took over command as Yllescas's replacement, says that despite the relatively close proximity to the Pakistani tribal areas—a traditional rear base for the Taliban and other groups—most insurgents operating in Kamdesh are locals affiliated with the Hizb-e-Islami outfit of former mujahideen leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.
These insurgents may not be as well trained as other fighters, but the overall level of violence is sustained because they don't migrate back to Pakistan for the winter, Pecha says. Knowing this, U.S. forces are trying to train local police to secure the area, but recruitment problems and supply shortages have proved troublesome.
At a shura, or council, held last month at a new meeting center inside the outpost, Pecha confronted the 42 tribal elders in attendance. It was no secret that insurgents were operating out of some of their villages, getting food and medical care. "This stuff has to stop," he said.
The shura leader, Abdul Rahan, at first denied the allegation and complained that shura members needed a private security detail. Later during the meeting, apparently contradicting himself, he said that the men involved were the "brothers, cousins, and neighbors" of those assembled in the room.
What could tribal leaders do, he asked. "The government is sleeping," he said, "so we are, too."
Reader Comments
God Bless Amserica,
The Afghans & Pakis they take and eat from America and yet they curse what a bad they are.I have observed that only and best is that US must take each step of giving Aid to them carefuly and observed after where this money is used.
Tightup the border check posts as the Afghans they take big money from inside the Afghanistan and go to Pakistan and buy weapons and very easyly can come and go through border no one to stop them Nuristan is full of talibans and have many easy entrences to Pakistan.
America should not trust Afghans and Pakis fully they eat from America and then after use very bad words for america and Americans.then there I cry.
I Pray for "On word christian soldiers marching as to war with the cross of Jesus going on befor"in the Nuristan area.God bless them ever.Aman,
Pakistan will help us to lose this war
Choosing pakistan as our ally helped us to lose this war from the start, pakistan has extracted a lot of money from bush administration without any results. No top Al-queda captured no Osama bin laden capture. Pakistan has given the insurgents a free pass to come and go as they please when USA complains they kill a few peasants and claim they were taliban, while they feed,house,supply and logistics to taliban, for them it is a winning proposition to play both sides they are coming out ahead getting aid and weapons from stupid americans while maintaining their brotherhood with the taliban, NATO is confined to a very small part of afghanistan and after repeated calls from karzai to punish pakistan USA has not
rooted out the taliban, the problem is in the fact there is no defining line between taliban and pakistanis. With the help of chinese weapons and pakistanis the mighty NATO 40 nation coalition will be defeated by one of the most poor and smallest THIRD WORLD country.
Outpost Keating
It seems to me that the military stationed at this out post is in scary and futile positiion.
However I am safe at home in the middle of our country. But my heart aches for these young people out theere. The Afrghan counterparts are also to be congratulateed on their determiniation to keep on keeping on.
They wilol all be i my prayers for their continuede saftey and well being.
God's Peace
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