Gen. McChrystal Vows Absolute Capture of Kandahar
Secretary Gates Arrives on Outskirts Ahead of Offensive
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates made a quick visit to troops on the outskirts of Kandahar, declaring the area the “tip of the spear” ahead of the long-promised invasion of the major city and the surrounding province.
Though officials have only indicated that the invasion would happen later in the year, US commander General Stanley McChrystal said the stage was set and that the military would “absolutely” seize control over the city when the invasion came.
The invasion will likely not be immediately launched, however, as several thousand US Marines were announced to be staying in Marjah, the most recent target of the offensive.
It had previously been suggested that the conflict would follow the same strategy as the Marjah invasion of last month, though attacking such a massive city instead of a tiny farming community obviously makes the battle an entirely different prospect.
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Duglarri
March 10th, 2010 at 6:27 am
Capture Kandahar? What on earth? When did we LOSE Kandahar? Haven't Canadian troops been based there for the past eight years? Now we have to go capture it?
So are we going to hear next that there are plans in place to capture Kabul, too? Followed by London, Paris, and Berlin?
Seems to me that this war is not being well run. But that could just be me.
John
March 10th, 2010 at 7:29 am
No writer of black humor could equalize the insanity of what is going on. There is a certain type of people that are making money off these illegal wars. I fear that this situation is going to come to a very bad end.
Druthers
March 10th, 2010 at 7:52 am
The end results. – another row of ribbons on MacChrystal's chest, a big replacement order for the war machine, and a continued slide toward bankruptcy.
Bravo Obama, now you too can be a REAL war president!
ron
March 10th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
There is no rhyme nor reason. The US "takes" Kandahar from the people who live there, probably losing a hundred or two hundred US troops in the process while killing untold numbers of Afghans. Then things go back to how they were before. meanwhile, the war industry and the puppet government in Kabul clean up monetarily.
D.Kiriakidis
March 10th, 2010 at 8:01 pm
The monkey puppet is blood thirsty .I believe that they will capture Kandahar after killing every woman man or child there
Valerianus
March 10th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
It's not "captured" until the FedGov naval infantry takes over.
River Rat
March 11th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
Same as in Nam, take a Vil or a hill and pull back and let the NVA have it back.
River Rat
March 11th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
And whats happen to the element of surprise, Now were giving them two or three weak notice that we are going to attack.