Friday, May 1, 2009

British Play Waiting Game In Helmand Before Arrival Of US Troops

Lance Corporal Nick Chauntry, of the Mercian Regiment, lights a cigarette with the help of his comrade Private Fletcher during a break on patrol in the town of Garmsir, Helmand province. (Richard Pohle/The Times)

From Times Online:

From the Taleban to Afghan families and British soldiers sweltering in the heat, everyone in this part of Helmand is waiting for the Americans.

In six weeks, they will arrive in such numbers and force that a long stalemate that has bogged down the British Army in this part of southern Afghanistan could be broken.

Whatever the outcome, the Americans’ arrival will change the nature of the conflict radically in this part of the country.

The British, in their modest numbers, can patrol only within reach of their bases to avoid the risk of being cut off, and the newly rotated British soldiers of the 2nd Battalion Mercian Regiment, bedding down in their makeshift fortress homes in the southernmost outposts of Helmand, know that they will soon be pulling out.

Read more ....

My Comment: Everyone is spoiling for a fight. If the Taliban are smart, they should melt away to fight another day. But if their past actions are any indication, they are not going to sneak away but instead hold their ground and be prepared to fight the Americans.

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