Afghanistan War News Updates -- February 14, 2010

Marines with 1/3 Charlie Company battle Taliban on the North East of Marjah. Baz/Getty

Afghan Offensive Is New War Model -- New York Times

KABUL, Afghanistan — For all the fighting that lies ahead over the next several days, no one doubts that the American and Afghan troops swarming into the Taliban redoubt of Marja will ultimately clear it of insurgents.

And that is when the real test will begin.

For much of the past eight years, American and NATO forces have mounted other large military operations to clear towns and cities of Taliban insurgents. And then, almost invariably, they have cleared out, never leaving behind enough soldiers or police officers to hold the place on their own.

And so, almost always, the Taliban returned — and, after a time, so did the American and NATO troops, to clear the place all over again.

“Mowing the grass,” the soldiers and Marines derisively call it.

Read more ....

More News From Afghanistan

NATO forces face Taliban mines, resistance -- Yahoo News/AP
Afghan flag-raising in NATO offensive draws gunfire -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Mines, snipers slow progress in Afghan offensive -- Yahoo News/AFP
NATO, Afghan Troops in Second Day of Operation in Taliban Stronghold -- Voice of America
NATO, Afghan Troops Push into Taliban Stronghold -- Voice of America>
Marines Secure Key Areas in Marja -- Los Angeles Times
Troops Face Gunfights and Minefields in Offensive -- Washington Post
15,000 Marines, Afghan troops raid Marjah in largest Afghanistan offensive in about a decade -- New York Daily News
US Marine commander: It could take weeks to reclaim Taliban stronghold of Marjah -- Today Online
Marines, Afghan troops seek to secure their hold on Marja -- L.A. Times
At Scene Of Battle In Afghanistan, IEDs 'Are Everywhere' -- NPR
Gunfire as some Taliban fight Marines in Marjah -- Washington Times
Afghan assault finds resistance, explosives -- CNN
NATO forces push into Taliban bastion of Marjah -- The Australian
Allied Troops Seize Taliban Posts; Fighting Is Sporadic -- New York Times
Baptism of fire for marines of Company K -- Sydney Morning Herald
Afghan Attack Gives Marines a Taste of War -- New York Times
Raid on Taliban stronghold of Marjah a 'success' -- The Australian/AP/AFP
Afghanistan: Bob Ainsworth says 'real test' lies ahead -- BBC

Marines came under attack in Marja, a Taliban stronghold in Helmand Province, after going to check a building they had bombed earlier in the day. Tyler Hicks/The New York Times

Taliban leaders flee as marines hit stronghold -- Times Online
Bombs, booby-traps slow US advance in Afghan town -- Yahoo News/AP
Anti-Taliban offensive on track: officials -- Yahoo News/AFP
Marines spearhead major Afghanistan offensive -- Yahoo News/Reuters
First stage of operation Moshtarak declared a success -- The Telegraph
British spearhead allied offensive in Afghanistan -- Times Online
Troops secure objectives in mission -- Press Association
Key posts seized in Taliban stronghold -- Seattle Times/New York Times
Battle for town is a small step on the path to victory -- Times Online
British soldier killed in assault on key Taliban stronghold -- The Guardian
Surprise tactic in Afghanistan offensive befuddles Taliban -- Miami Herald
Military 'pleased' with Afghan operation, one soldier killed -- AFP
Soldiers going house-to-house in Marjah -- UPI

WNU Editor: War news Updates will provide another full update on the war in Afghanistan at 21:00 EST