U.S. Forces Push Further Into Afghanistan

[NVMojo]

NARAY, Afghanistan (AP) -

Hundreds of U.S. soldiers have established their northernmost base in Afghanistan, pushing further up the border with Pakistan to block militants crossing jagged mountains, train fledgling local forces and build support among wary tribesmen.

In doing so, they have put themselves further into harm's way, drawing rocket fire from enemies on surrounding mountain peaks and losing at least seven soldiers since February, including their previous commanding officer in a May 5 helicopter crash in bad weather.

With NATO taking charge of security in southern provinces wracked by a Taliban resurgence, the U.S. is increasingly able to focus on stabilizing the dangerous east, extending the Afghan government's authority there and hunting for fugitives like Osama bin Laden.

More than 600 U.S. soldiers have deployed to Naray, a clutch of mud-brick and stone villages inhabited by 30,000 Pashtun tribespeople in Kunar province - a virtually forgotten corner of Afghanistan at the northern end of the belt of eastern provinces patrolled by U.S. forces.

more ....

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/w-asia/2006/aug/08/080805983.html

[cliss]

1. OMG.....these poor US troops.

Look at this...."train fledgling local forces and build support among wary tribesmen". These are the Pashtuns, folks.

What are they thinking at the Pentagon? Is this Don Rumsfailed's idea?

I just cannot figure out what they are trying to do here. Build alliances? There will not be any alliances because the Pashtuns are very provincial, they do not want any outsiders in their beloved homeland, and do the US troops even speak the language? If not, they will be needing translators.

WHAT are they hoping to accomplish here? This is a lost cause.

[bemildred]

2. More tactical brilliance from our "leaders". nt