British Brigadier reports sign of progress in Helmand

[Farnan]

The former British commander in Afghanistan has said there were "real signs of progress" there.

Brigadier Andrew MacKay, commander of 52 Infantry Brigade, returned to the UK after six months heading operations in the Helmand province.

His troops were responsible for recapturing the strategic town of Musa Q'alah from the Taleban.

He said: "There's a greater level of security, people are returning to their towns."

"Musa Q'alah was iconic for all the wrong reasons, because the Taleban were in control," he said.

"We're now trying to make it iconic for the right reasons - reconstruction and development."

'Better chance'

Brig MacKay, who was in charge of some 7,000 troops in Helmand, said most soldiers had been involved in work such as building schools and refurbishing mosques.

He said: "There's now a school, with about 800 kids going to that school, and there's not been a school in Musa Q'alah for many, many years.

"We're trying to show the people they have a better chance this way than with the Taleban."

But he added: "Often the real improvement they want is security."

In the six months he was in Helmand, 10 British soldiers were killed.

He said: "There are parts of Helmand where our operating bases haven't been attacked for two or three months, so real signs of progress."

"Of course there is an awful long way to go, but as long as we keep making that progress we will succeed."

Brig MacKay, who was in Helmand when Prince Harry was deployed there, praised the prince, saying: "He was just doing his job, like everyone else. I think that's why he enjoyed it as much as he did."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7344717.stm

This is pretty good news, perhaps we have regained the iniative there.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

Hopefully the situation continues to improve. I know we're shifting American soldiers to Afghanistan.

[Kiljan Arslan]

Good to we owe those guys big after they helped us defeat the soviets.

[Nick_Since_1985]

Wow they are allready making progress, the war is only been busy for like five years...

Home before christmas...

[Rapax]

South is getting better, North is getting worse. That's gonna be fun.

[Plautus]

South is getting better, North is getting worse. That's gonna be fun.

Indeed, two attacks on german patrols last week involving one car suicide bomber...mad.

I dont think the few fallschirmjäger, who are in fact the only real offensive force, are enough to deal with that situation. I wasnt there for myself but as the german patrol was going back to the hq after the last firefight nothing cleared out. I mean those guys shooting with automatic weapon and rpgs on the patrol will do it again - if not killed or cought.

[Daovonnaex]

even if all violence in afghanistan stops things will not have improved

because it's still afghanistan, a ing pile of sand and rocks inhabited by savages

[mrmouth]

Daovonnaex, I cant tell when your posting for shock value of being serious. Afghans are fairly progressive socially, despite some of their customs. Yeah, they live in one of the most remote undeveloped regions of the world, but they embrace change for the most part. I found them easier to deal and reason with than a good amount of Westerners.

South is getting better, North is getting worse. That's gonna be fun.

Do you have any links to stories on that subject? Don't doubt the validity, just haven't read anything on it.

Thats the nature of the beast. Its what we have dealt with almost constantly in Iraq on a smaller level. In Iraq it is neighborhood to neighborhood, block to block. In A-stan it appears to be largely province to province. That being said, its much easier to manage in a mostly urban setting.

We simply need a larger force or we will forever be chasing our tails.

[Rapax]

Do you have any links to stories on that subject? Don't doubt the validity, just haven't read anything on it.

I don't have any specific links, just the fact that german patrols have been attacked 3 times within 2 weeks since end of march. The notion now is that the Taliban are increasing pressure and are desperate for a "kill" so to say. The attack on 3/27/08 was a remotely triggered IED, the worst attack with 2 heavily wounded soldiers and on 4/10/08 we had two attacks, one being a suicide bomber detonating his car between a patrol, no casualties, and one attack with small arms fire and RPGs on 2 recon vehicles, again no casualties.
So what some people are saying is that germany's restricted ROE that dictates reaction instead of action is gonne come around to bite them in the ass. I hope they can counter that trend with the deployment of the german QRF in summer or it's simply gonna be too late at some point.

[mrmouth]

So what some people are saying is that germany's restricted ROE that dictates reaction instead of action is gonne come around to bite them in the ass. I hope they can counter that trend with the deployment of the german QRF in summer or it's simply gonna be too late at some point.

I remember you or someone mentioning the QRF. It would have to a substantial force to combat the movement of what is likely a sizable insurgent force to the north. Apparently NATO is seeing less resistance in the South, so 2+2 might just equal a shift.

You cant really blame the German ROE for the shift. Its part and parcel of any insurgency. They survive by moving to the area of least resistance. NATO is currently working the south hard, so it was to be expected at some point.

Hopefully it will only prove to be a small portion of the insurgency and the Germans, and company, can combat that successfully while also completing their other work.

[Heinz Guderian]

I think if we moved those 5,000 from outside of Basra to Helmand, it could make a real big difference right now. It would not only add to boots on the ground, but aid in our logistics and replenishment rate since we can cut one supply destination and can concentrate on Afghanistan.

[Rambo]

I think if we moved those 5,000 from outside of Basra to Helmand, it could make a real big difference right now. It would not only add to boots on the ground, but aid in our logistics and replenishment rate since we can cut one supply destination and can concentrate on Afghanistan.

Agreed, We just dont have the resources. Let the americans worry about basra and let the british move on to Helmand.

[Rapax]

I remember you or someone mentioning the QRF. It would have to a substantial force to combat the movement of what is likely a sizable insurgent force to the north.

Yeah I fear it's BS overall though. I mean, the QRF is essentially (supposed to be) a combat force that is also supposed to act preemptively and in limited offensive operations but they haven't made any changes to the ROE, saying the original mandate provides the necessary guidelines. The norwegian QRF hasn't been used much either.
The QRF is gonna be equipped with mortars and apparently will also be supported by IFVs which is a step up in firepower from what's been used previously, but they won't get their own support and logistics section, expected to use existing assets already in afghanistan which will severely limit their capability of sustained operations in the field since the existing support and logistics assets are busy enough with regular duty.

[RZZZA]

...said most soldiers had been involved in work such as building schools and refurbishing mosques.

...wtf?

since when did the U.S. or U.K. army train their soldiers in roman-esque fashions, to build fortifications and roads and other infrastructure? they arent trained for this, its a sign of failure imo to write about how soldiers are helping to build schools and mosques.

[The Alcotroll]

...wtf?

since when did the U.S. or U.K. army train their soldiers in roman-esque fashions, to build fortifications and roads and other infrastructure? they arent trained for this, its a sign of failure imo to write about how soldiers are helping to build schools and mosques.

The Royal Engineers would beg to differ.

In peacetime the Corps delivers a wide range of practical civil, mechanical and electrical engineering skills to Service and civilian projects all over the world. From constructing roads and bridges in countries torn apart by civil war to building schools and providing flood relief in remote parts of Africa, Sappers enjoy many opportunities to put their trade skills into practice....
In addition to its purely military responsibilities, the Royal Engineers also fulfil a wide range of civilian and humanitarian duties including relieving flood and storm damage, and improving conditions for people displaced by war. All over the world teams of Sappers are using their specialist skills and experience to deliver practical engineering solutions.

Taken from the Royal Engineers' Website.

[RZZZA]

The Royal Engineers would beg to differ.



Taken from the Royal Engineers' Website.

oh ok then, thats good to know. I know in Iraq one of the complaints is that soldiers cant do the work required to rebuild iraq, they arent architects or electricians or plumbers. It just shows poor planning that we dont have electricians and plumbers handy to do this kind of stuff.

as for burkas in afghanistan...Dao, thats one of the big reasons we're fighting the taliban in afghanistan. Their radical conservative way of life is something the afghani's dont seem to want.

[Daovonnaex]

as for burkas in afghanistan...Dao, thats one of the big reasons we're fighting the taliban in afghanistan. Their radical conservative way of life is something the afghani's dont seem to want.

americans dying for the right of people to not wear burqas

boy that is a great use of our blood

[RZZZA]

americans dying for the right of people to not wear burqas

boy that is a great use of our blood

thats not why we're there, but its a nice perk. Its a nice perk whenever you can free an oppressed people, and give them back their television sets. I don't wish the lack of a television set on my worst enemy, that is a form of torture that I cannot condone.

[GeneralLee]

...wtf?

since when did the U.S. or U.K. army train their soldiers in roman-esque fashions, to build fortifications and roads and other infrastructure? they arent trained for this, its a sign of failure imo to write about how soldiers are helping to build schools and mosques.

Infantry might not be trained for building but the engineers sure are. So no it's not a sign of failure. Even if it's just a few soldiers digging some village a well, thats improvement as far as the locals are concerned.

[Daovonnaex]

Daovonnaex, I cant tell when your posting for shock value of being serious. Afghans are fairly progressive socially, despite some of their customs. Yeah, they live in one of the most remote undeveloped regions of the world, but they embrace change for the most part. I found them easier to deal and reason with than a good amount of Westerners.

Progressive burqas