Sgt Stryker

All Ahead in Afghanistan

As mentioned in my last post, it looks like there’s a lot of renewed action in Afghanistan. It appears the US military is serious about sending in a lot of troops to further stabilize the region. The problem is, if you know *anything* about the history of Afghanistan and that area of the world, you’ll know that poor country has been at war a long, long, long, very long time. There’s not much there anymore (besides the people), but the country is in a strategic location, which has made it into a “mud room” of sorts for that part of the world. That is, other countries use it as a place to get dirty and fight.

There’s a new coalition trying to tame things in the region, though. And they’ve been at it a while now with very little troops (when compared to the US commitment in Iraq and elsewhere…) What will happen as there is a small surge and they start to get proactive about going after terror cells – even if that means heading into Pakistan or (gasp!) Iran. If those countries are harboring terrorists, they need to stop. That’s the only way the big picture problems will stop and the military can private sector can go forward with redeveloping that area for the people of Afghanistan.

As mentioned, Afghanistan is in a very strategic location, a gateway of sorts if you will. If they could turn the ‘mud room’ into a waiting room or marketplace of sorts, the country could really rebound after hundreds of years of war, bloodshed, dictatorships and just plain out misery. It makes me feel when I think about what those people have had to go through over the years. And it makes me glad the US military and a few other countries have enough courage to say enough is enough this will be stopped. Ok, before I get too worked up about this subject, let’s get to some pics from Afghanistan.
# U.S. Marines Strike Insurgent Positions in Now Zad, Afghanistan

Photos by Cpl. Pete Thibodeau

The residents of Now Zad were forced to abandon their homes nearly three years ago out of fear for their lives due to the strong presence of insurgents. By conducting combat operations here, Marines are bringing Now Zad closer to the reintroduction of Afghan-led governance. The Marines of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan, have served in Now Zad since November 2008. SPMAGTF-A is committed to assisting the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan with providing security to the Afghan people.

U.S. Marines maintain security as other Marines assess battle damage on a former enemy position during a combat operation in the abandoned village of Now Zad, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, April 3.

U.S. Marines maneuver through a wall to conduct site exploitation after a precision aerial attack during a combat operation in the abandoned village of Now Zad, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, April 3.

U.S. Marines take cover from a controlled detonation of explosives during a combat operation in the abandoned village of Now Zad, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, April 3.

Smoke rises after a high-mobility artillery rocket system, or HIMARS, strike on insurgent positions during a combat operation in the abandoned village of Now Zad, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, April 3.

U.S. Marines assess the battle damage on a former enemy position targeted during a combat operation in the abandoned village of Now Zad, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, April 3.

A mounted patrol engages insurgents with machine gun and mortar fire during a combat operation in the abandoned village of Now Zad, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, April 3.

Sgt. Stryker signing out and reminding you to leave a comment, it’s free.