[illetrygrargo]

OK, OK. This time I will write more clearly. Who is publishing these reports, or is NYE getting these reports from other sources?

[IodinkBoilk]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
Canada: cleaning up others' messes since 1867
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[RedImmik]

I'd be hurtin' if I had to grow a beard.

[Teprophopay]

Originally posted by DanS
OK, OK. This time I will write more clearly. Who is publishing these reports, or is NYE getting these reports from other sources? Found it.

http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/060911/w091156.html
Canadian and international troops advance against little Taliban resistance
14:00:32 EDT Sep 11, 2006
Canadian Press: LES PERREAUX
PANJWAII, Afghanistan (CP) - Taliban fighters melted into the countryside Monday in an apparent fallback to a familiar tactic in the face of a well-armed foreign military.

Canadian troops and their allies walked into a village and its surrounding grape fields in the Panjwaii district, meeting no resistance along the way. The quick move deeper into the Arghandab River valley in this former Taliban stronghold buoyed the hopes of Canadian troops that the latest battle of Panjwaii, one of the biggest military operations for Canada since Korea, may be over soon.

The biggest danger Monday seemed to be shrapnel that whizzed through the sky from allied heavy bombardment and demolition efforts.

However, frontline troops found elaborate insurgent trenches and tunnels in this cluster of family compounds, an indication that key Taliban defences may yet lie ahead.

The insurgents may also fall back on traditional guerrilla tactics such as roadside bombs, ambushes, suicide bombings and booby traps after being badly outgunned in the recent attempt at a direct battle.

When frontline soldiers rolled through town Monday, they found trenches cut three metres into the ground along with tunnels and other escape routes.

The discovery sent a chill down the spine of the company commander leading Monday's push from the north, Maj. Geoff Abthorpe.

"Taking that bunker would have been a tough nut to crack. It could have cost us some boys," Abthorpe said.

"It looked like they were prepared for a fight, but I think over the last few days they lost their gumption to fight and they pulled out before we showed up."

Soldiers found a newer rocket-propelled grenade launcher, a coveted weapon that has killed and wounded dozens of NATO troops, along with explosives and bomb-making material.

Afghan soldiers were eager to show off a sweater from a Pakistani army uniform they'd found. Many Afghans blame Pakistan for the outbreak of violence in the country.

The Canadian-led NATO advance has moved methodically along the ground behind massive bombardment by artillery, warplanes and attack helicopters, often against small groups of fighters.

"If we do it the way we're doing it, one football field at a time, we're making great gains," Abthorpe said.

Army intelligence and local observers indicate many fighters are slipping away from the battlefield.

NATO has claimed more than 500 Taliban have died since the offensive was launched. However, Taliban spokesmen dismiss that figure as exaggerated and even the allied troops on the frontlines are discovering very few bodies as they advance.

On Monday, they found a few body parts and the smell of decomposing flesh hung in the air.

Forward Observation Officer Capt. Ian Plummer said his forces are using very heavy bombardment on relatively small groups of rebel fighters, a tactic rarely advised during military exercises.

While infantrymen have gunned down several insurgents, most casualties have come from aerial attack.

He confirmed his team of frontline air strike co-coordinators have killed several dozen insurgents in recent days.

"We seem to be ensuring there are very few enemy on our objectives," said Plummer. "I'm happy to suppress the enemy. It means fewer of our friendlies get killed."

Twenty NATO soldiers, including five Canadians, have died in the two weeks since NATO launched Operation Medusa, the attempt to take back this area in the heart of Taliban country.

Fifteen of them died in accidents, including 14 British servicemen who died in a plane crash and a Canadian who was accidentally strafed by a U.S. warplane. Several dozen Canadians were also injured in that incident.

With building Taliban strength, Canada's mission has turned quickly from a counter-insurgency with a heavy emphasis on local partnership and development to a conventional, very one-sided ground war.

Soldiers are revelling in a persistent rumour that Ottawa is going to send Leopard tanks to join the war.

Recent newspaper reports suggest as many as 20 of the 42-tonne Leopards may be shipped to Afghanistan, along with up to 300 military personnel to support them. But the federal government has not yet made a final decision.

Monday's battle was supposed to open with a massive air strike by U.S. B-1 and B-52 bombers but the run was cancelled when the aircraft arrived late.

The bombardment proved unnecessary with heavy fire from artillery and attack planes and helicopters sent in by Plummer's team.

"We've slipped into a semi-conventional effort, although I'm not sure I agree with the term," Abthorpe said.

"But we're fighting and winning the war while still doing reconstruction in the back and providing humanitarian aid."

Officials from Canada's Provincial Reconstruction Team have been visiting with local officials looking for projects to start reconstruction.