US Troop Surge in Southern Afghanistan

Interesting take by the G&M on the new US troop projection into Afghanistan. (I'm sure by the way the Marines are not literally "charging", though this being a piece by a Canadian journalist on the US military, there has to be some cowboy language thrown in to reinforce our own smugness. However, the idea that this surge will change the nature of how we do things on the ground is a real one.


U.S. brings Iraq-like surge to Afghan conflict
DOUG SAUNDERS

From Tuesday's Globe and Mail
April 29, 2008 at 4:32 AM EDT

LASH KARGAH, AFGHANISTAN — A force of 3,500 U.S. Marines charged into southern Afghanistan this morning in an effort to reduce the heavy casualties suffered by Canadian and British soldiers in the region, bringing with them new pressures on Canada and its allies to adapt to U.S. tactics and methods.

The planned marine attack on Taliban positions on the southern border, described as an Iraq-like "mini-thrust" by some U.S. officers, is a welcome development to Canadian and British NATO commanders who have seen ground lost to the insurgents and increasing deaths and terrorist attacks during the past year.

But this new U.S. contribution is accompanied by a push to "Americanize" the 40-nation NATO mission, especially in the British-Canadian Southern Command. General Dan McNeill, the U.S. Army officer who currently commands the 40-nation NATO coalition fighting in Afghanistan, said in an interview that he hopes Canada and other nations will adopt U.S.-style tactics and doctrines, including lengthier deployments for soldiers, harder-line opium-poppy-eradication strategies and the use of military forces in reconstruction and humanitarian work.

Read the whole article.