Soviet paratroopers (VDV) regiment #350 encircled large group ofmujahideen in Pandjsher Valley and ready to annihilate it.
Goncharov: NATO Repeating Soviet Mistake In Afghanistan
-- Salt Lake Tribune/RIA Novosti
-- Salt Lake Tribune/RIA Novosti
MOSCOW - The recent events in Afghanistan have again called into question the effectiveness and professionalism of NATO and the anti-terrorist coalition in that country.
First, a French task force from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was ambushed, and lost 10 soldiers. On Aug. 22, more than 70 civilians were killed during an operation in the Shindand District in the Herat Province. The media reported that this operation was conducted by the coalition forces, that is, the U.S. Air Force. This event set the whole country in turmoil. Now Afghan President Hamid Karzai insists on revising the status of international forces in the country.
They are represented in Afghanistan by the U.S.-led international anti-terrorist coalition and the U.N.-mandated ISAF mission under NATO's general command. The goal of the former is to destroy al-Qaeda and Taliban commandos, while the latter is designed to guarantee stability on the territories from which they are ousted.
Operations conducted by these two missions are incomparable. The coalition is much more prone to make mistakes, and it has to prepare thoroughly for each operation. But what prevents the United States from doing so, all the more so since it already has some bitter experience?
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My Comment: Goncharov hits it on the nail. Not enough troops. Not enough resources to train the Afghan Army. No coordination between the different services. Everything is too little and too late.