[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Two interesting observations marked in bold. Gotta love these guys!

December 18, 2006

NATO papers Taliban

Hardcore militants urged to flee Panjwaii district ahead of Operation Baaz Tsuka

By DOUG BEAZLEY

Pte. Matt Kozakieniez of Burlington and Capt. Ryan Hanna of Brampton leave Mas'um Ghar operating base in their LAV 3 yesterday for operation Baaz Tsuka against the Taliban. (Alex Urosevic, Sun)
Day 2 of Operation Baaz Tsuka, NATO's latest drive to purge southern Afghanistan of the Taliban, began with a bombardment -- a paper one.

At a briefing at Kandahar Airfield yesterday, officials with the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan said the alliance had dropped leaflets over the mountainous Panjwaii district west of Kandahar City -- warning hardcore Taliban fighters to flee the area, and urging the less committed to surrender and swear loyalty to the government in Kabul.

"We're going to do as much as possible to avoid getting (civilians) involved in any fighting," said Col. Mike Kampman, NATO chief of staff in southern Afghanistan.

So far, that doesn't seem to be much of an issue. Over the weekend NATO forcessent feelers throughout the Panjwaii district -- once the heartland of Taliban power -- but only made fleeting contact with the enemy.

ANA and NATO forces reported seizing multiple weapons caches throughout the region and delivering aid to civilians "displaced" by the Taliban yesterday.

Lt. Col. Ron Smits, chief of operations for ISAF south, said American forces moving in Panjwaii hadn't engaged the Taliban in large numbers.

"So they may well have responded to our leaflet drops," he said. "The whole operation is going according to plan."

Despite the apparent calm, the Canadian forward operating base at Ma'sum Ghar -- the point of NATO's spear in the region -- was the scene of furious activity the past two days.

Canadian Leopard tanks from the Edmonton's Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) were digging into the hills overlooking the Arghandab River valley. Troops from 2PPCLI out of Manitoba were checking weapons and equipment.

New concrete bunkers were erected around the base. Soldiers stood in groups, happy at the promise of movement.

"Man, I love this stuff," Cpl. Chad Chevrefils said. "We've been waiting here for so long for something to happen. We just want to get out and do our jobs, do what we were trained to do."