CounterinsurgenCy in helmand - Institute for the Study of War
CounterinsurgenCy in helmand - Institute for the Study of War
CounterinsurgenCy in helmand - Institute for the Study of War
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afghanistan report 8 | COUNTERINSURGENCY <strong>in</strong> <strong>helmand</strong> | j. dressler | January 2011<br />
<strong>the</strong> Taliban stronghold <strong>of</strong> Marjah underm<strong>in</strong>ed<br />
and slowed <strong>the</strong> clear<strong>in</strong>g operations <strong>in</strong> Nawa<br />
and Garmser. Had <strong>the</strong> Mar<strong>in</strong>es been allowed<br />
to go <strong>in</strong>to Marjah first and clear <strong>the</strong> enemy’s<br />
support zones ra<strong>the</strong>r than its attack zones,<br />
counter<strong>in</strong>surgency operations <strong>in</strong> Nawa and<br />
Garmser would certa<strong>in</strong>ly have progressed through<br />
<strong>the</strong> clear and hold stages even more rapidly.<br />
The pursuit <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> enemy, <strong>the</strong> disruption <strong>of</strong> close<br />
sanctuary and support zones and <strong>the</strong> sever<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>of</strong> enemy l<strong>in</strong>es <strong>of</strong> communication were <strong>the</strong><br />
pr<strong>in</strong>ciple objectives dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>itial months <strong>of</strong><br />
Operation Strike <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sword. The Mar<strong>in</strong>es and<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir Afghan counterparts sought to physically<br />
and f<strong>in</strong>ancially isolate <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>surgency, both<br />
DECEMBER 2009<br />
MAP 2 | RC(SW) GIRoA vs TALIBAN INFLUENCE. COURTESY OF RC(SW) AIR GROUND TEAM<br />
12 www.Understand<strong>in</strong>gwar.org
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