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The
US Marine Corps will soon deploy tanks against
the Taliban. This will be a first for US
forces in the nine-year war in Afghanistan. |
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Major Gabrielle
Chapin, Marine spokeswoman in Afghanistan, announced
the deployment. The tank force will
provide Marines with heavy 120mm cannon fire
and advanced optics capable
of observing Taliban fighters from
over four miles away. |
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This deployment will
consist of one company
of M1A1 tanks -- about
15 vehicles -- and will deploy in
mid-December, 2010. It will operate in Helmand
province by early spring. |
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Chapin added, "Insurgents
[sic] forces have to use these areas as ratlines for moving
fighters, weapons, money and drugs into and out of key population
centers... The tracked capability of the tanks
will allow for a swift mobile force that can close off escape routes,
deter, disrupt or pursue insurgent forces in terrain that might
otherwise be unmanageable by our wheeled MRAPs or M-ATVs". |
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An observer of the
retaliation for 9/11 that was initiated in October, 2001, might ask why
these tanks have not been deployed before. After all, it is not that the
Taliban has been defeated over the nine years. |
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Some explanation has
been offered. It includes the fact that the coalition forces did not
want to give the locals a bad impression. That is, the US and its allies
are not coming to offend anyone, but rather to stop the maniacal Taliban
forces that have ravaged the civilian population for over a decade and
provided safe harbor for al Qaeda even longer. |
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The US Marine Corps
asked the Pentagon for permission to deploy the M1A1 tanks in December,
2009. That request was denied. |
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Since the Marines
requested deployment of at least one M1A1 company, it is clear that it
is needed. |
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It is also clear
that it was needed for some period before now. It is likely that the
M1A1 company -- and additional companies -- were needed for over one
year. |
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How significant is
it that the locals are not offended when their protectors roll
through the barren wasteland known as Afghanistan? Do the locals
want to be freed of the Taliban? Or do the locals want continue
living under constant threat of Taliban violence while not being
allowed to dance, hear birds sing, live in peace, and be free? How
might they continue profiting from the sale of their poppies that
supply 90% of the world's heroin if the Taliban is removed? |
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The war in
Afghanistan is not being fought in 1943 France. There will be no
singing in the streets, no dancing and drinking of wine, and few of
the other celebratory aspects when the Taliban is removed. There is
no need to tip-toe through Afghanistan. The mission should be
performed with Marine precision, Marine force, and Marine victory so
that the coalition can exit victorious. |