'I knew Afghanistan would be tough, but I didn't think it would be this tough'

[TexasLawyer]

'I knew Afghanistan would be tough, but I didn't think it would be this tough'

In the first of a two-part series on the Afghanistan war,
Declan Walsh comes under fire while embedded with
US troops in the Pech Valley

Monday December 4, 2006
The Guardian

Globs of rain spat from the slate sky as Echo Company trundled out of the base gates and into the Pech Valley. The supply convoy had dropped early Christmas mail and fresh artillery shells to troops at Camp Blessing, the American base at the end of the steep-walled valley. Now it was heading home.

Shopkeepers stared and children smiled as the six heavily armoured vehicles moved down the greasy road. But just after one village the crowds seemed to vanish. Then a violent rattle shook the air.

"Enemy contact!" yelled Sergeant Thomas Splett, 26, kicking his door open. More bullets cracked overhead as the convoy shuddered to a halt. Leaping out, the American soldiers hunkered behind their trucks and returned fire; soon the valley was echoing with thunderous gunfire.

The attackers were behind boulders and trees on a ridge across the river, 800 metres away. The Americans, trapped against a cliff face, could only aim for the muzzle flashes. On the Humvee turret Sgt Splett's gunner cursed loudly - his machine gun had jammed. He grabbed a rifle and continued shooting. Sgt Splett called for cover and sprinted to the next vehicle. A rocket-propelled grenade whooshed past, exploding against the rocks.

<snip>

http://www.guardian.co.uk/afghanistan/story/0,,1963357,00.html

[LynnTheDem]

1. Neither did the Russians.

[Porcupine]

2. Remember they kicked the Soviet Army's ass.

and the Soviets had no restrictions on weapons, torture, who they could kill or bomb. They could use any tactics they possibly thought would work and they did. The Afghans are the worlds experts on how to survive artillary and bombing.

Dumbass Dubya thought we could beat them with superior weapons. Idiot.

[Erika]

3. W was the supreme idiot n/t

[Union Thug]

4. and the Soviet Union had it doubly hard because of US arms

filtering into the hands of Osama'a boys. Paybacks (or in this case, blowbacks) are a bitch.