U.S. Troops Need Help In Afghanistan

The men of Bravo company have a bitter description for the irragted swath of land along the Arghanddab where 10 members of there batallion have been killed and 30 wounded since the beggining of august. "Like Vietnam without the Naplam" Spec. Nicalos Gojekian of Katy, Texas. A prime agrucultral area of Vineyards and pomegrante Orchards that the 18 mile valley that the 1st Battiliaon and 17 Infrantry Regiment patrols including Taliban insurgents, bobby traps and buried explosives. The troops call the area the "Green Zone" but unlike Iraq where it is a fortified area in the heart of Baghdad, this green zone is a hellish place. The soldiers have one of the toughest tasks in Afghanistan, improving security and winning the support of villagers in a area where the Taliban have been gaining power. The battalion arrived in southern Afghanistan this summer as part of a brigade of more than 3,800 troops from Fort Lewis, Washington. the unit took there heaviest losses in august, when it had the highest casualties in what was the deadliest month so far in America's eight year war here. So, far the Army mission has been a uneasy mix of trying to woo elders with offers of generators, roads and other improvement while fighting a nasty war with a unseen enemy. We have had contact with the enemy almost everyday,"Lt. Col. Jon Neumann the Commander of the 1st. Battalion, 17 Regiment. Until we do clearing, we can't hold or build here right now. "A Reference to the U.S. counter-insurgency tactic"Clear, hold and build. Neumann said the perfect storm of factors have bolstered the Taliban in Arghandab. They include a successful Spring insurgency campaign, the death of a strong tribal leader who supported US- backed Afghan Government and wounding a charismatic Police chief. the American Military is up against a foe who is adept at creating unforeseen hazards. Finally President Obama will probably not make his decision to send troop to Afghanistan until November but with the conditions on the ground he needs to make the decision to send 45,000 troops in the next few days so, we can get some much needed help on the ground in Afghanistan. helped by Hal Berton McClatchy Newspapers.