6000 british soldiers going to war tonight

[Richie]

I just seen it on sky news, but checked there website and can't find it. Anyone know anymore news on it?

[Jordy]

I heard something about them rescuing Afghan troops or capturing some sort of strategic town? Looks like there is a lack of information atm due to it being a bit of a secret however in the morning I hope we learn of their success

Considering we only have 9,500 troops over there, 6,000 Brits involved in one mission is quite a lot. Presumably backed by US Forces too.

[Stryderman]

God they need to bring all the troops out from there. Its not helping anything we are just losing innocent people :rolleyes:

[xxMATTGxx]

Any more news on this, quite interested in what mission needed 6k troops. If there was one?

[scottish]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...h-Taliban.html

that maybe it? o.0 5 days old though but

The offensive, the start date of which is being kept secret

[Oleh]

3 Nuke's 0 soldiers - Perfect mission

[Technologic]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8513665.stm

Major Afghan offensive 'under way in Marjah'


Nato distributed leaflets in Marjah warning of the planned offensive
Thousands of Nato-led troops have launched the biggest offensive in Afghanistan since the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001, the US military says.
US marines and Afghan troops are attacking the Taliban-held town of Marjah in Nad Ali district in a bid to re-establish government control.
Nato says Marjah is home to the biggest community under insurgent control in the south and 400 to 1,000 militants.
Many residents fled ahead of Operation Moshtarak - meaning "together" in Dari.
Nato has reportedly distributed leaflets in the Marjah area warning of the planned offensive.

MARJAH: 'TALIBAN STRONGHOLD'
Town and district about 40km (25 miles) south-west of Lashkar Gah
Lies in Helmand's 'Green Zone' - an irrigated area of lush vegetation and farmland
Last remaining major Taliban stronghold in southern Helmand
Area considered a centre for assembling roadside bombs
Key supply centre for opium poppies - lucrative revenue source for Taliban
Estimates of Taliban numbers range up to 1,000
Population of Marjah town put at 80,000 while the whole of Marjah district is thought to have 125,000

UK forces 'soften up' Taliban targets
Villagers said the leaflets gave the names of several alleged militant commanders and told fighters to leave the area or be killed.
Operation Moshtarak will be led by the US Marine Corps, but British troops will also be involved, supported by Danes and Estonians.
For the first time, Afghan forces were at the forefront of planning the operation. Afghan police will provide support after the initial military operations end.
The BBC's Adam Brookes in Washington says it is has political importance because it is by far the largest single operation since President Barack Obama announced a surge, pumping an extra 30,000 troops into the country.


Operation Moshtarak: Assault in Helmand province

[-:Undertaker:-]

A war that can never be won, the most powerful Empire the world had ever seen (the British Empire) failed there and the Soviet Union failed there aswell. What makes the NATO mission this time around so special?

[xxMATTGxx]

A war that can never be won, the most powerful Empire the world had ever seen (the British Empire) failed there and the Soviet Union failed there aswell. What makes the NATO mission this time around so special?

Will you just give them a break? They won't be coming home any time soon so they may as well at least try and complete this mission with success.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Will you just give them a break? They won't be coming home any time soon so they may as well at least try and complete this mission with success.

Give who a break?

I don't want any dead soliders who will lose their lives coming home in coffins through Wootton Bassat for a mission which history shows is impossible to complete or have any real success with. The whole point of history is to learn from it and we're doing the complete opposite, especially the fact when we now have terrorists in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq (because of our own fault) and many other places. Its like one of them hammer games at the fair, you hit one figure and two more figures sprout up. It cannot be won, bring them back home now before another family loses a loved one for a lost cause.

You say 'try' and complete it with success - soliders are not pawns on a chess board which you take chances with, they are real people.