In February 2010, U.S. Marines Launched Afghanistan: Operation Moshtarak, the biggest operation since the start of the Afghanistan war, whose main target was the Taliban stronghold of Marjah, a town in Helmand Province. Journalist Ben Anderson, who spent two months with the American forces, offers an extraordinarily intimate look at the brutal realities of modern day warfare.
The United States’ largest offensive in the war to date, Afghanistan: Operation Moshtarak was the first attack launched after the administration announced plans to send 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, serving as a key test of the U.S. counter-insurgency strategy against the Taliban. The campaign had four distinct phases: clear Marjah of Taliban, hold all ground seized, build infrastructure and governance, and transfer control to Afghan security forces. In addiction to chronicling the operation, The Battle for Marjah asks whether the policy is a successful prototype for winning this kind of war.
jane loves to fuck jane had a baby monkey the baby monkey grow up poor the monkey join the military monkeys to make money killing monkeys the monkey go back home a monkeys hero and he shots himself
1:12:00 – he’s not buying your western platitudes, even though you’re trying to buy him. Paying people off is the American way. No matter how many cash-filled bergens you bring, and just because it might work in corporatist and fascist good ol’ US of A, some things can’t be reconciled with financial remuneration.
I AM A US MARINE WHO WAS IN MARJAH 2 MONTHS AFTER THIS WAS SHOT. We are there to eliminate the Taliban, a stifling regime. We are there to help the Afghan people. Who is friend who is foe? that is what the war is all about. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO BASH AMERICA FOR BEING THERE: The look in the Afghan kids eyes when we brought them pens pencils, books, built them schools, hospitals…. they were more FREE then when the Taliban were in control. Before the Marines got to Helmand Province there were NO women in sight. Now they can walk freely, go to school, get medical attention. They don’t have to fear being beaten in the streets like dogs. If you think the US MARINES went to Afghanistan to kill everyone then you are wrong. We are sons, fathers, nephews of good people. WE, I, My platoon helped many afghan people better their farms and rid the threat of the Taliban GANGSTERS! THIS IS THE TRUTH. I was there. I saw it myself. Marjah, when I left in winter 2010 had improved roads, built by the Marines, Schools, Clinics, Shops, Commerce, AND! Construction crews of Afghan workers were helping us build buildings for the city hall. WE, the US Marine Corps made Marjah, and Helmand Province a better place then when the Taliban was in control extorting it’s own people. THIS IS FACT. I HELPED DO IT.
A US Marine,
Afghanistan Combat Veteran.
First up, maximum respect to you for serving. However, do you not think this is a highly sanitised, rose-tinted view of the war in Afghanistan? The USMC and US armed forces as a whole, are particularly sensitive about the picture they paint to embedded journalists. I can’t help but feel that, despite the civilian deaths shown here, this was a happy story compared to reality.
Good on ya bud.
This documentary was about the human side of war, for both civilians and soldiers. Shut the fuck up about politics for a quick second and understand the human elements involved.
what countries have you saved since ww2? no one, only things you have done, are bad things, and I mean regarding wars and military support.
Funny how everyone talks $hit about the Americans (USA)
and how evil they are because of the war going on, but the US is also one of
the first countries to respond to world/natural disasters helping 3rd countries, and providing as much help as they
can all over the world.
The USA are similar to the police: corrupt at times,
disliked by almost everyone, thought to be a bunch of a$$holes, BUT WE SURE ARE
GLAD TO SEE THEM WHEN THEY COME TO SAVE OUR SORRY-A$$E$ FROM REAL DANGER.
Btw I
was not born in the USA, but coming from a third world country I love the USA. (some changes need to be made to the political parties though)
That man they pay to “compensate” for the death of his family. Money is the reason the world is interested in the Middle East. Black gold under their feet gets transformed into pink bills given to hard-working men and women for having their loved ones killed in the action of acquiring the black gold. Hm.
This war IS horrible. It needs to be ended. But, it is not as others have said pointless. There is very much a goal to this war. The Elitists (Bilderberg, Trilateral Commission, Council on Foreign Relations) will never let the Middle East be free. The land practically floats on a sea of oil. Each one of our presidents here in the USA, for a very long time now, have been mere puppets, wielding no real political power. Both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party are completely corrupt. 9/11 had nothing to do with religious extremism. WTC was a controlled demolition. Obama sucks just as badly as Bush. And the next president, and the next, and the next, and the next, will do this same bullshit over and over. Make promises, break them, start new wars for money and power. America is no longer the land of the free. It is the land of the uneducated, fat masses who are entertained by “prolefeed”, (Celebrity tabloids, mind-numbing television, propaganda everywhere, be it subtle or not.)
nice
Didn’t learn anything I didn’t already know.. But it was produced extremely well and definitely stuck with me for an hour after watching it!
in short, as ive written in youtube comments, you should make use of improvised sniping posts for cleaning urban areas of taliban. only surgical strikes can help you win the war because killing civs only turrns locals against you, you need to win over locals trust. anyways, use mobile tower trailers connected to abrams tanks or other heavy duty armored machinery. also use heavy antirpg plating on thowers to protect it against enemy rpg fire. create some sort of sniping post on top of the tower and drag them with tanks around urban areas. protect those teams with infantry troops, also, use second part of infantry to draw enemy sniper fire and then be very disciplined not to shoot back, provide good cover for ground troops but also make them visible for enemy. scan horizon for enemy snipers, also use technology to detect precise direction of where the fire came from and snipe all the possible covers for enemy snipers with those scopes. pick enemy by enemy until it’s safe enough to move in with ground troops. don’t throw nades blindly, or shoot mortars, or rockets, etc, to make sure you dont hurt civilians or their properties.
then do a house to house search with ground units, by using afghani soldiers going in first, just train them well they dont shoot anybody.
after you push out enemy, quickly establish militia posts, if necessary give them money, but make sure you give the control over militia to people you trust, they need to keep everything documented, all weapons and explosives, gear, men, etc, so no one steals it for taliban purposes. bring as many militia points as you can to establish order and dont let taliban back after you leave. you need to act swiftly not months after you free the city of taliban control.
also, win locals trust by encouraging businesses, stores, bazaars, farming, etc, ask local people what they want to do then serve them as their personal body guards for them to do their chores safe of enemy fire. this is absolutely necessary to give them a sense of safety and a sense that youre only here to help them not by some kind of hidden agenda.
if there is not enough volunteers to cooperate with you, bribe them with money, stimulate them any way you can, show with those few who will volunteer, that you mean what you say, you will offer 24-7 protection, either by your soldiers or afghani militia.
after people see you can hold on your promises, they will join more and more to establish local day to day life after taliban left.
leave to another area, another city with same plan and tactics, which should be turned into reality in under 20 days.
so the critical points for this plans are:
1) knowing your soldiers civilian life is more valuable than soldiers life, because civs didnt sign up for war, soldiers did, knowing the risks theyre taking.
that way soldiers know they must never shoot blindly, or throw grenades or shoot mortars in areas not free of civilians. this is absolutely necessary for winning their trust.
2) improvise with sniping posts, make sure you have the entire city covered with snipers, if there’s not enough natural obstacles which could be used for snipers, use mobile tower units connected to abrams tanks, surround them with infantry and wait for enemy to start shooting. detect where the fire is coming from, scan every hole in that direction and wipe them all out.
3) advance with infantry into city, do a house to house search, get rid of all the remnants of enemy combatants. set up bases, control areas, push taliban out with no civilian casualties at all. if there are civ casualties use your emergency teams to heal them, dont let them die.
4) set up militia posts, hire as many as you can, use your own soldiers as body guards for civ businesses, or afghani soldiers. first you should use your men to start schools and give people a sence of human side of cold warrior exterior your soldiers appear to them. give them schools for locals almost immediately after you conquer cities, just as a way of sharing your goals and knowledge wth them.
5) train locals to take your role and fill it after you leave, give them all the weapons you found from taliban fighters and document it, make sure you give it under control of a person who you have complete trust with, so it doesnt fall in enemy’s hands.
6) leave to next city, or province and do this again. city by city, you should clean the entire country by baby steps, but it’s gonna be very effective if done right.
Rumsfeld, is that you!?
I like how you think your Youtube comments add credibility to your “Plans For Operational Success In Afghanistan”
LOL at mobile sniper posts drug along by an M1 Abrams!! Who are you writing this to anyway?? I bet you couldn’t secure your computer for 20 days without power or water and you think a city can be…
Back on topic… The Documentary was well shot, with some unique glimpses into humanity and heartbreak. Makes you sympathize with the innocent casualties on both sides…
I`m sorry but this bullshit.
War is business for the Americans. The world needs another super power to stop the crimes against humanity created by the yanks.
battle battle
battle battle battle
Battle Battle Battle
look how the american assholes treat the ANA! fuck americans! they can eat shit and die for all i care
SOMETIMES AS A FORMER MARINE COMBAT VETERAN. I AM SOMETIMES ASHAMED OF THE OF THE UNENLIGHTENED MINDSET AND IGNORANCE OF MY COUNTRYMEN.
americans are so cheesy they are the biggest big headed country in the world! FUCK AMERICA
Dude you really get your point across by using childish language and insults to prove your point. Where did you go to school? Never mind, your country probably doesn’t have any. Fuck America? No my friend, Fuck you.
YES WE ARE A BIT HARD TO TAKE HUH?
A war by definition is fought be two armies. What we see here is yanks fighting farmers with mousers? hardly the battle of hamburger hill….ha
ARGUING ON THE INTERNET
Good doco.
This war is a complete fucking waste of time, money and most importantly – lives. Nothing has been achieved – because nothing can be achieved. But then I could have told you that in 2001.
All these wars are a ridiculous overreaction to a bunch of cave dwelling halfwits who got lucky one day in Sept over 10 years ago. And now, 5X as many people want to do the exact same thing.
Go home, protect your loved ones, and fight for justice in your own communities. Stop giving a shit about what some uneducated mud hut dwelling moron is doing on the other side of the world. Its just not that fucking important. What is important is what the criminals at home are doing to your economy, legal and justice system. Something that will actually effect your fellow countrymen and the next generation.
Go home.
I AGREE THE WAR IS JUST STUPID. YOUR LACK OF UNDERSTANDING AND CONTEMPT OF THE AFGHAN PEOPLE SEEMS TO SUGGEST YOU MIGHT WANT TO WORK ON WALKING A MILE IN ANOTHER MANS SHOES. YES, AGAIN I AGREE WE SHOULD BE TAKING CARE OF THE CRIMINALS WE HAVE HERE IN THE U.S.A.
IVE BEEN AROUND ALONG TIME. IN THE WAR I FOUGHT THE NAMES FOR THE “ENEMY” WHERE: “ZIPPERHEAD”, “GOOK”, ON AND ON. I WAS YOUNG AND STUPID THEN. NOW IM OLD AND SOMEWHAT LESS STUPID. I REGRET MY BEHAVIOR AND MANY OF MY ACTIONS. I TOOK LIFE AND I HAVE HAD TO LIVE WITH IT . I WILL UNTIL I DIE.
NAND Gate you’re an idiot, Afghanistan had nothing to do with 9/11.
Whatever “rex”, you tard. Clearly you live under a rock and know nothing about history – or you where a tinfoil hat. The only reason you went to war with Afghanistan was 9/11 – no 9/11, no war on Afghanistan. Plus you’re a rude wanker who offers no other alternatives except to abuse. Dismissed weirdo.
I thought that it was Bin Laden who was behind 9/11, im pretty sure that he’s not from afghanistan . so can you please tell me what afghanistan have to do with 9/11 genius 🙂
If there would be no oil, there would be no war.
DONT FORGET LITHIUM. ….ALONG WITH SERIOUS PIPELINES. TRUE.
So how come not one drop has been moved or sold genius?
Not moved or sold? Yeah right.
You just don’t know shit about it.
I thaught we went to afghanistan because thats where Bin laden was, and the taliban. As for oil in afghanistan i’ve never heard of it, but feel free to enlighten me.Think of what all these idiots would be saying if the world didnt respond to 9/11. Some people you just cant reach.
Fucking Americans, a bunch of whiny uneducated heartless cocksuckers.
Not really much of a point, since the Afghans are clearly more whiny, less educated, heartless cocksuckers.
you are an idiot
U BOTH R DUMBASSES.
Everyone has hearts since we is alivez.
Good points from you both, actually.
Think of the war in Afghanistan as a game of king of the hill, with two teams of cunts going at it. The game continues, until one team realizes that the whole game has been a huge fucking waste of time to “rule” a pile of dirt, and consequently moves on.
So time was wasted, no-one won jack shit, and ultimately nothing changed.
I couldn’t have said it better.
WHAT A CROCK OF SHIT.