Posted on 12/15/2001 3:44:05 AM PST by Diogenesis
GOTTA SEE THIS -- OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM 12/15/01
Combined Forces at Tora Bora, Freedom, Continued Food Maldistribution
<========================>
REPORT FROM THEATRE 1 - AFGHANISTAN
WAR FOR ENDURING FREEDOM 12/15/01
Eastern and Northern Alliances and Special Forces attack Usama at Tora Bora
Tora Bora Bombed, Food Maldistribution Widens
Afghan tribal and special forces have taken Al Qaida fighters prisoner in the White Mountains.
BRIEFING
Rumsfeld: Opposition Forces Advance 2 Kilometers in Tora Bora
Opposition groups are wielding Kalashnikov rifles, rocket- propelled grenades and have some tanks, while U.S. forces are equipped mostly with small arms.
But, "they provide the ability to leverage an awful lot of air power," Franks said.
U.S. air forces have dropped "earth-penetrating bombs," known as Joint Direct Attack Munitions, as well as laser- guided bombs, he said. They've also
dropped BLU-82s, a 15,000-pound munition known as the Daisy Cutter.
The number of enemy forces in the area may be anywhere from 300 to 1,000. "It could be more, it might be less," Franks said. "It's very difficult in that kind
of terrain to know exactly how many forces we are facing."
Opposition forces have taken some Al Qaeda prisoners in this fight and have removed documents and other evidence, he said. No Al Qaeda prisoners have
been turned over to U.S. authorities, however, he added.
Franks described the Tora Bora area south of Jalalabad as having two valleys running north and south. In the South, Pakistani forces are providing assistance
on the routes out of Afghanistan into Pakistan. Opposition forces are moving north and south from Jalalabad forming "a hammer and an anvil," Franks said.
Opposition forces are also on the western and eastern sides, he said. Opposition leaders on the ground believe the majority of the Al Qaeda force is
"contained."
This does not mean that this cordon is not porous and no one can escape, Franks explained. "This is really rough, mountainous country, but it does mean that
the view of those on the ground is that there is containment of this Al Qaeda force," he said.
<========================>
<========================>
Somewhere near Camp Rhino - 15 MEU 26 MEU.
The building met an AC-130 gunship just before the building was taken about 11/26/01.
<========================>
On the USS Th. Roosevelt, the air machines and the technicians are pushed to their utmost.
Stabilizers and jet engines are checked.
Then it is off again for the F18Cs.
With women heroes on the bridge, an F/A 14B is quickly checked on deck.
<========================>
Target: Continued Multiprong attack against Usama, near Tora Bora..
Fireworks over Tora Bora supplied by the USAF.
On the ground, pro-US forces, and perhaps some special forces, take Tora Bora, in the White Mountains, ridge by ridge
More Eastern Alliance Forces arrive at the front.
.
.
.
Even more forces arrive for the final assault, in the White Mountains.
<========================>
<========================>
Capitalism and freedom in Kabul.
In Kabul, food is in the markets.
The yellow semian noodle has made it to the street market in one day.
.
In Kabul, food distribution problems persist.
North of Kabul, there are vast fertile plains and landmines.
In the background is Afghanistan's Hindu Kush range.
.
.
.
<========================>
Near Kandahar, Taliban supreme leader Mullah Mohammad Omar's house remains a key focus of interest.
Near Kandahar, after support from Fort Rhino, a Marine staging area is established.
.
.
At the Kandahar airport, U.S. Marines take control,
and repairs are planned with the Navy engineers. The debris in the last picture was once a Russian choppper.
.
.
:
.
.
.
.
In downtown Kandahar, Afghans peer through a window.
In Kandahar, Afghan fighters who freed Kandahar receive their well-earned pay.
Others fighters wait to receive the payment in their car.
.
.
<========================>
North of Mazar-e-Sharif, food distribution begins.
On the Amu Darya [Hairaton port, 40 miles from Mazar-i-Sharif],
an Uzbek ship tows a barge loaded with humanitarian aid.
.
In Mirkasim, [16 miles west of Mazar-e-Sharif] an Afghan soldier
uses a whip on Afghan men only waiting to get humanitarian aid.
The women and children wait on the sidelines.
:
Food distribution again appears difficult, but some do succeed and carry off sacks of wheat.
.
.
At the Mazar-e-Sharif airport, the French stand guard.
:
Beyond Dogharoon, an Afghan hitches a ride. The taxi fare from Dogharoon to Herat is $15.
:
<========================>
.
<========================>
ELSEWHERE Soldiers from the Pakistan Army soldiers warm themselves at the Tirah valley, at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.:
Pakistani demonstration in Islamabad 12/14/01 "after the last Friday prayer of Ramadan". :
:
.
<========================>
Baghdad - Iraqi men on Iraq's government-run internet "cafes".
No other direct links to the internet are allowed.
Websurfering is slow and about 50 cents per hour.
Given Saddam's merciless control, the price is probably not the worrisome issue.
<========================>
<========================>
.
<========================>
PERP UPDATE .
<========================>
Jordanian Raed Hijazi, charged with planning to attack
US and Israeli targets during millennium celebrations,
and involving Usama Bin Laden's Al Qaeda,
is escorted to military court in Amman.
Abdur Rehman, 21, a French citizen, is lucky to be in the Neurosurgery ward of Lady Reading Hospital
[Peshawar, Pakistan]. He was wounded by USAF bombardment on their hideout near Khost,
and was one of six injured foreigners given to Pakistani authorities at Torkham on 12/15/01.
According to Rehman, 80 French-Taliban and 800 to 1,000 Arabs are in caves there.
.
<========================>
FROM THE WAR FOR ENDURING FREEDOM
Remembrance to Heroes and Innocent Victims of the 911 Atrocity.
At the Pentagon, President Bush shows his humanity during the song "Battle Hymn of the Republic,"
at the one month anniversary service of the 911 Atrocity.
<========================>
END OF TRANSMISSION 12/15/01 .......... K
Here's hoping that today is UBL last day on earth.
My old sever would still be loading this thread after the second cup of coffee.
Balloons! A frivolity that is laden with so much meaning. Can you imagine the face of whomever receives them?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.