Troops involved in 3-hour gunfight with Taliban

[GAP]

Troops involved in 3-hour gunfight with Taliban
Updated Sun. Jan. 21 2007 10:59 AM ET Canadian Press

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- Canadian soldiers manning a fortified position west of Kandahar came under intense attack Saturday night, but suffered no casualties and apparently inflicted none.

The three-hour firefight with Taliban militants happened near Route Summit, the paved road being built near Panjwaii, said Lt. Sue Stefko, a spokeswoman for the Canadian Forces.

She says the attack happened at a fortified position known as Strong Point West, which is one of several positions designed to defend the roadway.

Insurgents used small arms and rocket propelled grenades, pinning down the Canadians to the point where heavy artillery, tanks and air support were called in.

Stefko says a compound near the Canadian position was bombed.

"There was no indication that anyone was injured in that, Taliban or otherwise,'' she said.

A daylight patrol was sent out to sweep the area Sunday and found no evidence of dead or injured in the ruins of the compound, she said.

"There was nothing found in the area.''

The attack, one of several throughout southern Afghanistan over the last two days, shattered a relative calm in the province that has held for the last several weeks.

A tanker truck carrying oil was destroyed Saturday when it hit what's believed to be an improvised explosive devise while on the way to Kandahar Airfield, the main NATO base in the region. Two other tankers, travelling with the stricken vehicle, were also damaged.
More on link

 

[McG]

Canadians battle with Taliban near new road
Updated Sun. Jan. 21 2007 11:26 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff

Canadian soldiers slugged it out with Taliban insurgents near a remote Canadian outpost west of Kandahar.

The firefight occurred near Route Summit, a paved road being build near Panjwaii, said Lt. Sue Stefko, a spokeswoman for the Canadian Forces, on Sunday.

Canada's soldiers were at a fortified position known as Strong Point West, set up to defend the roadway.

The insurgents struck Saturday night with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades.

Canadian soldiers eventually called in heavy artillery, tanks and air support. A compound near their position was bombed.

"There was no indication that anyone was injured in that, Taliban or otherwise,'' she said.

The road itself will cut a one-hour trip for villagers down to 15 minutes.

Locals treat it as a big deal. Almost every day, the mayor and village elders come to inspect it.

"This road is very good. It will help us get our sick to hospital, our fruit and vegetables down the road quickly," said Haji Mahmoud, speaking in Pashtu.

Canadians hope that by building the road, commerce and stability will follow.

However, building the road meant the destruction of farmland.

While months of difficult bargaining led to the paying out of more than $200,000 in compensation, the complaining hasn't stopped.

"We're happy to have a paved road, but we have become jobless because we lost our land," said Jumakhan.

Route Summit crosses the Argendav River and joins up with a section on the other side.

Canadian solders suffered some of their heaviest losses during last fall's fighting. At least three soldiers were killed defending that road.

Sgt. Nathan Ronaldson, a Canadian military negotiator, said he brought that up during negotiations.

"When there were obstacles in the pocess, I remind them that it was paid for in Canadian blood and they should be a little more forgiving," he said.

With a report from CTV's Paul Workman and files from The Canadian Press

Article

 

[geo]

It's obviously a tough issue.  Farmers being able to take their produce to market on the paved road BUT, because the pavement is on their land.... there is no produce to take to same said market..... Catch 22!!

Guess that, with some help digging wells & repairing irigation systems that were destroyed by the Soviets, there may be hope to resolve the problem - make the land productive for more than just Poppies & Marijuana

 

[RHFC_piper]

It's obviously a tough issue.  Farmers being able to take their produce to market on the paved road BUT, because the pavement is on their land.... there is no produce to take to same said market..... Catch 22!!

I just watched something on CTV News Net about all this, and had a rousing morning discussion with my Fiancee (before she found her self late for work);  These farmers may have lost their land, but I don't see that as a serious issue for them.  They will adapt.  As said in the piece I saw this morning; "Where the pavement ends, the Taliban begins."  I think they should also say "Where the pavement begins, so does opportunity."  These farmers who lost their land should be entitled to reparations / compensation, and could (In my oppinion) use the road and their compensation to create a new life for themselves, perhaps transporting the goods from the area, or maintaining the road, transport day labourers, or bringing goods into the area.  A lot of these farmers are too poor to own a vehicle, and trade will only help the country grow.

To sum up (before I go into another huge rant); They didn't pave over all the fields in Pashmul / Panjwayi, so it's not like there's no produce.  Very few people were directly (negatively) effected, and those who were effected could benifit from the road if they took the opportunity.  The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

Just my $0.02

 

[geo]

Piper
Am not arguing with you - for the most part, I concur

BUT

I remember the hue and cry about the expropriation of land to build the MIRABEL airport. 20+ years later, people are still griping about the land grab & the miserly compensation they got - the recent decision to give /sell back the land to the original owners AND the municipality's intent to block the distribution for their planned light industrial development.

Anytime you are talking about "your land" it is a point that will stick in your throat, no matter how well compensated you are.

 

[RHFC_piper]

I agree; people will gripe about the loss of land forever, but like I said; the needs of the many...

I just hope they'll make the most of it, and not just expect handouts. But, again, like I said; they'll adapt.  The people of Afghanistan are very resiliant; they've had to deal with so much with so little, and they still servive.  I think things will work out in time.

 

[Cote]

Don't attack STRONG POINT  west

 

[NL_engineer]

Don't attack STRONG POINT  west

Is there any need/point to your post?

Anytime you are talking about "your land" it is a point that will stick in your throat, no matter how well compensated you are.

I think the Afghan's affected will, hopefully, see it is for the better good.  Or at least a benefit to their business (farms); what ever way they want to look at it.

 

[geo]

Over time, so long as NATO & the central gov't keeps it's other promisses, then maybe the locals will be happy & resigned to having their land being turned into a parking lot.

 

[youravatar]

I hardly think one road is considered to be a parking lot.

 

[RHFC_piper]

I hardly think one road is considered to be a parking lot.

I agree.  The road may have sliced through peoples land, but its not like we're making car pool parking lots and service stations everywhere.  Besides, people gripe that they need infrastructure, then gripe when a road is built.  You can't please everyone.