Title: Mcgowanjm Wire 2012 Source:
[None] URL Source:[None] Published:Feb 26, 2012 Author:Various Post Date:2012-02-26 09:15:13 by A K A Stone Keywords:None Views:1293930 Comments:2390
Paktia is basically Pashtia (پښتیا). Some Pashtun scholars are claiming that the word Pashtu has been stemmed from Pashtia (پښتو = پښتیا). Paktia used to be a unified province with Khost and Paktika, these three provinces are now referred to as Loya Paktia, meaning "Greater Paktia". Paktia came to prominence during the 1980s, when a significant portion of Afghanistan's leadership originated from the province. Some of the more notable leaders include: Najibullah Ahmadzai, a former President of Afghanistan, Mohammad Aslam Watanjar, Shahnawaz Tanai, and Sayed Muhammad Gulabzoi.
More recently, Paktia was the site of heavy fighting between Taliban and NATO forces following the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan. [b]Paktia was one of the last redoubts of organized Taliban resistance; much of Operation Anaconda took place in Zurmat, one of Paktia's larger districts.[/b][/quote]
[quote]Paktia was one of the last redoubts of organized Taliban resistance; much of Operation Anaconda took place in Zurmat, one of Paktia's larger districts.[/quote]
Notice the Past Tense? :twisted: :? 8-)
And whatever happened to Op Anaconda, the Last Op by the USSAns.... :twisted:
[quote]Operation Anaconda kills 800 in Afghanistan OPERATION ANACONDA
CNN
March 13, 2002
An estimated 800 al Qaeda and Taliban fighters died trying to stave off a 12-day U.S. and allied assault in eastern Afghanistan's [b]Shah-e-kot Valley[/b], U.S. officials said Wednesday.
Afghan forces fighting alongside U.S. troops seized control Wednesday of the last remaining high ground previously controlled by hold-out Taliban and al Qaeda, said Maj. Brian Hilferty, a U.S. Central Command spokesman.
No senior al Qaeda leaders were killed in the campaign dubbed Operation Anaconda, U.S. officials said. But officials stressed that the slain fighters who once posed a direct threat to Afghanistan's interim government headed by Hamid Karzai [b]are now gone[/b].[/quote]
Well, except for these guys:
[quote]Paktia Province, Afghanistan, March 4, 2002 Operation Enduring Freedom, the military action against Taliban and al-Qaida forces in Afghanistan, was the catalyst for the largest mobilization of Air National Guard personnel since the Korean War. It also marked the first time that Air National Guard ground units, particularly pararescue personnel and air combat controllers, were used to support joint ground combat operations. As part of Enduring Freedom, in March 2002 a joint military operation named "Anaconda" was mounted in Paktia province to surround and defeat Taliban forces hiding in the area. On the third day of Operation Anaconda an Army MH-47E Chinook helicopter was fired upon as it attempted to land on a ridge on Takur Ghar mountain. Taking heavy fire, the helicopter lurched and attempted to take-off to extricate itself from the field of fire. When the Chinook lurched, one of the Navy SEALs on board, Petty Officer First Class Neil C. Roberts, fell from the rear ramp. Too damaged to return for Petty Officer Roberts, the Chinook landed further down the mountain. A second MH-47E attempted to land and rescue Roberts, but it too was fired upon and forced to leave the immediate area. The third MH-47E to attempt a landing on what became known as Roberts’ Ridge was hit with automatic weapons fire and rocket-propelled grenades while still 20 feet in the air. The helicopter, containing an Army Ranger Team and Technical Sergeant Keary Miller, a Combat Search and Rescue Team Leader from the 123d Special Tactics Squadron, Kentucky Air National Guard, hit the ground hard. Within seconds, one helicopter crewman, the right door gunner, was killed, as were three Army Rangers. The 17-hour ordeal that followed would result in the loss of seven American lives, including Petty Officer Roberts. Technical Sergeant Miller not only managed to drag the wounded helicopter pilot to safety, but also orchestrated the establishment of multiple casualty collection points. In between treating the wounded, Miller set up the distribution of ammunition for the Army Rangers who were taking the fight to the enemy. For his extraordinary life-saving efforts while putting himself in extreme danger under enemy fire, Technical Sergeant Miller was awarded the Silver Star by the U.S. Navy, one of the few members of the Air National Guard to be so honored. [/quote]
I challenge Anyone to make sense of Operation Anaconda... :? 8-)
[quote]The U.S. forces estimated they had killed at least 500 fighters over the duration of the battle, however journalists later noted that only 23 bodies were found - and critics suggested that after a couple days, the operation "was more driven by media obsession, than military necessity".[3][/quote]
[quote]Shah-i-Kot Valley From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search
The Shah-i-Kot Valley (also Shahi-Kot, Shah-e-Kot and other variant spellings) is a valley located in Afghanistan's Paktia province, southeast of the town of Zormat. The terrain in and around the valley is notoriously rugged, located at a mean altitude of 9,000 feet (2,700 m). Shah-i-Kot means "Place of the King" and it has historically been a redoubt for Afghan guerrillas hiding from foreign invaders.
The area was the scene of fierce fighting between the Afghan mujahideen rebels and Soviet forces during the Afghan-Soviet War, as the fiere battle for Hill 3234.
It was also the scene of what was then the largest battle of the U.S.-Afghan War to date.[1][2][3] The Battle of Shah-i-Kot took place during Operation Anaconda, which began on 2 March 2002.[/quote]
And WHY talk about the above?
Because TODAY the Shahi-Kot is being Abandoned by the USSA:
[quote] * Contact us
Invaders abandon and burn down strategic base in Zurmat Zabihullah mujahid E-mail Print PDF Sunday, 24 Ramadan 1433 Sunday, 12 August 2012 12:10
PAKTIA, Aug. 12 – A large strategic base of foreign troops in Rahman Khel area, Mamozi region, was abandoned and burnt down by the invaders who fled the area last night, according to officials reporting from Zurmat district.
This large base was located and occupied by a large contingent in the desert of Rahman Khel from where the invaders carried out operations in Mamozi, Shah-i-Kot, Arma district and other areas.
The cowardly invaders were finally forced to vacate their recently built base due to constant missile attacks for the past few years. Mujahideen in the district say that with this development, this whole large region once again comes under their complete control and can freely move between various areas of Zurmat district, Shah-i-Kot, Arma district and Naka district of Paktika province.
It should be mentioned that foreign invaders have recently begun abandoning dozens of their strategic bases throughout Afghanistan which in itself in proof that the nation is gradually attaining its freedom and also the military defeat of foreign crusader forces and their allies.
Al-Emarah website always strives to collect such news of fleeing of the enemy as well as the advancements of Mujahideen so it can be a cause of happiness for the oppressed Afghan nation in this time of Eid.[/quote]
By Xmas.... :twisted: :? 8-)
And just like VietNam in 1971 our troops are just keeping their heads down.
