When it comes to understanding southwestern Afghanistan, it’s a good idea to pay attention to what the U.S.’s counterparts in Great Britain are thinking. There are currently some 9,000 British forces deployed in Afghanistan, primarily in Helmand province alongside U.S. Marines. Task Force Helmand, as the British forces are known, covers a broad swath of real estate in between the two U.S. regimental combat teams deployed in the region. The British task force’s leadership is based out of Lashkar Gah, Helmand’s capital, and reports to Maj. Gen. John Toolan, commander of II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) and Regional Command-Southwest, at…
Browsing: Royal Marines
Marine forces formally took over Sangin yesterday, assuming control of the former Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan from Great Britain’s 40 Commando, a Royal Marine unit that has been patrolling the area for months. The change is significant, even if it has received only limited attention in the U.S. mainstream media. The Brits are leaving Sangin, in northern Helmand province, after four years and 106 deaths — 36 of which occurred this year, according to a Daily Mail report out today. Their struggles to establish and maintain security in the district of about 50,000 people has contributed to growing discontent…