The past few months have not brought good news for us from Afghanistan. I have read stories about Americans being tired and just wanting it to go away. I think the first war with Iraq in the early 1990’s has spoiled us into believing that all war’s are quick and clean. You just need to have more smart bombs than the other guys. Afghanistan and the 2nd war with Iraq have changed that somewhat.
A few years ago I read Horse Soldiers by Doug Stanton. It is the story of a band of U.S. Soldiers who were the first into Afghanistan. The title comes from the fact that when their helicopters landed they were not met by trucks to go into battle with. They were met by men on horseback, and they would ride into battle on horseback as well.
One of my favorite stories from the book might help to illustrate what our troops are up against. In what became known as one of the most famous intel reports of the war, Captain Mitch Nelson explains to his boss why it appears not much is going on in Afghanistan. After spending days on horseback Captain Nelson arrived back at his outpost [it was a 4 hour trip on horse over difficult terrain in the dark] in the US, word had finally leaked out that there were US Special Forces in Afghanistan. The pundits and think tank artists were filling the internet with dismal assessments on our chances.
So headquarters does what they often do, start asking blistering questions down the ranks. When the question came to Captain Nelson it was in the form of “When are you guys gonna get off your asses and do something?” Captain Nelson was tired, hungry and very angry. At first he tried to cool down and sleep when that didn’t work he wrote an email which found its way through the channels to the Secretary of Defense. Here is a part of what the man said:
“I am advising a man on how to best employ light infantry and horse cavalry in the attack against Taliban T-55’s [tanks], mortars, artillery, personnel carriers, and machine guns – a tactic which I think became outdated with the invention of the Gatling gun. [The mujahideen] have done this every day we have been on the ground. They have attacked with 10 rounds of ammunition per man, with snipers having less than 100 rounds – little water and less food. I have observed a PK gunner who walked 10 – plus miles to get to the fight, who was proud to show me his artificial right leg from the knee down.
We have witnessed the horse cavalry bounding overwatch from spur to spur to attack Taliban strongpoints – the last several kilometers under mortar, artillery and sniper fire. There is little medical care if injured, only a donkey ride to the aid station, which is a dirt hut. I think [the mujahideen] are doing very well with what they have.
We could not do what we are doing without close air support – everywhere I go the civilians and mujahideen soldiers are always telling me they are glad the U.S.A. has come. They all speak of their hopes for a better Afghanistan once the Taliban are gone.” Captain Mitch Nelson – US Army
So please take some time today to pray for the troops fighting over there, even if you don’t agree with the war, please uphold these brave people who are doing things you and I could not.
© Strategic Financial Leadership, Inc. 2010
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