When the soldiers tested a mysterious white powder, are experimenting to see if it is salty, an attribute of ammonium nitrate, a main ingredient in the homemade bombs. And although they do have access to sophisticated testing methods of the United States.
Afghans have about 2,000 of the 6,000 soldiers who are fighting in the south, with thousands more operating in the vicinity Nad Ali district, his greatest contribution to an offensive in the eight years of war.
They have inspected houses identified suspected Taliban, helped detect bombs and acted as intermediaries between the Marines and Afghan civilians, groups that are poorly understood each other.
“I think we learn from each other,” said Sgt Deljuh Abdulhadi, one of the Marjah with Afghan soldiers in the Marines. A former member of the ethnic Uzbek militia in the north, Deljuh joined the Afghan National Army two years ago. “Americans will bring us more weapons and discipline … but at least we are as brave.”
While the Afghan Army now has more than 100,000 troops, is not ready to act on itself, a key condition for withdrawing U.S. and other international forces. Lacks a logistics network and adequate food, as well as a professional force of commissioned officers. Although Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) insists that the Marjah offense is led by Afghans, Americans seem to take all important decisions in the field.
During the operation, U.S. commanders at all levels have shown the performance of their Afghan counterparts. “We had some of the best Afghan soldiers with us,” said Brigadier General Larry Nicholson, commander of the Marines in Helmand province, while in Marjah last week with an Afghan general.
Afghan generals have worked with Americans for years. In Marjah, the pairings are even lower strata.
Marines have been fighting, eating and sleeping alongside some of the best soldiers in the Afghan army can muster.
“I must be honest, was much better than expected,” said Staff Sergeant Christopher Whitman.
“The professional respect is there and squadron level, integration is good, “said Whitman.
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