posted on August 13, 2005 12:36:35 PM new
KANDAGAL, Afghanistan (AP) - The U.S. military has gone low-tech. Frustrated with the limitations of using its fleet of modern Humvee four-wheel-drives in rugged mountains with few roads, a battalion of Marines has enlisted the help of transport vehicles that Afghan villagers have been using for centuries - donkeys.
About 30 of the animals have been rented from local farmers to haul food and bottled water to hundreds of Afghan and U.S. troops on a major two-week operation to battle militants deep in remote mountains in eastern Afghanistan's Kunar province.
"With all the smart bombs and the modern stuff in war nowadays, this is the best way for us to resupply our troops there," said Lt. Col. Jim Donnellan, commander of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, which is based in Hawaii. "It's also much cheaper for the U.S. taxpayer for us to rent the donkeys than for everything to be air-dropped."
Using aircraft to resupply the forces is also dangerous.
In late June, militants in the area shot down a special forces Chinook helicopter, killing all 16 troops on board, as it tried to land in one of the many steep-sided, wooded valleys that snake their way through the mountains.
The operation, which began Friday, is aimed at flushing those fighters out of the valley and U.S. commanders are nervous about risking other choppers in the process.
From a temporary resupply base in a corn field near Kandagal, a tiny village, at one end of Korengal Valley, where the militants are suspected of hiding, squads of Marines with heavy packs on their backs led out lines of donkeys, each laden with two boxes of water, a box of food rations and a sack of grain.
While each Marine carried enough food and water for themselves for two days, the donkeys gave each squad supplies for an extra 48 hours. Once finished, the animals would be led back to the resupply base to load up again and then return to the mountains.
Before coming to Afghanistan, some of the troops received training in handling donkeys at the Marines' Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, Nevada, said Capt. John Moshane.
"Marines have used donkeys since the American revolution," he said, as each animal was being spray painted with a number for identification.
Still, the donkeys' stubbornness to cooperate and their determination to try to mate with each other whenever they were untied persistently frustrated their handlers. When one Marine slapped one of the animals on the rump in exasperation, the donkey promptly gave him a sharp kick with one of its hind legs.
Donkeys have long been used by armies in Afghanistan, including by mujahedeen independence fighters against Soviet troops in the 1980s. They have also been popular with smugglers who use them to sneak loads of opium, illegally mined gems and timber across the country's mountainous borders.
"Why, it appears that we appointed all of our worst generals to command the armies and we appointed all of our best generals to edit the newspapers. I mean, I found by reading a newspaper that these editor generals saw all of the defects plainly from the start but didn't tell me until it was too late. I'm willing to yield my place to these best generals and I'll do my best for the cause by editing a newspaper." --Robert E. Lee
posted on August 13, 2005 01:43:08 PM new
ROFL - Your title was perfect, bear. LOL
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I've often thought that we also could use democrats....the one's who believe we should 'talk to our enemies - get to understand them' better.
I think we should ask for them to volunteer, not as military forces, but as 'negotiators of peace' and have THEM come along and our troops can send them in first to talk to those trying to kill our soldiers. THEN we they come out from their meeting with the terrorists....if they have a signed peace treaty...we can all go home. IF not....and if they're still alive or weren't held as hostages - by those they want us to understand, or if they're not worrying about losing their heads [literally] THEN we can send in our soldiers.
"Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence." --Ann Coulter
And why the American Voters chose to RE-elect President Bush to four more years. YES!!!
posted on August 13, 2005 02:34:21 PM new
Linda, I couldnt resist it, its was too perfect to pass up.
"Why, it appears that we appointed all of our worst generals to command the armies and we appointed all of our best generals to edit the newspapers. I mean, I found by reading a newspaper that these editor generals saw all of the defects plainly from the start but didn't tell me until it was too late. I'm willing to yield my place to these best generals and I'll do my best for the cause by editing a newspaper." --Robert E. Lee
posted on August 13, 2005 04:21:59 PM new
Hey, now that's another idea, especially since they believe we're [the US] the bad guys and those 'insurgents/rebels' are ONLY protecting themselves. They could be used to prove their theories.
posted on August 13, 2005 04:26:05 PM newYou know what.....we could use Democrats to clear mine fields also.
Let Kerry go first, maybe he'll really earn a Purple Heart.
"Why, it appears that we appointed all of our worst generals to command the armies and we appointed all of our best generals to edit the newspapers. I mean, I found by reading a newspaper that these editor generals saw all of the defects plainly from the start but didn't tell me until it was too late. I'm willing to yield my place to these best generals and I'll do my best for the cause by editing a newspaper." --Robert E. Lee
posted on August 13, 2005 04:28:47 PM new
ROFLMHO @ that one, bear. Oh sure....and there'll be FILM at 11:00, re-inacted of course, showing his bravery. LOL LOL
"Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence." --Ann Coulter
And why the American Voters chose to RE-elect President Bush to four more years. YES!!!
posted on August 13, 2005 04:59:23 PM new
Kerry would get a paper cut just signing the paperwork and then demand his Purple Heart. Therefore it would be better to tie a stick to the top of his helmet with a ballpoint pen hanging from the end of it on a string and then just point him in the direction of the mine field.
posted on August 13, 2005 05:13:41 PM new
Oh ,here's where the terrorists hang out!
Don't like someone's opinion, well, just kill them.....just like Saddam and Bin Laden !
Did you guys develope your theories listening to Osama...sounds like it. You learned well!
No , YOU guys aren't hatefilled and violent....naawwww! Not at all.......
posted on August 13, 2005 07:12:07 PM newOh ,here's where the terrorists hang out!
Craw, as you trigger the claymore, have the flat side facing you.
"Why, it appears that we appointed all of our worst generals to command the armies and we appointed all of our best generals to edit the newspapers. I mean, I found by reading a newspaper that these editor generals saw all of the defects plainly from the start but didn't tell me until it was too late. I'm willing to yield my place to these best generals and I'll do my best for the cause by editing a newspaper." --Robert E. Lee
