THINK OF AFGHANISTAN – AT 10:42 A.M. ET:  The largest operation in the history of the Afghanistan war is underway.  It will test the leadership of our new commander in the area, Gen. Stanley McChrystal.  From Fox:

Roughly 15,000 American, Afghan and NATO forces began an assault late Friday on the Taliban in the central Helmand town of Marjah in what senior military commanders are calling the largest operation since the start of the Afghanistan war.

Punching their way through a line of insurgent defenses that included mines and homemade bombs, ground forces crossed a major canal Saturday into the town's northern entrance.

Maj. Gen. Nick Carter, NATO commander of forces in southern Afghanistan, said Afghan and coalition troops, aided by 60 helicopters, made a "successful insertion" into Marjah without incurring any casualties.

"The operation went without a single hitch," Carter said at a briefing in the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah.

Carter said the strike force quickly gained ground as it moved into Marjah and overran disorganized insurgents. "We've caught the insurgents on the hoof, and they're completely dislocated," he said.

Unfortunately, the article doesn't identify the nationalities of the NATO troops.  We understand from other stories that they are British, Canadian and French.  I'm glad to see the French there.  The Brits and Canadians are always with us.  Some of the other NATO "allies" have troops in Afghanistan as baby minders and doorknob polishers.

One key element here is the support our forces will get from President Obama, and, especially, the left wing of his party in Congress.  It's no secret that the Democratic left is opposed to the surge in Afghanistan – well, actually it's against any war America has a chance of winning – and there have been rumblings about attempts to cut off funding.  Your move, Mr. President.

February 13, 2010