AP: U.S. Sets Up Base in Afghan Mountains

[Sticky]

ON THE AFGHAN BORDER - Using bulldozers to slice bunkers and a helicopter landing pad out of a mountainside, U.S. special operations forces dug in Tuesday on a peak overlooking Pakistan — fortifying the area for the intensifying battle against al-Qaida and Taliban forces.


Special operations forces — who include Green Berets, Navy SEALs, and CIA (news - web sites) operatives — are playing a secretive but leading role in the battle against al-Qaida and Taliban suspects believed to be hiding out in the mountains of Pakistan's tribal areas.


Remote posts like this one near the Afghan city of Orgun, scratched out of a mountainside to house a small contingent of U.S. forces and a larger Afghan militia unit, serve as forward launch pads for the fight.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&ncid=716&e=6&u=/ap/20040324/ap_on_re_as/al_qaida_special_ops_camp

[Malikshah]

1. Where's the pipeline going again?

Just wondering-- anyone have a link to this? i.e. the projected pipeline pathway

Thanks for any help folks!

[goforit]

2. roflmao!!!...........Kenneth Lay is happy now!!!

But seriously.........I do believe China would be nervous.

[yltlatl]

3. China....

I think you're right about China. After all, "overlooking Pakistan" could be "overlooking Kashmir", which in addition to being claimed by Pakistan and India is also claimed by China, incidentally. Anway, I can't believe that either Russia or China can be terribly thrilled about us messing around in their back yard. It's not just the military presence, there's also political influence (aren't we pumping foreign aid into all the 'stans?), not to mention strategic interest in the form of oil. Meanwhile our so-called "news" media is essentially silent on China AND Russia (but especially China). I really can't believe that there's nothing to report...

[aprilgirl]

4. What is the Afghans steal the weapons and stuff we put up there?

We are good, but can we hang in those mountains long? remember what happened to the Russians.