Togetherness

The most hyped military operation since D-Day, Operation Moshtarak (Together) is supposedly about to happen in Afghanistan's Helmand province. The residents (and Taliban) of the town of Marjah have been advised via leaflet to leave, and also advised to stay in their homes.

As Paul Rogers points out at Open Democracy, though the operation is touted as sure to gain and keep control of the province, past performance makes this doubtful. One of the psychological needs of warfare is victory, especially on the home front, and the hype seems more designed for that than any real change in Afghanistan. If it makes it easier for the US and NATO to really talk peace with the Taliban, it might end up having a good effect, but it might also push the theme that 'victory is just around the corner'. I suspect that is the military's goal.