This monograph is more than the story of Marine expeditionary
operations in Afghanistan. It describes who our nation's enemies
are; how America became involved in the Global War on Terrorism;
and how the Marine Corps struggled to acquire a major role in
Operation Enduring Freedom, as well as the actions of Marines and
sailors who helped prosecute the air and ground campaigns against
Taliban and al-Qaeda forces. In the latter regard, we see the 15th
Marine Expeditionary Unit, already forward deployed on 11 September
2001, ready to conduct a noncombatant evacuation operation, secure
a forward operating base, or provide a quick reaction force for
joint special operating forces conducting the initial offensive
action of the war. The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit then combined
with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and quickly maneuvered from
the Mediterranean to form a provisional Marine expeditionary
brigade known as Naval Expeditionary Task Force 58. Working
simultaneously under the direction of U.S. Central Command's land
and maritime component commanders and in association with joint
special operations forces, Brigadier General James N. Mattis and
his force embarked on a sequence of operations in southern
Afghanistan. These included, but were not limited to, establishing
Forward Operating Base Rhino, interdicting enemy lines of
communications along Highway 1, occupying Kandahar International
Airport, securing the American embassy in Kabul, detaining several
hundred prisoners of war, and supporting special operations forces
during numerous sensitive site exploitation and special
reconnaissance missions. The monograph also describes the 13th
Marine Expeditionary Unit's rapid reinforcement of Coalition forces
during Operation Anaconda, only days after Task Force 58's
disbandment. Although events did not afford the Marines an
opportunity to engage the enemy in heavy combat, their contribution
in southern Afghanistan was nonetheless significant. From a
strategic perspective, the arrival of a sizable conventional force
demonstrated America's resolve to confront the sponsors of
terrorism directly and signaled an end to Taliban rule. From an
operational perspective, Task Force 58 successfully blocked the
western escape route from Kandahar and threatened the enemy's last
remaining urban stronghold. As Lieutenant General Gregory S.
Newbold, former director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, later observed: The insertion of Task Force 58 had a deep
psychological impact on the Taliban and al-Qaeda-they were
confronted with a military situation which now unhinged any hope
they had for a gradual pullback from the north and a chance to hold
from their area of greatest strength. . . . The insertion of Task
Force 58 fundamentally changed the equation for the enemy from one
of grim hope to hopelessness. The strategic agility and operational
reach showcased by the Navy amphibious squadrons and Marine
expeditionary units validated the utility of task-organized
expeditionary forces, particularly in respect to the effectiveness
of long-range, ship-to-objective maneuver. These combined
achievements contributed directly to the subsequent deployment of
expeditionary strike groups in 2003. As a result, today's naval
services are now in a better position to address emerging crises
around the globe, regardless of whether they occur in littoral or
landlocked regions of the world. Colonel Nathan S. Lowrey began his
military career as an infantry officer, serving first as a rifle
platoon commander in Panama during Operation Just Cause and then as
a recruiting officer in Portland, Oregon. After transferring to the
Reserves to attend graduate school, he joined the History
Division's Field Operations Branch in 1998 and subsequently
deployed to document operations in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
He joined the Histories Branch as a civilian writer in 2005 and
later served as head of the Field and Oral History Branch from 2008
to 2010.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
