When I was briefed on the top-secret mission before it was launched, I thought : “Good grief.  I might have to report on the failure of one of the largest and most important missions of the entire war.”

It was a stunning, unqualified success. Which probably explains why you’ve heard so much about it in the media. Oh, you say it’s news to you? I keep forgetting whose side the MSM is on.

Yon, and British combat photographers, brought back some amazing images. Be sure to read the comments, especially the one from a sniper who was there:

Sirs,

without breaking rules etc, I am a Australia Serviceman who also went on this op.

I am a sniper assigned “overwatch” meaning to travel ahead a few Klicks, setup, spot and if needed , Neutralise the opposition. then repeat when the “charlie team” ( 3 teams, 1 set, one moving, one setting up)

and after reading this i am so happy to say its spot on. Truth in reporting at last!!!

Now people can see what we do and why. 60% of the Afghani folks want us here, the rest are scared of the Talibs but when its dark offer us tea or water before running away before another Afghani see’s them.

One day they’ll hopefully not be so scared and i personally think when this day come the Talibs are done for , they play on fear and intimidation. remove the fear and they are nothing but rabble with guns.

Full marks to the reporter! I’ll buy you a beeer for this one mate!

cheers

J

Instapundit spoke to Michael via satphone.

He’s with British troops now, and his comment is: “These guys are studs. All they do is work out and fight.” He says troop morale generally in Afghanistan is really good, partly because there’s more public support for that war, but that the overall situation is “not great” and “clearly deteriorating.” He adds that “we’re not losing,” but that we’re not making progress either. “I’ll tell you Glenn, we really need more troops here.” With what he describes as a “meltdown” going on in Pakistan, he says that Afghanistan needs a lot more troops — like 50,000 or more. Part of the problem, he adds, is that many of the Coalition troops, like the Germans, aren’t really allowed to fight, making the effective number of available troops lower than it seems.

Update:

Well, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle. The Times covered it. No, not the one in New York, silly.