[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/02/15/marines.afghan.army.jpg caption="Marines and Afghan army officers at a new base in Marjah."]
CNN
These numbers and facts are compiled from CNN correspondents in the field and official military statements.
Overall Troop Numbers – About 15,000 troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Estonia, Afghanistan and Canada
U.S. Troops
about 5,000 Marines
about 300 Army
Afghan Troops
2,000 Afghan National Army
200 Afghan National Civil Order Police
Marjah (population)
80,000 to 100,000 residents
Taliban
Military officials estimates they could encounter about 1,000 Taliban fighters. Five Taliban fighters were killed and eight were arrested in the early hours of the operation
Indivdual battalions involved
1st Battalion, 3rd Marines (US)
1st Battalion, 6th Marines (US)
3rd Battalion, 6th Marines (US)
4th Battalion, 23rd IN Stryker (US)
Combat Engineer Battalion (US)
Light Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment (US)
1 Coldstream Guards Battle Group (UK)
1 Grenadier Guards Battle Group (UK)
1 Royal Welsh Battle Group (UK)
Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team (UK)
Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (UK)
Task Force Pegasus
Task Force Kandahar
It is unclear how many troops come from the United Kingdom, Denmark, Estonia
and Canada.
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Filed under: Afghanistan • Military |
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I think it's a really good idea for the military to focus on giving the Afghan people room to develop their own democracy and military. If we create a situation where the Afghan people rely on us, we will become a crutch and not a step.