Ten years ago tomorrow, the United States invaded Afghanistan. You may remember the ease with which the troops tore through the country with the help of the Northern Alliance. Region after region fell, tons of peanut butter and snacks fell from the sky, and the Taliban was routed!
By 2002, US and coalition forces were "mopping up."
By 2003, the mopping up was going so well newspaper commentaries suggested that it be used as a model for rebuilding Iraq.
In 2004, even skeptical Canadians had to acknowledge that the mopping up was underway!
In 2005, Long Island's own Navy SEAL Lt. Michael Murphy was killed in an Afghanistan mop-up operation; for his bravery he was posthumously awarded a Medal of Honor.
In 2006, the Canadians even started helping mop up, according to the headline "Canadian soldiers mop up Taliban rat’s nest in Afghanistan” (Calgary Herald, Sep 14, 2006).
by 2007, after all that mopping up, there was so little mopping up left to be done that EU forces were engaged to...Mop Up After NATO Troops In Afghanistan!
In 2008, Afghan police and NATO airpower killed three whole rebels. Further, "The mop up would continue till the complete elimination of Deh Rawad and adjoining area from the rebels"—it was promised. (Note, this link opens a PDF).
In 2009, some silly Quakers wondered if President Obama could mop up the mess in Afghanistan.
In 2010, Flag-raising ceremony held as troops mop up last pockets of resistance in Marjah, Afghanistan.
Earlier this year, there was still some mopping up to do.
By 2002, US and coalition forces were "mopping up."
By 2003, the mopping up was going so well newspaper commentaries suggested that it be used as a model for rebuilding Iraq.
In 2004, even skeptical Canadians had to acknowledge that the mopping up was underway!
In 2005, Long Island's own Navy SEAL Lt. Michael Murphy was killed in an Afghanistan mop-up operation; for his bravery he was posthumously awarded a Medal of Honor.
In 2006, the Canadians even started helping mop up, according to the headline "Canadian soldiers mop up Taliban rat’s nest in Afghanistan” (Calgary Herald, Sep 14, 2006).
by 2007, after all that mopping up, there was so little mopping up left to be done that EU forces were engaged to...Mop Up After NATO Troops In Afghanistan!
In 2008, Afghan police and NATO airpower killed three whole rebels. Further, "The mop up would continue till the complete elimination of Deh Rawad and adjoining area from the rebels"—it was promised. (Note, this link opens a PDF).
In 2009, some silly Quakers wondered if President Obama could mop up the mess in Afghanistan.
In 2010, Flag-raising ceremony held as troops mop up last pockets of resistance in Marjah, Afghanistan.
Earlier this year, there was still some mopping up to do.