Sometime this winter, U.S./NATO/Afghan forces will storm the town of Marja in Helmand province. It is the last population center that is under the control of the Taliban. Hundreds if not thousands of Talibs are said to have fled to the town after allied forces moved into Helmand. In addition to Afghan-militants, there is reportedly also a presence of Arab, Uzbek, Pakistani, Chechen, and Yemeni fighters that may be linked to al-Qaeda.(Associated Press) The military is advertising the fight ahead of time, preparing to use lessons-learned to make Marja a showcase of the strategy of "clear, hold, and build".(LAT) It will be the largest U.S. offensive ever in Afghanistan.
We can expect Marja to be a bloody showdown.
One reason for the loud and prominent advertising for this engagement is for the sake of the civilian population. Conducting an offensive in an urban area is one thing; conducting an offensive in a densely-populated urban area is another. 85,000 Afghans are thought to reside in and around Marja. Another reason for the volume in these announcements is the $10-a-day Taliban; it will be much easier to clear and hold Marja if they decide not to experience the force of a USMC offensive.
The town itself was the site of U.S. aid half a century ago. There are many irrigation canals that the militants will be familiar with. It could easily be difficult terrain for the Marines, other NATO forces, and the Afghan security forces to navigate and clear.
Marja is deeply tied into the opium trade and is a center of bomb-making for the Taliban who, as the New York Times reported, are fighting a shadowy-war that relies heavily on improvised-explosive-devices. The Taliban aren't likely to give it up that easily. It's their last stronghold in Helmand province. One year ago, the Taliban had all but complete control of Helmand province; it is likely to be held up as an early example of what the surge in troops can accomplish.