THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, April 22, 2010
Visiting with Afghan youngsters while out on patrol in the Now Zad bazzar.
MOFFETT from 24
widespread attention for its success in clearing the Taliban stronghold at Marjah, with minimal ca- sualties, but BGen Nichol- son’s focus was as much on security for the local population as it was on
M.MOFFETT PHOTO
kinetic military opera- tions. Economic develop- ment throughout the Hel- mand River valley would be essential for long-term success in the region. The General also repeat- edly sought to focus at- tention on Now Zad, north
of Leatherneck, and in the foothills of the great Afghan mountains. Op- eration Cobra’s Anger had cleared the place of orga- nized Taliban resistance, and the ghost town was coming to life. It was no coincidence that Secretary of Defense Gates made an appearance at Now Zad during a visit to the region. It was time to leave the relative comfort of my tent at Camp Leatherneck and get out into the field. I got on a CH-53 helicopter and flew up north to the com- mand’s most isolated out- post, in Golestan. Then it was down to Delaram and the long cross country ride with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment to Bakwa for the operation described in the previ- ous story. Then back to Delaram to continue to interview members of 3/4, who would soon be departing. The battal- ion had distinguished it- self and its story needed to be recorded. While at Delaram I attended a meeting and a mod- est dinner at a structure on base, where the Dis- trict Governor, Asadullah Akdhost, made a special presentation to LtCol Mar- tin Wetterauer, the com- manding officer for 3 /4. During the dinner, I con- versed with an interpret-
er, Fahim Fazli, speaker of five languages. He had been born in Afghanistan but had become a refugee during the Soviet occu- pation. He ended up in southern California, and eventually made his way to Hollywood, where he was typecast as a Taliban- like bad guy in movies like “The Beast,” “Kite Run-
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ner,” and “Iron Man.” He appeared in similar roles on the television show “24” and had been an ad- visor for “Charlie Wilson’s War.” I thought he looked familiar. He was keep- ing a journal of sorts and explained that he’d like to turn it into a book. When he learned I had some
See MOFFETT on 30
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