U.S. Marines and Afghan forces airlifted over the Taliban -laid minefields into the center of Marjah town Saturday, apparently surprising the insurgents and taking strategic positions from them, according to military officials. ...
The helicopter airlift into the heart of the city of 80,000 started around 2 a.m. and allowed the troops to quickly establish 11 posts throughout Marjah, while the bulk of the 15,000-man force carefully picked its way overland.
How is it possible for the Taliban, after over eight years of war, to be surprised by our use of helicopters to airlift troops?
UPDATE: Our airlift at 2:00 AM did indeed surprise the enemy:
Troops quickly occupied key buildings, and the Taliban found that their defense of the town had been wrecked. That wasn't the only damage. Evidence was found, and publicized, that the Taliban had burned some Korans, apparently in preparation of a photo op where the "desecration" would be broadcast to the Moslem world. But in the case, the Taliban were caught holding the match.
Funny how enemy desecration of Korans doesn't get the same outrage in the Moslem world. Of course, enemy use of mosques as fighting positions, bases, and arms deports throughout the Iraq War never seemed to arouse any fury in the Moslem world, either. Go figure.
