Sangin. There is little support for GiROA there; and little reason that there should be. The people of that District are not represented by GiROA; but are largely self-governing, independent, pro-Taliban, and not particularly fond of having foreign military forces (Brit, U.S. or Tajik) in their area.
There is no way to "live among the populace" there, but there are a hundred ways to be killed among the populace. It is probably relatively quiet now, but soon it will start to green up along the Helmand and the fight will be on. We squeezed the balloon below Sangin at Marjah and Lash; but this only serves to compress the fighters northward, closer to their sanctuaries above the Kajaki dam, and deeper into their base of popular support.
If the Marines seek to "Clear" Sangin this summer, it will be a hot summer indeed.
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