Operation anaconda

Task Operation Anaconda Introduction Operation Anaconda is a military assignment that was taken by the US army in an effort to eliminate Al-Qaeda fighters. The army encountered many challenges in their fight, including minimum support from most political leaders, frustrating weather conditions, and few soldiers in their camp. Although they never won, they had damaged the Al Qaeda operations extensively. 1 Reinforcement was brought from the Delta Force and Seal Team Six. This has shown how hazardous it is when the enemy is engaged with a small group of skilled people with heavy power.
Success of the Anaconda Operation
Operation Anaconda was considered unsuccessful because the US was incapable of overcoming their adversary in the first contact. This operation was to eliminate the Al Qaeda group after they were overpowered by the group three months earlier. The mission used modernized method where the US military and friendly Afghanistan in the valley was to assail the terror group. This was not the case, as the enemy was so controlling and organized, while the sociable Afghanistan’s did not cooperate, hence leaving the Americans to fight alone. The soldiers were able to succeed as they called for air reinforcement because their original ground plan to overpower the enemy was not effective. 2
Effectiveness of Operation Anaconda
The mission was expected to be completed in three days, but it extended for a month. The US army was considered successful because they were able to eliminate eight hundred Al Qaeda men. These men run away from the valley leaving the United States soldiers in control. The success was established using sophisticated material and the soldiers adapting to diverse fighting methods.
Why Operation Anaconda Seems To Be Less Sophisticated
This is because it was unable to cope with the environment in the mountains and they were not able to combat the heavy machine guns and grenades that were used to neutralize them by the Al-Qaeda. The operation did not have tactical gears that would neutralize the Al-Qaeda group who camouflaged in the mountains. There were many accidents as many soldiers died from bombs dropped by American aircrafts. Others were killed from helicopter crashes, while a few suffered heavy equipment accidents, inadvertent falling from shipboards, and accidental shootings. 3
Conclusion
Anaconda operation has been among the most complicated missions in US warfare history. This is because they were unable to eliminate their enemy in the first account, typically because the soldiers underestimated the enemy and thought that it was an uncomplicated mission. Success was realized after requesting for reinforcement from Delta Force and Seal Team Six.
List of References
Johnson, David. Learning Large Lessons: The Evolving Roles of Ground Power and Air
Power in the Post-Cold War Era . New York: Rand Corporation, 2006. Pg 53.
Pirne, Bruce. Beyond Close Air Support: Forging a New Air-Ground Partnership. New York:
Rand Corporation, 2005. Pg 45.
Tucker, Spencer. U. S. Leadership in Wartime: Clashes, Controversy, and Compromise. Illinois:
ABC-CLIO, 2009. Pg 72.