Fleeing Afghan villages warn of massing taliban

Afghan villagers fleeing Marjah ahead of the announced Moshtarak operation are warning the taliban are not fleeing but rather massing and digging in. NATO announced the major offensive in hopes that the taliban would flee rather than stay and fight.

Well at least a lot of taliban will day in the next few days.

The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his. George S. Patton. National Post

LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan -- Taliban militants are massing and preparing for a big fight ahead of a major NATO offensive in an insurgent stronghold in southern Afghanistan, villagers fleeing the area said on Sunday.[...]

According to some of the villagers escaping Marjah in fear of their lives, fighters are digging in rather than fleeing.

"The Taliban are not going to leave Marjah. We have seen them preparing themselves. They are bringing in people and weapons. We know there is going to be a big fight," said Abdul Manan, a man from Marjah who had fled to Helmand's capital, Lashkar Gah.

"The Taliban are very active in Marjah. They are planting mines there and in the surrounding areas," said another villager, Abdul Khaleq, after arriving in Lashkar Gah with his family.