VILLAGE elders in Sangin dropped in on 40 Commando’s base for an hour to ask the British to stay.
A delegation of 14 village leaders visited the Marines for an impromptu ‘shura’ meeting – up to 50 more had wanted to attend but they did not want to ‘swamp’ the camp.
Officer Commanding Bravo Company Major Mark Totten said the elders wanted to discuss the Americans, who are taking over from the Brits before the end of the year.
He said: “They hoped the Americans would be like the British ISAF troops.
“They even suggested that they were going to speak to the District Governor and request that the British stay.”
Maj Totten reassured his guests that the Americans would be working to achieve the same mission.
The elders also discussed farming – they are resisting Taliban pressure to plant corn up to the front of the base so the insurgents can sneak in and plant explosive devices.
Maj Totten RM said: “I recognise the courage of the people to do this and it is appreciated – co-operation such as this is the way to defeat the insurgents.”
The shura ended with the elders inviting the British ISAF forces to their compounds in the future so that they could return the hospitality.
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