Marja Analysis (Updated)

I'm at work, unable to endure watching the rest of France v. Ireland after this epic collapse. It's a good time to read some of the analysis of the ongoing offensive in Marja, though, here, here and here. The analysis I have highlighted comes from three guys who I think have done some of the best English-language reporting thus far on Helmand and the NATO/ISAF operations there: Dexter Filkins, Rajiv Chandrasekaran and Tom Coughlan. Filkins and Chand -- whatever, Rajiv -- have reported from inside NATO/ISAF operations particularly well, and Coughlan of the Times of London really knows Helmand. He has a very good chapter on the Taliban there, in fact, in this Antonio Giustozzi volume. That chapter makes for great background reading to NATO/ISAF operations this weekend.

Update: A little cheer to cut through the Six Nations gloom.

Update II: I may not be blogging, but I am posting good accounts I have read on the Abu Muqawama Twitter feed.