F.A.O Stan, Volgograd, Russia

One word for you - Georgia

Sarah, London, UK

Well done boys, but the article says it all:

"Nato, facing an escalating Taleban insurgency, initially argued it could not be done until the spring poppy harvest, a low point in the Taleban’s capabilities. But they came under pressure from Washington, anxious to secure progress before the election"

Malcolm Rikeur, Hartlepoole, UK

Undermine the Taleban?
Good job boys?

The continued idiocy of the British public is astounding.

The Taleban will wait until we start assembling it, or completion, and then just blow it up. They're winning, not us you fools.

Tom Franklin, London, UK

Narrow minds stay in small boxes! The potential good this could achieve is missed by the synics. Well done to all involved,.
At least now I know where my lad has been this last week or so!

C Brunton, Dunfermline, UK

Hey guys, are you going to bring democracy to Russia or what?) Will we taste it finally?

P.S. Don't take me seriously)

Alex, Perm, RF

British troops under pressure from Washington to undertake a dangerous mission? Now there's a surprise.

David Glen, Glasgow, Scotland

How long before Hollywood rushes out a movie in which this is an operation performed by American troops while the British sit on their hands?

jon livesey, Sunnyvale, CA/USA

Well done boys.

paul, london,

Michael in London, it was a Chinese company that won the contract for this turbine upgrade.

Steve Mason, Devon, England

I hope the money for that expensive turbine didn't come out of British tax payers pocket.

Is the turbine to power the people, or the proposed oil pipeline across the country?

Richard , UK,

Fantastic news to see such fabulous work being done by the NATO forces in Afghanistan this is the sort of progress I'd like to see more of...

Complete's undermines the taliban and just goes to show what can be done if a bit of thought is put into it....

Let's have more of this please!

Jim, London, UK

The danger in Afghanistan is that the Taliban now control
outside our camps, only US-UK-Canada & a few allies are
fighting, Europe not interested, Taliban basically winning, the
US-UK might move towards conscription to put large numbers
of troops in to try and win, NO BIG MISTAKE DON'T DO IT.

Frederick, Hampshire, UK

well if the russians hadnt invaded in the first place then Afghanistan would never have become a country thats been continualy at war since.

David, lincoln,

More and more Afgan peoples is said "Thanks UK" and they not remember this work and who did it.
In my opinionthis is ungrounded risk of British forces.
p.s.
- please give me money to bay the bread!
- oh, you can take my bread!
- I'm don't need you bread, give me money!

sorry for broken Eng

Ax1s, Voronezh, Russia

Great Job, well done. This the Taleban swore they would never allow to happen. Start close and work out, as peoples lives are improved by elctrical power and improved irrigation, the word will spread. Those wishing to destroy those gains and improvements will be betrayed to Government Forces.

Bill, Stavanger, Norway

Well done our chaps, if you want anything doing then get the Brits in to sort it out! Lets hope they manage to remove the soviet junk and get some power out to the nation soon, show the people that Terry Taliban is all hot air and no action!

Richard de Gerber, Kingston upon Thames, UK

One day the British Army will have to come home. Then it's back to traditional tribal alliances, misogyny, feudalism and opium. Where does the hydro fit in then? Why not invest all that £ in giving British kids the best education possible, thus perhaps NOT choosing a life of heroin addiction?

Jonathan , Helsinki, Finland

Are you trying to say that the allies invaded Afghanistan to install hydroelectric power in the regions?

Barry, london, uk

The power station was designed for three turbines, but only two were installed and they fell into disrepair after the Soviet Union withdrew its troops in 1989.- Seems like if Russians didn’t leave then things could look better, eh?

Mariya, St.Petersburg, Russia

Great job guys!!

Murph, Madisonville, Kentucky

Tikhon Savrasov. You miss the point.. Have war. Award contract for military equipment. Win war award contracts for rebuilding. Blow it up ? Award again. Rebuilding someone elses infrastructure with taxpayers money is capitalism apparently. Who needs better railways in the UK. Export infrastructure.

Michael, London, UK

I commend the troops' courage, but this again shows failure to understand guerrilla war. USA won most battles in Vietnam, as did British in 3 prior Anglo-Afghan Wars, but the enemy just waited us out before returning to slaughter us. Ghilzai defeated the British in 1842, Taliban now doing the same.

Mark, Santa Cruz, USA

Well done the UK forces - a really heroic moment we can all be very proud of.
I hope this will be a real turning point in the battle to win the hearts and minds of the local population, which is still the bedrock of taliban resistance.

Abdul, London, UK

The Brits have beaten off endless attacks on the dam so far. The Taleban have taken big casualties and dented their street cred. The dam is vital to the economy and power supply of Helmand and Kandahar and the locals ain't in much doubt about who they want to win. Clue: it doesn't start with a T.

royzie, London, UK

Congratulations to the coalition troops. Shame on those Taleban thugs that force millions to live in filth for their own financial gain.

aj, Shanghai,

OK so they managed, with extreme effort, to get the hardware to the dam. When it is finally installed , just how long will the dam be allowed to stand? Or the transmission lines taking the electricity away? That this takes such measures proves the war is lost. It's time to get out.

John, Parafield,

A moment of pride in the nation and its warriors whose dual peaceful missions are too often ignored. This magnificent achievement will bring a better life to those in the region.

Why must there be those who, as we see here, have such a visceral hatred of their nation to denigrate its goodness?

Bob Evans, Anaheim, California

A job well done by soldiers. At the cost of millions of dollars! But will it meet the expectations or the aims - only time will tell. Yes producing energy is difficult but delivering to population is the greatest challenge. I am pretty sure it will be another case of wasted money and a thankless job

Brij, Brisbane, Australia

The difference, Stan, is that some nations invade countries and blow up or sabotage their infrastructure. This on the other hand is an attempt, against the unelected radical extremist's violent efforts, to improve the lives of the people of that land.

Chris, Hong Kong,

Mike, Thailand, quite simply it's "hearts and minds" this is the best possible way to defeat radical extremists wherever they may be, you cannot put a price on freedom.

Chris, Hong Kong,

Well said D Fitzsimmons. Certain people think that they have it all figured out with their caustic and sarcastic comments about a place that they have no idea about, and will never go to. I know that it is a beautiful thing to have the right to voice your opinion, but sometimes it's poisonous.

Dan, London,

The job seems really intresting good luck in future,but you people should crush down the base of financial support and hidden supporter of Taliban in the region.

Fakharulislam Yasini, Peshawar , Pakistan

Well done to all the men and women involved. I was there last year and had heard about this project and it makes me proud to hear that its atarting to pay off.

To Mike from Bangkok, if you'd been to the country and met the people you'd understand why we're doing these kind of projects.

dave, Salisbury, UK

Good work men! Despite what the pessimists in this forum account, you are improving that country, and all who wish to benefit from it will. Here's to our men staying safe and returning home!

William, Seattle, USA

What on earth are we doing constructing hydro electric schemes when the country is partly in the hands of the Taliban? Next week it could be back in their hands. The time for reconstruction is when the enemy is beaten. If ever.

Colin, shrewsbury,

And what about the journey home?

I expect the Taliban may like some flatbeds too.

Doe anyone have a grip on what this extraordinary adventure is for or costing?

Mike, bangkok, Thailand

All very exciting and well done to the troops, but I cant help agree with some of the comments on here. TheTaliban are smart enough to figure out that all they need to do is wait till the troops pull back...which they will...then nip in and blow it up.

David, Edinburgh, Scotland

How will they defend the power line from sabotage? 4 pylons per km will take some looking after!

Phil, Málaga, spain

Stan,

Why did you attack Afghanistan for eight years before we did?

You do have a short memory.

Sean, London, UK

I think it is a fantastic achievement. Whatever your view on our presence in Afghanistan, you can't doubt the bravery of our very limited forces. These guys have been given a difficult job to do and they are getting on with it.

Alan, Northampton, UK

Unbeleivable to claim that this was "daring and successful" - it took 5 days to travel 100 miles in a convoy cmprised of 100 vehicles, 5,000 men and fighter jets!!

George, Monrovia, Liberia

Um, so, in short... massive investment in dam, and perilous mission to make it happen, will probably benefit Mujahadeen as they tax the electricity it produces. These uplifting stories are beginning to reach somewhat.

Matt, Birmingham, UK

must be something about dams and the war that gets everyone with a lump in their throat. Good job British army (and the others too). Maybe in a couple of years time we shall also get a nice cinema rendition with an equally elevating sound track to match the original dam busters movie.

mark farrugia, london, uk

"as part of a US-led invasion that toppled the Taleban government to punish it for shielding Osama bin Laden in late 2001."

I don't think the invasion was to punish the Taleban for shielding him; it was to prevent them from shielding him. Had Bush & co. focused on it, it might even have worked.

Mark, Minnesota, USA

Sitting safe in your armchair: 0 dollars
Offering nothing practical or constructive: 0 dollars
Witless sarcasm: 0 dollars

Wanting others to fail because you feel small: Priceless

D. Fitzsimmons, London, Canada

At last, a piece of good news ! But there's no reason to think of the Taleban as an un-defeatable force. If politicians decide to eleminate the Taleban once and for all, there will be no Taleban by next Tuesday. But they don't do it. Why ? Well, they are cowed by Pakistan.

Safiullah Tazib, London, UK

A job well done - but they shouldn't be there really. Afghanistan was a choice - Second World War was a must !!!!!!!

ian payne, WALSALL,

Even Alistair Leithead of the BBC had to accept this was a job well done

Steve Rothwell, London,

Awesome! Tikhon you don't deserve to live in this great nation.

Dean, Southampton, England

power for the two provinces of Kandahar and Helmand — now at the centre of the insurgency and the opium trade

Nuff said

morton, Praha, Czech Rep.

Reminds me of one of my troopers descriptions of taking an ammunition truck through the Khyber Pass before WW 2

M Clement Hall, Guelph, Canada

Actually this story is about US/UK defeat in Afganistan. It shows that NATO can't control or bring order to this country, which is a strategic defeat. The fact that it takes 5000 troops to move one track just highligts the sheer scale of NATO's failure.
NATO is stuck in Afganistan forever.

Oleg, Toronto, Canada

Tremendous effort and a job well done, 9 Para Sqn RE have played a pivotal role in this complex operation and have proved yet again that they are the finest soldiers in the Corps of Royal Engineers. Well Done

David Smith, Edinburgh,

What a complete waste.We have a war on our streets.

Why is it always us and the americans that always have to make the biggest sacrifice.

Where is blair or his kids.Not being murdered in Afghanistan i am sure.

edwina, croydon,

Congratulations, when the local population start reaping the benifit of the power supplied, I am sure that many more insurgents will be turned in.
The British Army deserve full & wholesome praise after this operation.
WELL DONE LADS

Pete, St Albans, England

In my opinion the UK must withdrawn its troops from Afghanistan as soon as possible!!!
Shame on you!
Why did you attack this small country?
What is the difference between Russia and the UK?

Stan, Volgograd, Russia

I'm sure German newspapers carried similar let's-be-proud headlines when they achieved something similar in the countries that they invaded.

You can't blind us with a bit of misguided patriotic nonsense Brown. Our country is falling apart.

I couldn't give a dam about a dam.

Laura Roberts, London, UK

Good work - the British military are brilliant!

Ed, Birmingham, UK

will, grimsby, uk

How can having your pelvis crushed by a vehicle be a self inflicted injury?

Surely two in the foot would have been easier and more likely if it WERE self inflicted.

Alex, London,

Isn't this the war we were supposed to have won before the last war we started? Sheesh, we've been in the country 6 years and this is as far as we've got - running supplies in huge convoys. What a success.

Andrew, London,

How long before the Taleban blow it up, or otherwise put it out of action?

Graham, Bradford, England

What's the point.

We can't guard it forever and the locals will just sabotage it the first chance they get.

Mark McG, Singapore, Singapore

marvellous!

Anthony L, Chelmsford, UK

pretty impressive that the only injury was a self inflicted one. shame that the europeans wont help us in helmand, if they did that taleband wouldnt have a chance

will, grimsby, uk

A job well done!

Paul, Worthing, United Kingdom

Hydroelectric dam turbine: $100m to buy

Massive military operation: Many more millions.

A couple of sticks of dynamite hidden under an engenees's vest: ~ $20

Not learning from history: Priceless

Tikhon Savrasov, london,