NATO Offensive 'Kills 30 Taleban'

BBC ^ | 1-31-2007

[blam]

Nato offensive 'kills 30 Taleban'

At least 30 suspected Taleban fighters have been killed in a ground and air attack by Nato-led forces in southern Afghanistan, local police said. Troops surrounded a rebel base in the Kajaki area of Helmand province and fought a five-hour battle, they said.

Nato confirmed the clash but has not commented on the casualties.

The attack comes ahead of a predicted surge in Taleban activity for the spring. Last year saw a record number of insurgent attacks.

'Spring offensive'

Helmand police chief Ghulam Nabi Mulakhel said 15 rebel fighters were wounded in addition to those killed.

Helmand has seen a number of fierce battles over the past year.

There were no casualties among Afghan and Nato soldiers in the latest offensive.

Mr Mulakhel said arms and ammunition were recovered, including heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenade launchers.

On Wednesday, Nato spokesman Brig Gen Richard Nugee said the organisation did not believe the Taleban were capable of a "spring offensive".

Gen Nugee said: "There will be an upward surge in violence as the weather gets better."

But he added: "We believe that they have been degraded and are starting to appear in less good condition than they started last year."

However, incoming US commander Maj Gen David Rodriguez has said he thinks suicide attacks this year will be even greater than last year's record 139.

[pissant]

The NY Times is still praying for even the slightest hint of taliban success. So far, all their exhalted "taliban offensives" have ended just like this one.

[taxesareforever]

Taking care of business.

[stockpirate]

JAWAG, but! I thinkthe spring offensive just got a little lighter.

Why you ask? Well Iraq is just aroung the corner and I'll lay money that some of the KIA and captured on Sunday at Najif were hading bck or to Afganistan in the next couple of weeks.

[R.W.Ratikal]

"NATO offensive kills 30 Tali ban." This is definitely not cost efficient.

I estimate that at the going rate of U.S. expenses in Afghanistan each raghead killed cost us approximately 126 million dollars each.

Boots on the ground has always been the most expensive way to wage war.

The strategy we should use is no secret. U. S. forces should stand back and zap Afghanistan to bouncing rubble with our air and naval power.

It sounds ruthless, but Afghanistan is just another Muslim country that must be subdued if the West is to survive.

We are told that 80 percent of Muslims are peace loving. OK, so let's kill 20 percent and come home.

I'll wait while anyone comes up with a better plan.