Insurgents Step Up Attacks on Marines

washington post ^ | July 4, 2009 | By Rajiv Chandrasekaran

[Flavius]

Taliban insurgents stepped up attacks Friday against U.S. Marines in southern Afghanistan's Helmand River valley, forcing troops in some areas to spend the day fighting instead of carrying out plans to meet with residents and local leaders.

The stiffest resistance occurred in the district of Garmser, where Taliban fighters holed up in a walled housing compound engaged in an eight-hour gun battle with troops from the 2nd Battalion of the 8th Marine Regiment. The Marines eventually requested a Harrier fighter jet to drop a 500-pound bomb on the compound, which was believed to have killed all fighters inside.

The commanders directing the huge Marine security operation here had said they hoped not to rely on airstrikes, which have resulted in numerous civilian casualties in Afghanistan over the past seven years. Officers here noted with pride Thursday that they had not used bombs or artillery in the first 24 hours of the mission.

But they were left with little choice after the insurgents refused to surrender. Even so, senior officers emphasized that they had watched the building -- from the ground and with surveillance aircraft -- for almost a day before concluding there were no civilians inside.

There was no immediate count of insurgents killed, although ground commanders reported that 30 to 40 were shooting from in and around the compound early in the day. The airstrike also resulted in several secondary explosions, leading Marines at the site to suspect that the house may have contained homemade bombs.

[Flavius]

The Pashtuns are the world's largest (patriarchal) segmentary lineage ethnic group.[16] The total population of the group is estimated to be around 42 million, but an accurate count remains elusive due to the lack of an official census in Afghanistan since 1979.[17] There are an estimated 60 major Pashtun tribes and more than 400 sub-clans.[18]

\ 42M what % hate our guts

[beebuster2000]

drop a 500-pound bomb on the compound, which was believed to have killed all fighters inside.

not exactly what i would call "stepping up attacks on marines".

[4Speed]

Never start a War WITHOUT an Airforce, you Dufus Islamic Idiots.
Yeah, I said it !

Meanwhile, our Brave men in Uniform are fighting for our Freedom on July 4th once again, against an enemey that wants to kill more Americans at home, lots more.

[2001convSVT]

“The Marines eventually requested a Harrier fighter jet to drop a 500-pound bomb on the compound, which was believed to have killed all fighters inside.

Once again proving that explosive can solve your problems no matter what the size. LOL

[Condor51]

The stiffest resistance occurred in the district of Garmser, where Taliban fighters holed up in a walled housing compound engaged in an eight-hour gun battle with troops from the 2nd Battalion of the 8th Marine Regiment. The Marines eventually requested a Harrier fighter jet to drop a 500-pound bomb on the compound ... Officers here noted with pride Thursday that they had not used bombs or artillery in the first 24 hours of the mission.

Okay, what's wrong with that picture?

Anyone? ... Bueller?

Ferris Bueller?

Answer: (We're playing that Hearts and Minds CR@P again! Instead of worrying about *his Marines* being in an 8 hr firefight, these 'Officers' are worried about killing someone's Camel with a Bomb!)

[Jeff Chandler]

Obama told them not to use air support.