Bryan Denton for the Wall Street Journal
Posted on 02/14/2010 10:05:11 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Bryan Denton for the Wall Street Journal
Lance Cpl. James Button, left, eyed a suspected Taliban position through his rifle scope, as Cpl. Grimm called out targets to their group.
MARJAH, Afghanistan—Taliban insurgents tried to overrun a U.S. Marine outpost with a combination of rocket-propelled grenades and suicide bombers in a brazen attack just after sundown on Sunday.
The Marines and Afghan soldiers fended off the assault, shooting the suicide attackers before they had a chance to detonate their weapons.
The attack took place on the second day of a major offensive to wrest control of this town of 75,000 people from the Taliban insurgents who have dominated it for years.
Also on Sunday, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization said that coalition rockets missed their intended target and killed 12 Afghan civilians.
The Marines and Afghan soldiers landed by helicopter on the first day of the offensive and set up camp at the Koru Chareh bazaar, a central commercial district in Marjah. On Sunday, the troops raised the Afghan flag above the bazaar to send the message that the town was gradually reverting to Kabul's control after years of being ruled by the Taliban.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
fyi
Marjah is one of the last insurgent-held towns in the strategically important central Helmand River valley of southern Afghanistan.
The town has been off-limits to Afghan officials and coalition troops for years.
“Taliban insurgents tried to overrun a U.S. Marine outpost with a combination of rocket-propelled grenades and suicide bombers in a brazen attack just after sundown on Sunday.”
A frontal assault on a Marine defensive position isnt too wise, but hey, these Taliban only have one option in their play book, suicide attacks. We are happy to oblige them.
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