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US Suffers Heavy Afghan Losses (Reports of 8 or 9 killed in Kunar Province Attack)
BBC ^ | Sunday, July 13, 2008

Posted on 07/13/2008 10:16:53 AM PDT by kristinn

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To: wardaddy; Just Lori
Thank you for reminding us of Captain Johnny Michael Spann, a true American hero by all accounts.

I believe Just Lori was referring to the Kandahar prison break that occurred on June 26, 2008. More than 1000 prinsoners, including 400 Taliban escaped when a suicide bomber blew open the gates to the prison.

41 posted on 07/13/2008 12:01:37 PM PDT by FredZarguna (This tagline dedicated "To the Socialists of all Parties." Even those posting on FR.)
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To: All

“Militant attacks killed 10 NATO soldiers and at least two dozen Afghans on Sunday”
~~~


42 posted on 07/13/2008 12:04:20 PM PDT by 1COUNTER-MORTER-68 (THROWING ANOTHER BULLET-RIDDLED TV IN THE PILE OUT BACK~~~~~)
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To: kristinn

What was the unit?


43 posted on 07/13/2008 12:05:11 PM PDT by Perdogg
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To: kristinn

Anyone who considers 9 killed to be ‘heavy losses’ is just exposing their ignorance.

It’s a personal tragedy for the families involved, and a loss to the country of potential future leaders, but the leftist media is just showing us their lack of intellectual skills.


44 posted on 07/13/2008 12:15:46 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: omega4179; marktwain; johnnycap
D Day: 1465 Dead

We could not fight D-Day or even WWII in today's world. The left, anti-war cowards, Dimocrats, would not stand for it. Americans would not rush to join like they did after Pearl Harbor. Even though many did join after 9-1-1, it was no where like after Pearl. Sad testimony too today's America, that people do not want to defend their country, rights, freedoms, etc. Naw, we just give them away free today for free stuff from the Marxists Dimocrats.

45 posted on 07/13/2008 12:22:31 PM PDT by RetiredArmy (Congress in session, the White House occupied - Your freedom, liberty and rights are in jeopardy.)
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To: kristinn

I agree wholeheartedly with you! Let hell rain down on the scum!


46 posted on 07/13/2008 12:23:07 PM PDT by fishergirl (My warrior, my soldier, my hero - my son. God bless our troops!)
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To: Straight Vermonter
Same bunch I would suppose....involved in that other incident.
47 posted on 07/13/2008 12:23:54 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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To: kristinn


Yes....May God Bless our incredible servicemen, and may he grant solace and healing to the families and friends of those that have just lost their lives....
48 posted on 07/13/2008 12:30:59 PM PDT by rottndog (Freedom IS NOT FREE...Let us NEVER FORGET those that have paid the higest price for it!)
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To: Straight Vermonter; Dog; kristinn
Looking around news sources...found this:

Taliban kill 17 FC men

********************

July 13, 2008 Sunday Rajab 9, 1429

By Abdul Sami Paracha


KOHAT, July 12: Seventeen Frontier Constabulary personnel were killed on Saturday after militants ambushed an FC convoy in Hangu district. Several soldiers were injured in the attack.

Officials said the convoy was ambushed by the Taliban while it was on its way to Doaba from Fort Zargari.

During the 40-minute-long encounter, one local militant ‘commander’, Razeem, was killed and two of his colleagues were injured.

No reinforcements were sent to help the convoy ward off the attack, which took place in an area where two security vehicles were attacked just a few hours before the deadly ambush.

Helicopter gunships pounded surrounding hills where militants were believed to be hiding.

Mullah Sanaullah, a militant ‘commander’, sent a message to the administration after the ambush that his forces would attack security officials if they came to collect the bodies lying in vehicles.

The administration sent a two-member delegation, comprising MNA Pir Haider Ali Shah and Hangu district nazim Khan Afzal, to go to a seminary in the Kahi village and constitute a jirga of clerics for talks with militants on retrieving the bodies and the injured. The jirga is expected to come back in case talks are successful and hand over the bodies early in the morning.

Noorzad, a local, told Dawn that the bodies, including that of the convoy’s commanding officer, were lying inside the vehicles. Three of the soldiers had been slaughtered by Taliban before they left the area, he claimed.

The Kahi seminary is supposed to be managed by Rafiuddin, an aide to Baitullah Mehsud’s deputy. Rafiuddin is currently in the custody of security forces. Clashes erupted after the administration refused to release him.

Jirga members also accused the government of rigidity regarding a request for the handing over of the three militants who were among seven people arrested by police during a flag march on Thursday. The jirga had suspended talks on Friday.

In the first incident, which occurred near the Zargari toll plaza, the militants attacked an FC convoy, but security personnel escaped unhurt. However, a boy was seriously injured in shooting by the militant.

Earlier, security forces arrested four suspects from a car after the driver ignored a warning to stop at a checkpost in the Doaba bazaar. The vehicle was impounded after a chase by security personnel.

Doaba, Thall, Zargari, Tora Warai, Chappri, Togh Sarai and Hangu towns remained tense for a third consecutive day.

49 posted on 07/13/2008 12:32:18 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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To: Straight Vermonter; Dog; kristinn
Roggio has some info:

Taliban launch deadly attack on a combat outpost in Afghanistan's Kunar province

By

The Taliban launched a complex attack against a newly established combat outpost in the Pech district in Afghanistan's eastern province of Kunar. Heavy fighting is currently underway, and US forces are said to have taken multiple casualties in the attack.

The Taliban launched the attack early this morning at approximately 4:30 AM according to a press release from the International Security Assistance Force. The Taliban initiated the battle "with small arms, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars using homes, shops and the mosque in the village of Wanat for cover."

Afghan and US forces based at the outpost have fought back and called in artillery and helicopter support and airstrikes.

Afghan, US, and Taliban casualties have not been released as the fighting is ongoing, but ISAF reported that "there have been casualties on both sides of the fight." The Associated Press reported that nine US soldiers have been killed. If true, the attack would mark one of the largest incidents of US casualties during a ground engagement in Afghanistan.

In separate incident in Uruzgan province in southern Afghanistan, a Taliban suicide bomber killed 24 Afghans and wounded more than 40 in a deadly suicide attack at a market. Security officials said Afghan police were the target, and several policemen were reported killed in the attack.

Today's attacks plays directly into al Qaeda and the Taliban's propaganda and military strategy. The Taliban have launched a series of assaults on US and Afghan bases and patrol and government centers throughout the eastern regions of Afghanistan that border Pakistan’s tribal areas. The extremists hope to destabilize the Afghan government and overrun an outpost or district center as a show of strength.

Al Qaeda spokesman and Afghan commander Abu Yahya al Libi released a seven-minute videotape earlier this week titled "A Message To One of the Sheiks." Al Libi said the attacks on Coalition bases and suicide attacks show the Taliban is gaining strength and is "determined to turn the upcoming winter to hell for the infidels." The Taliban in Afghanistan "are going through continuous triumphs ... and are in a better shape compared with what they had been before," he stated.

50 posted on 07/13/2008 12:44:28 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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To: johnnycap

I am not sure about your numbers.

From a very quick and I do stress quick Wikipedia look.
_______________________

Antietam is sometimes cited as the bloodiest day in all of American history, but the bloodiest battle in American history was Gettysburg, but its more than 46,000 casualties occurred over three days. Antietam ranks fifth in terms of total casualties in the Civil War, falling behind Chickamauga, Chancellorsville, and Spotsylvania Court House.


51 posted on 07/13/2008 12:53:00 PM PDT by Shanty Shaker
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To: johnnycap

While your numbers are true, it is important to remember that loss rates are not the lone factor in wars.

The Soviets, a closed communist dictatorship much more “insulated” from things such as public political pressure, lost in Afghanistan suffering very minor losses compared to their losses in WWII. They could post the same types of attrition figures with their losses in Afghanistan as with the battles of Stalingrad or Kursk. The results of the wars, though, were the opposite regardless of the disparity of loss rates.

We must be mindful that national will here is the key. In World War II the Allied powers had a vast amount of national will to sustain the fight. We need to keep that in mind before comparing conflicts. We live in a “different” country than the 1940’s.


52 posted on 07/13/2008 1:03:59 PM PDT by Mac94
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To: kristinn

I hate to say it, but I am going to:

Cue idiot lefties stating “Afghanistan is un-winnable and it’s all Bush’s fault!”

Prayers for the dead, and hopes we find those responsible and stack them like cordwood.


53 posted on 07/13/2008 1:08:33 PM PDT by Braak (The US Military, the real arms inspectors!)
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To: kristinn

With all due respect to the value of these precious patriots’ lives, we are a ntion of wimps if losing 8 soldiers is “heavy losses.” IIRC, in March of 1945 we lost over 20,000 men.


54 posted on 07/13/2008 1:12:13 PM PDT by Mr. Silverback (*******It's not conservative to accept an inept Commander-in-Chief in a time of war. Back Mac.******)
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To: kristinn

Houses and a mosque, huh? Why am I not surprised. I bet they were full of kids too so that our guys couldn’t shoot back.


55 posted on 07/13/2008 1:30:50 PM PDT by Virginia Ridgerunner ("We must not forget that there is a war on and our troops are in the thick of it!"--Duncan Hunter)
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To: kristinn

We should have been bombing these areas from the start instead of piddling around with Musharef and his cronies.


56 posted on 07/13/2008 1:32:03 PM PDT by Virginia Ridgerunner ("We must not forget that there is a war on and our troops are in the thick of it!"--Duncan Hunter)
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To: Virginia Ridgerunner

Kunar is very complex terrain and we only occupy postage stamp firebases. The Muj can occupy adjoining villes and forests. It sounds like a large multi prong assault on a combat outpost. A combat outpost is several hundred or even a few thousand meters away from the firebase on a likely avenue of approach to the firebase. It serves as early warning and initial defense of the firebase. Most artillery is left in the states and attack helo’s or fast movers are relied on but thay need fuel and Kunar is at a high altitude and loiter times are short for the helo.s,


57 posted on 07/13/2008 1:42:45 PM PDT by reluctantwarrior (Strength and Honor, just call me Buzzkill for short......)
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To: kristinn

Time to march in to rural Pakistan and eradicate the enemy in their nest. No safe havens, no respite, no quarter.


58 posted on 07/13/2008 1:46:42 PM PDT by Hexenhammer
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To: Hexenhammer
The brits lost 26,000 in one day in the 1890’s I think so lets understand not every pashtun or Tajik is bad and not every paki is good
59 posted on 07/13/2008 1:49:35 PM PDT by reluctantwarrior (Strength and Honor, just call me Buzzkill for short......)
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To: centurion316

Kiss off, bub! I know exactly what I’m talking about, more than the likes of you would ever know.


60 posted on 07/13/2008 1:54:06 PM PDT by Virginia Ridgerunner ("We must not forget that there is a war on and our troops are in the thick of it!"--Duncan Hunter)
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