Snipers Harass US, Afghan Troops Moving In Marjah

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

By ALFRED de MONTESQUIOU (AP) – 4 hours ago

MARJAH, Afghanistan — Sniper teams attacked U.S. Marines and Afghan troops across the Taliban haven of Marjah, as several gun battles erupted Monday on the third day of a major offensive to seize the extremists' southern heartland.

Multiple firefights broke out in different neighborhoods as American and Afghan forces worked to clear out pockets of insurgents and push slowly beyond parts of the town they have claimed. With gunfire coming from several directions all day long, troops managed to advance only 500 yards (meters) deeper as they fought off small squads of Taliban snipers.

"There's still a good bit of the land still to be cleared," said Capt. Abraham Sipe, a Marine spokesman. "We're moving at a very deliberative pace."

The massive offensive in the Marjah area — the largest Taliban stronghold and a key opium trafficking hub — involves about 15,000 U.S., Afghan and British troops and is the biggest joint operation since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan.

On Monday, Afghan military officials gave a more optimistic view of the progress being made, with Brig. Gen. Sher Mohammad Zazai saying Afghan and NATO forces have largely contained the insurgents and succeeded in gaining trust from residents, who have pointed out mine locations.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hvWEqwq3CrRvaQCmt21MfoYhjZJQD9DSPOCO0

[Don Caballero]

1. I pray for our brave troops in their battle against the Taliban

I also pray for the President. I hope his plan in Af/Pak works out.

[gimama]

3. me,too..

& trying to TRUST & stay positive.

[Kolesar]

5. I trust President Obama

And hope our young people don't take a lot of casualties.
I'd pray if I were not a skeptic.

[Arctic Dave]

6. You onl;y pray for them? Do you think god gives a rats ass about this occupation?

[Alamuti Lotus]

7. god is a big fan of every US occupation, silly....

like, duh! rah-rah and all that. It's funny how that blind chickenhawk, warboner nonsense was allegedly frowned upon just 18 months ago. Now it is suddenly quite in vogue now that an allegedly different party is in power.

[EFerrari]

9. Warboner. That's a good way to put it.

[Kolesar]

12. No heart for you

:-(

[gimama]

2. thank YOU, for update.. nt

[Mari333]

4. bring them home.

end the insanity.

[EFerrari]

8. Bring them home and stop the killing.

[Kolesar]

10. Politics is easy! ... eom

[EFerrari]

14. When you bomb people, you antagonize them. -- Zinn.

[CountAllVotes]

11. what a waste of human life

Bring our troops home now.

Out of all of these damned wars without end!

ENOUGH!!!!!

:dem: :kick:

[Mudoria]

13. Best of luck Marines!