Taking It To The Taliban -- Afghan, NATO Troops Kill 36 Taliban Near Kandahar

Afghan And Canadian Soldier

From Yahoo News:

ARGHANDAB, Afghanistan - Afghan and Canadian forces moved into villages outside Kandahar on Wednesday to root out Taliban militants, killing at least 36 insurgents, while an explosion elsewhere killed four British soldiers, officials said.

Troops in Arghandab district just outside of Kandahar, southern Afghanistan's largest city, exchanged fire with militants during "a few minor contacts," NATO spokesman Mark Laity said.

The Afghan Defense Ministry said more than 20 Taliban fighters had been killed in Tabin, a village in Arghandab, while 16 fighters were killed in Khohak, also in Arghandab. Two Afghan soldiers also were killed, the ministry said in a statement. The 12 other militants killed were in nearby Maiwand district, the ministry said.

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More News On the Battle From Other Sources
Afghanistan Battles Taliban Insurgency in Kandahar -- NPR
SAS reservists and servicewoman killed in Afghanistan -- Times online
City of Kandahar is key that unlocks Afghanistan -- Toronto Star
Four British soldiers killed in Afghanistan -- Reuters
First British woman and three special forces soldiers killed in Afghanistan -- The Telegraph
Pentagon Denies Taliban Takeover in Afghan District, Vows to Defeat Any Summer Offensive -- Voice Of America

My Comment: There is so much misinformation on this story, that I am skeptical of all news reports. I am compiling a list of reports from bloggers who are in the field. I will be posting their comments and observations tonight.

Afghanistan War News Updates -- June 17, 2008

IED Attack Outside Of Kandahar

From Time Magazine:

Is the Taliban Making a Comeback?

Hundreds of Taliban insurgents swarmed through a key district just outside the southern Afghan city of Kandahar on Monday, sending residents fleeing in anticipation of retaliation by NATO troops. This latest Taliban assault in the Argandab district caps several weeks of increased fighting in the country's southern districts along the border with Pakistan, followed by a spectacular raid on a Kandahar prison, in which some 400 Taliban fighters were freed, according to officials. "My men have seen a few of the escaped Taliban prisoners among the fighters in Argandab," says district chief Ghulam Farouq.

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News On Afghanistan From Other Sources:
Afghanistan: Full Coverage From Yahoo News
Things Are Heating Up In Afghanistan And Pakistan, Our Enemy’s Last Gasp? -- Strata-Sphere
No looming battle in Arghandab: NATO official -- CTV News
Taliban move into villages near Kandahar but combat not imminent: officials -- CNEWS
Taliban militants destroy bridges in Afghanistan -- Yahoo News
Taliban Militants Destroy Bridges in Afghanistan -- ABC News
Taliban Fighters Launch Afghan Attack -- CBS News
Taliban take Kandahar villages -- Toronto Star
Hundreds flee as battle looms in Afghan south -- Reuters
Afghans flee amid fears of battle -- BBC News
Taliban Fighters Infiltrate Area Near Southern Afghan City -- New York Times
Taliban Prepare for Battle Outside Kandahar as Thousands Flee Area -- FOX News
Taliban fighters mass near city -- LA Times
Thousands flee as battle looms in Afghan south -- MSNBC
Taliban destroy bridges, plant mines outside Kandahar in battle preparation, official says -- L.A. Times
Taliban prep for battle outside Kandahar -- Newsweek
Afghanistan analysis: Insurgent intelligence -- The Guardian
Afghanistan: Kandahar braces for Taliban attack as thousands flee -- Guardian
Afghan, Coalition forces kill 20 militants -- Xinhuanet
Afghans say they are not planning war with Pakistan -- Yahoo News
Old-Line Taliban Commander Is Face of Rising Afghan Threat -- New York Times
The face of a deadlier Taliban threat -- International herald Tribune
Gordon Brown pledges more troops for Afghanistan and calls for sanctions in stand against terror -- Times Online
British troop commitment in Afghanistan will top 8,000 next spring -- Times Online
Karzai threatens to raid Pakistan -- The Independent
Karzai calls for a two-way road -- Westhawk
U.S. Is Urged To Okay Afghan Irregulars An 'Awakening' Strategy for Afghanistan -- New York Sun

My Comment: It is obvious that after 7 years, the policy to destroy the Taliban in Afghanistan has failed. If the Taliban are successful in attacking Kandahar, a new strategy and thinking must now be formulated and applied.