U.S. MILITARY MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN TURNS INTO DEBACLE--SCORES KILLED OR WOUNDED

Afghan military operation goes badly wrong: NY Times

2 hrs 43 mins ago
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/13/world/asia/13afghan.html?_r=1&ref=afghanistan

WASHINGTON (AFP) – An Afghan operation to flush out the Taliban and showcase growing military competence has turned into a debacle, with many troops dead or captured and commanders pleading for help, The New York Times reported Friday.

A senior US official with knowledge of the mission -- apparently not coordinated in advance with NATO officers -- said commanders called for backup from foreign forces after at least 10 Afghan soldiers were killed and up to 20 captured since the operation began August 3 in a rugged region east of Kabul.

Fighting has raged so intensely over the past week in the area around Bad Pakh village, in Laghman province, that the Red Cross has been unable to reach the battle zone and evacuate the wounded and dead, the Times reported.

"There are several soldiers unaccounted for and killed," a senior American military official was quoted as saying on condition of anonymity because the operation was ongoing.

He said "about 10" soldiers had been killed.


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http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/13/world/asia/13afghan.html?_r=1&ref=afghanistan