Afghanistan Rocked As 105 Die in Violence
Toll Is Among Worst Since 2001 Invasion
ASADABAD, Afghanistan, May 18 -- Afghanistan has been rocked over the past two days by some of the deadliest violence since the Taliban was driven from power in late 2001. As many as 105 people were reported killed in four provinces as insurgents torched a district government compound, set off suicide bombs and clashed fiercely with Afghan and foreign troops.
Between 80 and 90 Taliban fighters were killed in Kandahar and Helmand provinces, according to Afghan, U.S. and NATO officials. Two sites in Kandahar were struck by U.S. warplanes, including a long-range B-1 bomber, which U.S. military officials said destroyed a compound that Taliban guerrillas were using to stage an attack.
So 105 die in violence, the worst toll since the 2001 invasion. Yet of those 105, 80 - 90 were apparently the enemy. That means only 15 - 25 "good guys" died in the violence. A tragic loss, no doubt, but the story here should be "Taliban Attacks, Gets Their Asses Handed To Them."
The way this story is written (which is rather confusing) it all sounds so hopeless.