As Marines Advance, Gunfire From "360"

U.S. Pounds Taliban Positions in Bid to Seize Strategic Town in Southern Afghanistan

(CBS/AP)  Last updated at 6:42 p.m. EDT
U.S. aircraft and missiles pounded Taliban mountainside positions around Dahaneh on Thursday as Marines pushed through mudbrick compounds searching for militants in the second day of fighting to seize this strategic southern town.

Senior Marine officials told CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent Lara Logan they'd taken control of the town, but that it was not yet secure - that will take more time.

Also in the south, four NATO service members — three British and one American — were killed in separate explosions Thursday, military officials said.

August's casualty count is likely to surpass the record 75 deaths U.S. and NATO troops suffered in July, the deadliest month for the international force in the nearly eight-year war. The violence comes as Afghans prepare to vote in Aug. 20 presidential elections.

U.S. Marines launched a major assault Wednesday against Taliban forces in Dahaneh, a town of 2,000 people that controls major trade routes in the northern part of Helmand, the southern province that has become center stage in the war.

By Thursday evening, the Marines and Afghan troops had managed to take about half the town, with Taliban resistance tougher than expected.

As sporadic clashes continued in Dahaneh, Marine Cobra attack helicopters fired rockets at Taliban positions in the nearby mountains where militants were believed firing at troops in the town.

Later, U.S. A-10 fighter-bombers fired multiple rounds into the barren, rocky cliffs overlooking what the Marines call "Hell's Pass," the entrance into the Now Zad valley, and U.S. surface-to-surface missiles, fired from the main Marine base, pounded the hillsides.

Meanwhile in the town, Marines came under heavy machine gun fire as they moved through the streets and alleyways.

"It's coming at us 360 degrees, but we knew they'd try to surround us," said Cpl. Kilani Garber of Middleville, Mich., as the troops ducked for cover.

As they moved through parts of the town abandoned by the Taliban, Marines kicked down or detonated the doors of several compounds from where insurgents were seen firing during the opening day of the assault. In one compound, troops found numerous empty Kalashnikov bullet casings and a few used heroin syringes.

"They want to fight, then they don't want to fight; we're getting mixed signals from these guys," said Cpl. Mack Williams, 22, from Spruce Pine, N.C., as his unit met yet another outburst of light arms fire in the late afternoon.

At sunset, a Humvee mounted with a loudspeaker drove through neighborhoods the Marines had cleared, broadcasting to residents in their Pashto language that they could register complaints and get compensation for damage suffered in the fighting.

Most residents appeared to have fled those neighborhoods. Most of those remained were elderly.

"The people here are hostile to outsiders. Even if they're not all with the Taliban, they're against us," said Sgt. Hazibullah, who led an Afghan national army unit with the Marines. He gave only one name.

The Marine advance in Dahaneh has been slowed at times by new rules of engagement here. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. Commander, changed the rules to prevent mass casualties among Afghan villages, Logan reports. His mandate says that all foreign troops have to use proportionate force and make protecting Afghan civilians their top priority. The Marines say so far, not a single Afghan civilian has been killed or wounded in spite of fierce fighting, Logan reports.

About 400 Marines and 100 Afghan troops are taking part in the operation to capture Dahaneh — the third major push by U.S. and British forces this summer into Taliban-controlled areas of Helmand. The province is the center of Afghanistan's lucrative opium business and scene of some of the heaviest fighting of the Afghan war.

The main goals of the latest operation are to oust the Taliban from the area, cut off smuggling routes from neighboring Pakistan, and offer enough security to civilians so that they can vote during the elections next Thursday. The Marines hope to secure Dahaneh fast enough to set up a voting site, which would be the only one in this district.

Sgt. Hazibullah said a voting center could probably be established here by next week but it was unlikely anyone would vote out of fear of Taliban reprisals.

In London, the British Ministry of Defense said the three British soldiers died when their foot patrol was hit by a bomb near the Helmand town of Sangin, south of Dahaneh. The U.S. statement gave no details of where the American was killed.

[nokia3210c]

THOSE WHO SUPPORTS THESE WARS IN IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, HAVE NO IDEA HOW IT HURTS TO LOSE YOUR LOVED ONES, SO THEY PARROT THE SAME SENTIMENTS AS THOSE LIBS,WHO ARE THE REAL BENEFACTORS.

[hower4]

"They want to fight, then they don't want to fight; we're getting mixed signals from these guys," said Cpl. Mack Williams, 22"

No they're not mixed signals at all. THEY WANT YOU TO F*** OFF OUT OF THEIR COUNTRY............... and eventually after thousands more deaths you will.

[native_warrior_USMC]

Funny, that's the same thing people said about the Iraqi's, but yet everyone of them that I talked to said that they were happy that we were there. Maybe you should go over and asked for yourself. You might learn something.

[hower4]

Of course they're going to agree with you! You represent a massive armed force! Were you holding a gun at the time? Would you care to explain in what context you met these Iraqis?

The Iraqis I know ALL think you should have never invaded and you should leave immediately. Before you ask, I know them in an academic context.

[native_warrior_USMC]

Well, considering that before my company arrived in town, the insurgents were running patrols and freely executing and stealing at will, the people were pretty happy we showed up. One of the men actually told us to start publically executing the ones we caught. The people we were fighting weren't all Iraqis. Alot of them came in from other countries, Syrians, Iranians, Turks. And there was no city gov't or anything before we got there. We set helped them set one up with a council and mayor and let them run their own city. So yeah, the Iraqi's were happy to have us clean up the city for them.

[hower4]

You didn't answer the question - were you (or your colleagues) holding a gun?

[JBARON79]

Go and protest your OWN countries involvement.
howie the hypocrite

[native_warrior_USMC]

You're not real bright are you, h4? How else do you rid a city of armed insurgents and make it a safe place to live? By handing out candy, roses, and Jonas Bro's tickets?

[JBARON79]

Don't mind howie, I have put him in his place before and I have done it again. He is nothing more than a pompious hypocrite.
That's right, he is from the UK, a government that walks hand in hand with us.
Yet he will never protest his own government.

Howie, please tell us all how extremism will go away?
You have said that you know the answer, unless your a liar as well...

native_warrior_USMC, bet you $10 that he answers with an insult or a question?

[hower4]

by native_warrior_USMC August 14, 2009 1:16 PM EDT
You're not real bright are you, h4? How else do you rid a city of armed insurgents and make it a safe place to live? By handing out candy, roses, and Jonas Bro's tickets?
--------------------------
By showing that your vision of society can provide for everyday human needs........... (clue - this doesn't include blowing up homes with families inside).

[hower4]

by JBARON79 August 14, 2009 3:49 PM EDT
Don't mind howie, I have put him in his place before and I have done it again. He is nothing more than a pompious hypocrite.
That's right, he is from the UK, a government that walks hand in hand with us.
Yet he will never protest his own government.
---------------------------------
If you have put me in my place, why am I still here arguing against you and your American mindless violence? .......... and I HAVE protested against my government frequently, but more importantly I also use my vote towards the hope that humanity will eventually prevail against ignorance, bigotry and violence. If all you offer is violence then that is all you will get in return.

[fuzzyi]

I Love it. Obama is sending more troops to Afghanistan to be killed. Come on Obama admit it, u are secretly conspiring with Al-Qaeda to send the whole US Military to there deaths. (U are really on there side). Why the sudden increase in deaths. Qoute " August's casualty count is likely to surpass the record 75 deaths U.S. and NATO troops suffered in July, the deadliest month for the international force in the nearly eight-year war."

[qpublic]

Notice how the media doesn't give us the drum beat of dead soldiers each night on the news like they did when Bush was in office. Now that their man Obama is in, it's OK that these guys die over there. It sickens me how they were used as pawns in the media's effort to shape the outcome of the election and now they are of no use to them.

[dumascracks]

This is 101% true! Obama is not an American, he is african!!!

[JBARON79]

by gdin23 August 13, 2009 12:33 PM EDT
This war was lost a long time ago,

but do not worry you arm chair chicken hawks the USA is good at

getting into wars and never getting out, check out the immoral

trade embargo with Cuba, the never ending was in Vietnam, the

democrats stopped that idiocy by cutting off funding,

they should do the same now, these are not real wars these are

occupations designed to make money for American corporations, in

much the same way as the lack of universal single payer health care

is designed to make money for the health insurance industry, and both

of these examples are orchestrated by the corporations for profits

at the expense of the American people,


** The Democrats did NOT end the Vietnam War**
Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford ended it, both Republicans.
The Democrats, Lyndon Johnson, were the FIRST to send in combat troops.
*** The Democrats started the trade embargo**
JFK started and even Bill Clinton modified it further.

Why did you change your name from pythoncharlie to gdin23?
If it was to fool anyone, the caps lock was a dead give away.

Any other LIES you wish to spout off???

NO, I am not a Republican. I vote for the man, not the party...

[JBARON79]

the never ending was in Vietnam, the

democrats stopped that idiocy by cutting off funding,


LOL, you foreign imbecile!!!

[JBARON79]

by gdin23 August 13, 2009 11:03 AM EDT
ANOTHER TEN YEAR OF OUR LOSING,

AND WHAT WOULD WE HAVE 'WON'
by gdin23 August 13, 2009 11:22 AM EDT
conservatives, they see a team where none exists,

they see a war that is juts a money making scheme for big

American corporations, they sell traitorous propaganda that only

hurts

America, you should be ashamed of yourself



I can comprehend English quite fine, which is more than I can say for...
I also know what country I live in. LOL

[Benedictos]

Muslims imams + 80% of muslims + muslims terrorists = Identical ideology. So, war , believing that ther are moderate muslims, allowing mosques and Islamic centers in our non Islamic countries dose not help in eliminating the islamic official terroris.

Jurist Christian Mohamad
http://mosquesdanger.wordpress.com/
http://motmittsverige.wordpress.com/

[dougrdoug]

Afghanistan will turn out to be like Vietnam. The Taliban and AlQuida will hide among the civilian population for protection and win the war. The best thing that can happen is to find Osama Bin Laden dead or alive and then call it a victory and bring the troops home. Afghanistan is a clan based society especially in the rural and mountainous regions. They swap sides according to who they like the best and fight each other if there are no foreign troops to fight. The drug trade is so entrenched in Afgahnistan that it will never be eradicated. Afghanistan is the crossroads to the opium and heroin trade. The opiates and heroine go in all directions to Asia, Europe, Africa, and to the Americas. This is another Vietnam all over again, only more difficult.

[TheMasses2016]

Wherever a US Marine goes.
Someone's going down!

OOOOO RAH!

Semper Fi Marines!

[hower4]

What does "Semper Fi" mean?

[native_warrior_USMC]

hower4, it's short for "Semper Fidelis". "Always faithful.

[hower4]

So it actually means "always fa"...... right?

[Joe_NY_15]

by Ms_enza August 13, 2009 11:19 AM EDT

But I worry for the psyche of the American people with the extremely lopsided air war -- especially the use of drones whose killing is swift and from the comfort of home
_________________________

First of all, killing is NOT done "from the comfort of home"....how absolutely absurd, that you would think that operaters flying drones, are "at home"......too bad for the enemy, that we have sophisticated weapons that destroy them remotely, reducing our casualties....do you prefer us kill them in hand-to-hand combat, so we can smell their blood, to have a better "American Psyche" ? How about you shut your Biden hole, lib....stick to hugging trees and eating tofu.

[TheMasses2016]

Hahahahaha!

Looks like a bunch of clueless armchair traitors here Joe.

[Ms_enza]

Ah, dude. They are in a building outside D.C.

Yes, they go home at night.

[Ms_enza]

When the RAF bought its first three Reapers from American manufacturers last year commanders intended to use them only as spyplanes, but senior commanders have now decided to fit them with 500lb guided bombs and Hellfire guided missiles, turning them into Britain's first unmanned combat aircraft.
The pioneering airstrikes are expected to take place in southern Afghanistan within days, once formal export clearances are confirmed by the U.S. Government.
The RAF already has almost 50 personnel operating similar American drones from Creech Air Force Base in the Nevada desert, outside Las Vegas, as part of an exchange programme.
Now they will switch to flying the RAF's own Reaper drones, dropping weapons via satellite link on targets around 7,000 miles away in Afghanistan.
The Reaper, with an 86-ft wingspan - similar in size to an executive Learjet - will take off like a normal warplane from the runway at Kandahar Airfield in southern Afghanistan.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-528858/Unmanned-drones-controlled-U-S-drop-bombs-Taliban-time.html#ixzz0O5QqgZVI

[Ms_enza]

There is a danger to the war as we have made it. Yes, we have "boots on the ground" and if you are to fight a war, at least that keeps it human (humane?).

But I worry for the psyche of the American people with the extremely lopsided air war -- especially the use of drones whose killing is swift and from the comfort of home.

Milgram's experiment demonstrates the depth of inhumanity to which the US military COULD slip. Even with piloted aircraft, the ease at which killing is done leaves few participants with close images of death and their responsibility necessary to form a true appreciation for their actions.

[Joe_NY_15]

by OneStaticHorizon August 13, 2009 11:12 AM EDT
I don't support anything the marines are doing in Afghanistan. Every marine that dies in Afghanistan is another warmonger who won't be returning home to kill Americans.
_____________

Liberals.....don't you love to have this guy on your team....really defines what you are all about.

[Ms_enza]

I don't mind him. I don't agree with him, but there is the "live by the sword, die by the sword" justification to his position.

And, I much rather have him on my team than someone who would relish in the deaths of innocent civilians.

[Joe_NY_15]

by Ms_enza August 13, 2009 11:22 AM EDT
I don't mind him. I don't agree with him, but there is the "live by the sword, die by the sword" justification to his position.

And, I much rather have him on my team than someone who would relish in the deaths of innocent civilians.
________________________

REALLY MS_ENZA, you would prefer to be alligned with people who think Marine will "come home to kill Americans" ??? THAT is who you would "Prefer" to have on your team ?

Wake up Liberal, the whole article is how we are PREVENTING the deaths of innocents...nobody celebrates that, except libs who love to see Americans die, while they undermine every operation we've been involved in.

[fedup12]

He didnt say he was a liberal did he? Hmmm Joe heck except for the hating America part he could be Dick Cheney or GWB for all the contempt he has for the troops.

[Joe_NY_15]

by fedup12 August 13, 2009 1:23 PM EDT
He didnt say he was a liberal did he? Hmmm Joe heck except for the hating America part he could be Dick Cheney or GWB for all the contempt he has for the troops.
___________________________

How do I know he was a Liberal ? because I know them like the back of my hand.....NO CONSERVATIVE would make such statements about the Marines being warmongers and killing Americans when they return....that's just a sick twisted lib, no doubt

[docpeter1953]

From the above article,On Thursday the Marines expected another day of intense combat as they pushed deeper into the town. Insurgents seemed unwilling to fight overnight, when they can't match the Marines' night vision capabilities. But after the sun came up early Thursday, the first rounds of fire erupted. 'Right on cue!' shouted Sgt. Ryan Kelsey, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the first shots rang out."
_______________________________

I admit I am no military genius/adviser, but seems to me that if those cowards want the roof tops and won't/resist/avoid fighting for them at night then why not get to the roof tops at night?

Have the Marines take to the roof tops after dark, if the find the militants, kill/capture them. Take two or three roof tops at a time and leave four or five Marines on each roof and wait for morning. If/when militants show up to start shooting, guess what, we are already here and you die. 400 Marines and fifty roof tops leaves 200 Marines on the ground going door-to-door.

[docpeter1953]

excuse me, had a math fart; out of 400 Marines if you leave 4 on each roof top and have fifty roof tops that leaves 200 Marines to do door-to-door.

[omded]

On the surface, this definitely sounds like a good idea, however, there are two issues that complicate things a little bit. First is that a lot of those roof tops are owned by people who don't want to be involved in the maylay. Their roof tops are "commandeered" by Taliban fighters. If we go in there and "commandeer" the roof tops at night, then we do prevent taliban fighters from going up there. However, we also force ourselves on the civilian population, and, to "win" this fight, we'll need to stay in the favor of the vast majority of the population. We can't be popular when we forcibly take over people's roof tops.

The second issue is that these houses and buildings are not built to U.S. codes, so many of them have roofs that might not be able to support fully armed American forces. Our guys, with their full combat packs, weapons, and ammunition might be too heavy for some of the roofs to support. I know this sounds a little silly, but it's true, and the commanders need to take this into account before ordering troops to "take a roof top".

So, while this definitely sounds like a good, simple plan, unfortunately, it just isn't that simple.

[zonkzilla]

I am proud of our leaders including the President for not making our troops murderers of innocent women and children to please a few chicken hawks.
I know and others who volunteered to serve in the military know that the majority of those women and children are forced to be human shields and are in fact hostages.
American troops are the finest in the world and they care about life and when they kill innocent women and children it haunts them for the rest of their lives and messes them up in the head. The world respects America and the best way to lose that respect is to go around killing children.
Many American troops have died in both Iraq and Afghanistan trying to protect or save innocent civilians there not because they were following specific orders, but because they care about human life and they would not stand by as innocent people were killed.
To hear some of you talk, the best way to handle a hijacking would be to simply fire a missile and blow the plane up and kill everyone including the passengers.
So you tough talking "kill them all" keyboard warriors who have never served and never will serve in the military and are nothing but a joke.

[fuzzyi]

The US Marines are the real killers. That's what they are trained for.

[Ms_enza]

Yeah, take out the "kill 'em all" philosophy and suddenly war becomes a difficult proposition that is clearly inferior to negotiation.

Nobody wins at war; some just lose more than others.

BTW, for those who would claim we "lost" Vietnam, at 10 combatants and 20 civilians killed for every US KIA, and god only knows the WIA ratios, the Vietnamese couldn't have withstood another 10 years of our "losing".

[Sloughfoot]

"Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, has made protecting Afghan civilians his top priority."

Not our brothers, husbands, wives and daughters - We have lost this conflict same-same "The Nam". Poly-Gens like this McChrystal dude concern themselves with one more star and one more ribbon on their chest. If this Nation no longer has the stomach for war - fine, but don't shed our blood in Yemem, Somolia, Lebanon, The Nam as though we are tin soldiers on some dam board game.

[steve54z]

Those Rebels specialize in the murders of innocent Children. They see their victims as pawns in a propaganda war or as sex toys for their pedophile tastes. The Farmers of Helmand should help Kabul and the American Marines apprehend or shoot the desperate Felons.

[Ms_enza]

Or at least kill their women and children in their huts with Hellfire missiles launched from drones and triggered remotely from the comfort of a desk in Arlington, VA.

[ToolMangler1]

by Ms_enza August 13, 2009 9:52 AM EDT
"Or at least kill their women and children in their huts with Hellfire missiles launched from drones and triggered remotely from the comfort of a desk in Arlington, VA."



Tell you what, I will give you a remote control and show you how to use it, I just ask you to go to Afghanistan/Pakistan and seek out the terrorists yourself then 'you' may make sure that they haven't run in the front door of a house filled with innocents and out the back door, once you are sure that they are where you last saw them, you may guide the Predator to the place and blow them out yourself...

[tincup356]

We Americans should now realize...Both parties support the wars because they are bought and paid for with lobby dollars from corporate America.... Since the American people have been robbed and are not spending money ...corporate America NEEDS the wars to go on,,,,,the bottom line is this ...our government created ALL the problems we face,,,, while accepting lobby dollars to create those problems. BOTH parties in Washington are lowlife scum...ALL of them.

[nokia3210c]

TO STEVE54Z:- WHO IS THE OPPRESSOR HERE- IS IT THE CITIZENS (REBELS) FIGHTING 4 THIER LAND OR THE US MARINES. LETS PUT IT THIS WAY:- I COME TO UR HOUSE AND SAY I WANT U TO LEAVE YOUR HOUSE SO THAT I CAN PUT SOME NEW ORDERS BCOZ , I ACCORDING TO ME U SEEM TO DONT KNOW HOW TO MANAGE YOUR HSE.

[chuckt123456]

We just need to pack up and leave them fkrs and let them deal with it.

[ToolMangler1]

by gdin23 August 13, 2009 1:10 PM EDT
"THESE MARINES, AND THIS SO CALLED WAR, ARE AS
OBSOLETE AS THE REPUBLI'CON' PARTY,
ALL OF IT CREATED TO MAKE MONEY FOR GREED DRIVEN CORPORATION's"



Now that you have spouted off your version of the obvious, How about a "REALISTIC" solution???? Marines are 'not' obsolete, because Despotisim is not 'obsolete'. You want to end wars, crime, murder, pain, suffering and acne???? Then stop the causes of these things. "Poverty, Apathy, Drugs, Hate and Bigotry.

[rhs648]

But now we have a democratic president expanding the war in Afghanistan. Instead of bringing troops home, President Obama is sending them to Afghanistan. This war is no longer being run by republicans or do you think republicans won the last election?