5 U.S. Troops Among 50 Dead in Afghanistan

(AP)  Last Updated 4:12 p.m. ET.

About 50 civilians, security forces and militants were killed in a wave of violence around Afghanistan, including a bomb that left 14 Afghan travelers dead in one of the country's most dangerous regions.

Five American soldiers died in two attacks using roadside bombs.

The attacks Friday and Saturday reached a broad swath of the country, demonstrating the spread of the Taliban insurgency, which had been largely confined to the country's south and east in the years after the 2001 U.S. invasion. Half of those killed in the most recent attacks were civilians, who often find themselves caught in the grinding war between the Taliban and U.S. and NATO forces.

Bombs caused most of the casualties - including homemade blasts in the former Taliban stronghold of Kandahar and a neighboring province that together killed 20 civilians.

A roadside bomb and gunfire attack in western Afghanistan killed three Americans, while another roadside bomb killed two Americans in the east, said Chief Petty Officer Brian Naranjo, a spokesman for the U.S. military command in Kabul. No other details were available.

Taliban militants also staged suicide attacks - and came under attack themselves.

Coalition and Afghan forces on Saturday killed 11 militants during an overnight raid in northern Kunduz province, said Abdul Razaq Yaqoubi, the provincial police chief.

The operation targeted Taliban fighters who helped foreign fighters and suicide bombers infiltrate the region, said Capt. Elizabeth Mathias, a U.S. military spokeswoman.

She said "a number" of militants were killed after the forces exchanged fire. Roadside bomb-making material, ammunition and rocket-propelled grenades were found at the compound, she said.

The raid did not appear to be connected with the kidnapping of a New York Times reporter and his Afghan colleague in the province this month, officials said. British commandos freed the Western reporter last week but the Afghan and a commando died in the operation.

The abductions followed a NATO airstrike on two stolen fuel tankers that appeared to have killed some civilians, officials said. Officials estimated about 70 people died in the strike.

Civilian casualties have dogged the U.S. and NATO mission in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion, and have been repeatedly criticized by the Afghan government.

(AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

(Left: A Marine carry team bears a transfer case containing the remains of Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher S. Fowlkes Friday, Sept. 11, 2009 at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Fowlkes, of Gaffney, S.C., died while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.)

In Kabul, the capital, an American service member and an Afghan police officer got into an argument because the American was drinking water in front of the Afghan police, who are not eating or drinking during the day because of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, said the district chief, Abdul Baqi Zemari.

The police officer shot the American and seriously wounded him, while other American troops responded and seriously wounded the police officer, Zemari said.

Lt. Robert Carr, a U.S. military spokesman, confirmed an incident between Afghan police officers and a U.S. police mentoring team. He could not provide information on the conditions of the two men.

Authorities reported a string of deadly militant attacks in the south and east.

In Kandahar, two suicide bombers on a motorbike tried to attack an office of the country's intelligence agency on Saturday. Officers and the bombers traded gunfire. One bomber blew himself up and killed an intelligence officer, while the other bomber's explosives went off but didn't kill anyone, said Kandahar deputy provincial police Chief Fazel Hamid Sherzad.

Also in Kandahar, six civilians were killed by a homemade bomb Friday in Maiwand district, said district police Chief Bashir Hamad.

In neighboring Uruzgan province, 14 civilians were killed Friday when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Churra district, the Interior Ministry said.

Roadside bombs planted by militants are usually aimed at NATO or Afghan troops, but hundreds of civilians have been killed by them.

A Taliban ambush, meanwhile, killed six private security guards working for a construction company in the eastern province of Kunar on Saturday, said Gen. Khalilullah Ziayi, the provincial police chief. Ten guards were wounded, he said.

Also in the east, a suspected militant rocket attack killed three civilians in Sabari district of Khost, said Wazir Pacha, spokesman for the provincial police chief.

Four police were killed in Nangarhar late Friday when militants attacked a border police checkpoint, said Ahmad Zia Abdulzai, spokesman for the governor.

In eastern Paktika province, a suicide bomber detonated his explosives in Bermel district. Only the bomber died, the Interior Ministry said.
By Associated Press Writer Rahim Faiez and Noor Khan

[Sloughfoot]

"at whatever cost" Thank you General Christy.

[underdogus09]

Anybody notice Iraq is sliding back into civil war?

[jwesel1]

Here is the real caption:
(AP Photo/Steve Ruark)(Left: Fowlkes, of Gaffney, S.C., died while supporting Operation Imposing colonialism.)

[vuenbelvue]

Oh, I suggest a chronicle known as "The Flashman" books. These were written by George MacDonald Frazer in 1969 and 1970 and cover the life of Lt. Harry Flashman in the 1830's to 1840's in British occupation of Afghanistan. The Flashman Papers were discovered in a sale of household furniture in Ashby, Leicestershire in 1965.
These papers, connected as a novel, entertain but also link us to the same mindset as one gets now with the people of Afghanistan 150 years later.

[vuenbelvue]

No, I don't think I am ignoring socio-economic and cultural conditions. I don't think Afghan's are stupid. They are the same as say the Mexicans. A Mexican living in a small country spot on the map knows what is going on with his relatives who sneak into the US as well as the person's relatives who are living in bigger cities. I have traveled to many countries and know for the cost of a stamp they keep up with Uncle Akmed or cousin Mohammed just like someone from any other country. They also use prepaid phone cards or internet and communicate. It is a small world.

I read about a worldly view of France, England, Holland and Germany becoming muslim in less than 15 years because of immigration allowed and population growth. I read about there being more mosque towers dotting the landscape in European countries than christian churches.
I read about the President of France proclaiming that Burka's are not
to be accepted as normal attire in France. I see woman come into the food store I shop in with Burka's on or scarves and heavy dresses.
It may not be as unpopular as you think but many U S Citizens aren't on board. I was in a elementary school and in the lobby is a set of pictures. Two Mexicans (boy and girl), two muslins (boy and girl, and two US citizens, a boy and a girl, one black and one white.
I think they need to live in the conditions that they were born in and it is not the USA's way to meddle. That doesn't make us better or worse nor does it make them better or worse. I was asked many years ago by a Cambodian to adopt his child or children. I can't remember the number. He and the children were probably killed by the children's army of Pol Pot. What I remember about the times is that The Jews said never again would a mass killing occur but it did in the full view of society and everyone walked away. The people of Afghanistan are not unaware of what is happening. They can stop most of the violence immediately.

[robinspp]

It is time to get out. What for we are there,is there any purpose? Rusia learned a lesson, by occuping afghanistan. They will teach the same lession to us.

[vuenbelvue]

mysteriousjz I'm sorry, my previous post of violent intervention may be construed as hate. I now admit that I have violent thoughts that have carried over from a war 40 years ago. This one, Afghan/Russian/Taliban/USA has only lasted 30 years or so. I would only expect that by now the indiginous villagers would have decided that the USA is spending many billions of dollars to help them get out of a 3rd or 4th world country stigma. Ask them to call by phone or write the many of millions of Afghanistans and Pakistan and Irainians and Iraqi's and Kuquati's, and Saudis, and whatever I am leaving out and ask them how their lives are in this evil damn country(America) and ask them why they aren't coming home to fight the Americans. A liquor store and a beer store (2) are down the street from my house. The men are Afghans. There is a beer-tobacco shop near that is Afghan owned. This is middle America. The drug kingpin here according to a source is Iranian. I'm talking in the state of Tennessee, people. They sure like the way capitalism works when they live here.

[mysteriousjz]

Hello!

Thank you for your post. I totally get what you are saying. However, you may be lacking worldly views and have a narrow circle in America with mentality "we are better than they and they should live our ways." You are ignoring socio-economic and cultural conditions in other places.

[mysteriousjz]

Dear Readers,

Thank you for reading my post. The people in Afghanistan and Pakistan region are indigenous people who have traditions, culture, customs, and human feelings just like anybody else. They almost have no army, wear no uniform, have no platform or courts to seek justice, have impotent govt. reclusive to Kabul only. More regrettably, they have no voice neither in their govt. nor in international platform.

They consider invaders in uniform, arms and in boots arrogant and a threat to their security. They feel their culture and beliefs will be corrupted by foreigners who are forcing their way onto their villages. Unfortunately, time after time it is proven that their loved ones are shredded into pieces. In their culture, their loved ones remain in their hearts and minds for all their lives throughout the villages, and even through multiple generations. Since, they have no courts to deliver justice, have no voice to stop the slaughter; they are left with no choice but to pick arms to wreak vengeance on the culprits in order to deliver some justice to the dead and to themselves and to their villages and villagers.

Therefore, you are now dealing with local indigenous people who are historically famous for their fierce fighting skills, and know the terrain very well. Theirs is a dichotomous personality. They will cry when they see their daughter bruised wrist; On the other hand, British knew or learned very well when their soldier was left behind, British had to find him because locals would feel no flinch razing the soldier skin with sharp blade.

If you seek refuge among them, they will save you with their own lives. If you appear arrogant in arms forcing your way; you can be sure that someone would get you. Top this with continued killing of their villagers mean the fight has to continue for generations in skirmishes or otherwise.

Therefore, forces must be out without any conditions; while civilian services might find hospitable environment. Remember,

"you are fighting in dark, though with flashlights, but against invisible men."

The above is for educational purposes only based on facts, not opinions-NO argument about it. (No response needed but any with a hint of hate, diatribe, and doofus content will not be read through)

[bubbadubba]

They are picking our guys off 5 a day now, just like they did to the Russians.
Is the oil pipeline project through Afghanistan worth the lives of so many American troops and the financial costs?

[underdogus09]

EXTRA,EXTRA read all about it 5 more yankees killed in afghanistan,EXTRA,EXTRA . America on the Brink of Bankruptcy,get yer news here,EXTRA,EXTRA,Dollar Collapsing, Gold Soaring: get yer news here folks!!get yer correct news sources, America's best days are behind her.EXTRA,EXTRA !!