There is welcome new recognition from the presidential candidates that a war is raging in Afghanistan and that things aren't going too well. It may be worse than Sens. Obama's and McCain's public comments suggest. Current intelligence assessments show a pattern of not just rising violence, but also a new ability of Taliban-led insurgents to mount multiple attacks each day in Helmand Province, where Marines have been deployed in Garmsir since late March. There is new evidence, as well, that the Taliban are seeking to overrun a US military base, as they very nearly did July 13 before US air strikes ended their attack on a remote US and Afghan outpost in Afghanistan's eastern Kumar Province.For the Hell of It - Driven, Blackfive
To all those who asked, yes my friend was one of the 2/503 guys. None of what I'm about to pass on is classified but its info civilian channels sometimes get wrong. The American FOB (forward operating base) was not over run, the attack was repelled. The enemy raiders out numbered our guys 2 to 1. Nine American soldiers died for their country, over 100 enemy died for theirs (their country, beliefs, cause they were bored, whatever). You can look at this two ways, being sad and depressed, or realising that out numbered 2 to 1, our guys still kicked some *** **** terrorist ass.