My sincere prayers and condolences to those families and loved ones of the 9 US soldiers killed in Afghanistan...

Have had ' first hand' reports from two sources in Khandahar/Kabul of the ' intensity' of the altercation..it was, by all reports, a fierce little set to...but, if its any consolation, the US forces aquitted themselves in the best traditions and took the day...still, a high cost and a rough loss, largest since 2005..so..

RIP... you will be remembered and honoured..

is it just me or have we forgotten the lessons learned on how to build a firebase?

Guam Army National Guard are doing 'force protection' over there.
A neighbor and friend was recently wounded
(patched up and sent back into combat)
From what I hear...instead of depending upon firebase Artillery support...the dependance upon 'back-up' is airpower (which is slower and has several levels of authorization.) Most of the patrols are mechanized with dismounted infantry in close quarters but mostly convoy type activity with heavy guns...just how the ruskies got burned.

IEDs and then RPG and small arms attacks. These taliban want to get killed...
(Marytered)...it's a much better deal than life as they know it...and if the taliban grunt don't... then his family is dishonored and punished (just like the VC).