2 French Soldiers Killed in Afghan Battle

[Charlie Brown]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060520/wl_nm/afghan_dc;_ylt=A0SOwlmvQW9E1MsA3BRm.3QA;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

KABUL (Reuters) - Taliban insurgents ambushed a convoy of Afghan government forces on Saturday and at least 16 people including two French soldiers were killed in heavy fighting, military officials said.

Fighting in the Afghan south in recent days has been some of the most fierce since the Taliban were overthrown in 2001. It comes as thousands of NATO peacekeepers are arriving in the region.

The insurgents ambushed the convoy in the trouble-plagued Sangin district of the southern province of Helmand.

Afghan military officials said four government soldiers and at least 10 Taliban were killed.

Two French soldiers were killed and one wounded, the French Defense Ministry said. A foreign military official said they were killed in the Sangin battle.

[daleo]

1. This seems to be getting worse all the time

A female Canadian soldier the other day, some French today, some Italians a week or two back, some Americans every week...

It looks like this won't be any more successful than the Russian occupation.

[NYC]

2. How long did the Russian occupation last,

and how many Russians died? Do you happen to remember? If not, I'll go look it up. I'm just being lazy.

I still remember part of a poem about Afghanistan by Rudyard Kipling. In essence, it said save one bullet for yourself.

[Posteritatis]

3. 1979-1989, 15000 KIA, 35000 WIA. (n/t)

[NYC]

4. Thank you.

Welcome to DU. :hi: