Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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October 12, 2008

Large Taliban Attack Repulsed with Air Strikes
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Officials say troops backed by airstrikes killed at least 60 Taliban,
who tried to attack Lashkar Gah with heavy weaponry from three sides 
Two battles in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan have killed as
many as 100 Taliban fighters, according to Afghan and international
military officials. The NATO-led forces say the bulk of the casualties
came when their aircraft bombed militants who were observed gathering
for a major attack. VOA Correspondent Steve Herman reports from from
Kabul. It is believed to be one of the fiercest encounters in months in
Afghanistan's main opium-producing province. Taliban fighters, armed
with rockets and other heavy weapons, attacked the city of Lashkar Gar
from three sides. But military officials say the insurgents were
repulsed by air strikes conducted by the NATO-led force in Afghanistan.
Gen. David Mc Kiernan, the commander of ISAF, looks at Afghan Deputy
Defense Minister, General Mohammed Akram, during a Kabul news
conference, Sunday, 12 Oct. 2008U.S. Army General David Mc Kiernan is
the top commander of the International Security Assistance Force. "A
large number of!
  insurgents, in the hundreds, were detected and were acted upon by a
combined operation, a partnered operation, between Task Force Helmand
and the Afghan National Army … I know a large number of insurgents
have been killed," Mc Kiernan said. "have not heard reports of civilian
collateral damage or civilian casualties." British forces, which
primarily operate in Helmand, say 50 Taliban were killed. Afghan
officials put the number at 62. A second clash, which lasted for three
days and ended Saturday, in the same region, is reported to have killed
dozens more militants. The battles took place in Helmand province, where
the Taliban have regrouped and established links to other extremists and
the illicit narcotics trade. Thousands of Afghans, mostly Taliban and
other militants, have died this year in insurgency-related fighting.
Speaking to reporters in Kabul Sunday, General Mc Kiernan says the
measures being taken by U.S. and other international forces to prevent
civilian casualties are unprecedented in the history of warfare. "What I

am worried about mostly though is we will lose the support of the
population over time with civilian casualties. And so I am very aware of
that and very sensitive of that," Mc Kiernan said. The four-star general
also is blasting media reports saying the war is being lost against the
Taliban. While acknowledging that the current number of soldiers is
inadequate and combat forces alone cannot achieve victory, General Mc
Kiernan emphasized that the Afghan military and 40-nation coalition is
"not losing in Afghanistan." 


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