Militants attacked an Afghan border post and an American patrol near the Pakistani frontier, sparking battles in which at least eight rebels and four Afghan soldiers were killed. In the bloodiest overnight incident, insurgents armed with assault rifles and rockets attacked the base of Afghan government troops near Tana, a town in southeastern Khost province, the commander said. An hour-long firefight destroyed part of the base and left four Afghan soldiers and at least six militants dead, Gen. Khial Baz said. "The Americans didn't come to help us," Baz said. "They only came this morning to ask questions."
| "Hey, Khial! What was all that racket we heard last night?" |
U.S. military spokesman Maj. Mark McCann reported what appeared to be same incident, but said American troops operating in the area said three Afghan soldiers were killed and two more wounded. The Afghan general, speaking from his headquarters in Khost city, said some 250 gunmen had attacked his men near the border, but McCann suggested the number of attackers was "much smaller."
"There wuz millions of 'em..."
"Dozens."
"Thousands of 'em..."
"Dozens."
"Hundreds of 'em! Really!"
"Coupla dozen." |
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