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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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Taliban Scarier Than Iraq Enemy

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(Newser) – Taliban forces in Afghanistan are bolder, better organized, and more tenacious than the deadliest Iraqi insurgents, a war-hardened Marine told the New York Times. “In Iraq, they’d hit you and run,” said Sgt. Jacob Tambunga, who spent three tours fighting in Anbar Province. “But these guys stick around and maneuver on you.”

In less than a month in Afghanistan, Tambunga has repelled three ambushes that lasted longer than the most intense Iraq battles, he said. More worrisome is the enemy's mature battle planning: retreating when out numbered, and regrouping to strike later. A recent 4,000-Marine offensive has met less resistance than expected, meaning fierce battles could lie ahead in Taliban strongholds, he warned.

US Marines push ahead to drive Taliban fighters out in Herati, Afghanistan.
US Marines push ahead to drive Taliban fighters out in Herati, Afghanistan.   (Getty Images)
A Marine yells to fellow fighters during a confrontation with the Taliban in Afghanistan last week.
A Marine yells to fellow fighters during a confrontation with the Taliban in Afghanistan last week.   (Getty Images)
A US Marine yells for other Marines after an explosion while they were under enemy fire last week.
A US Marine yells for other Marines after an explosion while they were under enemy fire last week.   (Getty Images)
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“One force will put enough fire down so you have to keep your heads down, then another force will maneuver around to your side to try to kill you ... That’s the same thing we do.” - Sgt. Brandon Tritle

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10 comments
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northeast
Jul 26, 09 7:48 AM CDT
Okay.....NOW it's starting to sound like Vietnam. Reply
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+8
IN RESPONSE:
UrUndertaker
Jul 26, 09 8:39 AM CDT
Just remember these are the same guys who kicked Russia's a$$ way back when and now we are fighting them. Back when they fought Russia we supplied arms, you can bet now that role is reversed even with China also being involved as well. It is a never ending chess game with American troops being used as cannon fodder each trip. This country has managed 1 war every 20 years since it was founded, it seems like the "Powers that Be" use it for population control, also a means to keep the populace distracted from events at home as well as a money maker for big business, Bush has us in so deep Obama can't just pick up and walk away since Bush gave birth to thousands of terrorists with the entire Middle Eastern war he started,
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+14
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Sauerkraut
Jul 26, 09 12:40 PM CDT
yeah, and the only reason they were able to beat the russians was because of our arms. The afganis were getting butt raped before we helped out.
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-4
IN RESPONSE:
Shannonals
Jul 26, 09 10:02 PM CDT
Sauerkraut, you haven't studied world history have you? The Afghanistan people more than held the Soviets at bay because the Soviets could not adapt to their type of warfare. The arms shipments sent by the states simply tipped the scales.
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+1
UrUndertaker
Jul 26, 09 1:50 PM CDT
Well here is one more thing for you guy's to consider next time someone starts chanting Obama promised to pull the troops out of Iraq!!! He Lied, B/S he didn't lie but he didn't understand the situation either....................Not completely till they (the Generals) broke it down for him. ................................When GW began the Iraq fck up, there were no Terrorist per say in Iraq, GW helped give birth to them. Now if Obama pulls out the troops in Iraq we leave our guys fighting an enemy from two fronts, three actually if you count in Pakistan. If he pulled the troops out of Iraq today you can bet your sweet a$$ the attacks against our guys would be launched from so many directions at the same time the American troops would be overrun, we simply do not have enough troops with all the military cut backs since Vietnam, we have stretched it past the limit and to be honest I do not know how much longer they can avoid returning the draft if this crap continues and that worries the hell out of me more than troops still stuck in Iraq, this post will not be popular but it is made by an old military man who understands the damn game Reply
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