TERRORISM: US Kills 9 Suspected Taliban

In the increased efforts in hunting Osama Bin Laden the United States military has shot and killed 9 suspected Taliban rebels. 30-40 Taliban rebels tried to ambush a battalion of US soldiers patrolling the Afghan-Pakistan border. The US soldiers were in a snipers position when the rebels tried to surround them.

"The clash occurred Friday east of Orgun, about 105 miles south of Kabul and not far from the border with Pakistan, said Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty, a military spokesman. There were no U.S. casualties.

Hilferty said the shooting began as a ``platoon-sized'' unit of suspected Taliban - about 30-40 men - tried to flank 10 American soldiers manning a sniper position.

``I don't know who opened fire first,'' Hilferty said.

After the clash, the remaining rebels ran off, he said. "

www.guardian.co.uk...

This reveals a new tactic by the United States military. Either the battalion was truly "manning" a sniper position or simply moving through territory using a sniper unit for cover. Either their baiting for UBL or covering their backs while they advance.