CNN reports 80 insurgents killed while attacking NATO base

[McG]

80 dead in Afghan military base attack
From Matiullah Mati, CNN
October 30, 2010 7:25 a.m. EDT

(CNN) -- Eighty people were killed in clashes with NATO and Afghan forces in Paktika province, a spokesman for the province's governor said Saturday.

All the people killed were insurgents, according to Farid Mukhlis, the governor's spokesman.

Authorities said no NATO or Afghan troops, or civilians were killed in the clashes, which began at midnight Friday and continued into Saturday morning.

The attack took place at a military base in Barmal district, the spokesman said.

NATO's International Security Assistance Force said at least 30 insurgents were killed in the attack on the combat outpost. It was not clear why there was a discrepancy in the number of dead reported.

Five coalition troops were wounded during the battle, the force said in a statement.

"Insurgents attacked from all directions with rocket-propelled grenades, small arms and mortar fire," the statement said, and a coalition air weapons team responded to the attack

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/10/30/afghanistan.insurgents.killed/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn

 

[SevenSixTwo]

Source 1: "80 people killed"

"No Civilians, Afghan troops or NATO troops killed"

Source 2: "They were all insurgents"

Source 3: "30 insurgents killed"


Now, that's confusing.

 

[George Wallace]

Perhaps we need a person in a black and white jersey to go in and count between periods/rounds and accurately keep score before blowing his whistle to resume activities.

 

[HavokFour]

In any case, may they all rest in pieces.

 

[dogger1936]

Sounds like an exciting day! Good job boys and gals!

 

[OldSolduer]

Well done to all the troops!!

 

[HollywoodHitman]

Well done all! Havok...Awesome comment!

 

[Franko]

Perhaps we need a person in a black and white jersey to go in and count between periods/rounds and accurately keep score before blowing his whistle to resume activities.

....or how about a reporter that actually does first hand reporting at the actual FOB/ COP?

I know, I'm asking too much.

Regards

 

[OldSolduer]

....or how about a reporter that actually does first hand reporting at the actual FOB/ COP?

I know, I'm asking too much.

Regards

Maybe I should get hired on a major newspaper or network as a "independent expert"......

 

[dogger1936]

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2010/10/2010103084540706223.html

Nato-led troops have killed more than 30 Taliban fighters after their base was attacked in Paktika province in southern Afghanistan, the military coalition has said.

Fighters attacked the remote outpost "from all directions" using rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and small arms fire, the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said in a statement on Saturday.

"Initial operational reporting indicates more than 30 insurgents were killed in the failed attack," the statement read.

Zemarai, an Afghan army general, said the bodies of at least 15 fighters were seen lying on the
battlefield after the attack.

Afghan troops were still collecting bodies at the site, Isaf said.

It said five Isaf soldiers were injured in the attack.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, said they had attacked the base and that six police outposts had been overrun in the attack.

Speaking by telephone from an undisclosed location, Mujahid said Taliban fighters had inflicted "high casualties" on Isaf and Afghan forces but gave no further details.

He said eight Taliban fighters had been killed.

Pre-dawn attack

James Bays, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Kabul, the Afghan capital, said the attack took place in the early hours, at 1.30 in the morning.

"The Nato release says the number [of attackers] was about 30 but we spoke to the Taliban leader who said the number of attackers was 70," he said.

"It was won in the end by close air support from planes and helicopters that were called into the area."

The Taliban and other armed groups have launched a series of brazen assaults on foreign bases and government buildings in the past year in a bid to topple the government and force out foreign troops.

Last month, five suicide bombers were killed during an attack on a similar-sized base in neighbouring Paktia province, to the north of Paktika.

More than 2,000 foreign troops have been killed in the conflict since US-led forces invaded the country and drove out the Taliban from Kabul in 2001.


Source: Al Jazeera and agencies 

 

[Fishbone Jones]

I can't get wrapped up about the numbers.

Eight or eighty, it's all good.

 

[Greymatters]

More than 2,000 foreign troops have been killed in the conflict since US-led forces invaded the country and drove out the Taliban from Kabul in 2001.

You'd probably be more accurate than this guy...

 

[jollyjacktar]

I agree, who cares as long as they are the ones doing the dying.  The more the merrier as far as I'm concerned.  Like the joke says "What is 45 lawyers going over a cliff in a bus? ....A =  a damn good start"  This is a good start.  Or at least it was a good start to my day to hear good news like that.

I can't get wrapped up about the numbers.

Eight or eighty, it's all good.

 

[dogger1936]

You'd probably be more accurate than this guy...

2,095 Troops have been killed.

 

[Jarnhamar]

I've read that if you totalled up the total number of reported dead enemy soldiers during the vietnam conflict that the number is greater than the total population of vietnam 4 times over.

 

[gun runner]

"Maybe I should get hired on a major newspaper or network as a "independent expert"......"

Now,MWO Seggie,I know you have an axe to grind for Mike....yep, you would make a great field reporter!Cheers!

 

[The Bread Guy]

Speaking of "variable" numbers....

.... Source 3: "30 insurgents killed" ....

.... there's a lot of that number going around 
http://examiner.com/independent-in-madison/eradicating-the-taliban-exactly-30-at-a-time?render=print

 

[OldSolduer]

"Maybe I should get hired on a major newspaper or network as a "independent expert"......"

Now,MWO Seggie,I know you have an axe to grind for Mike....yep, you would make a great field reporter!Cheers!

Problem is, young Padowin, no one wants a 53 year old former soldier reporting. There might be some truth in the reports!!

Besides, everyone would want my take on things,....from the C7 to the Lav III......

 

[gun runner]

LOL, well stated Sir! Cheers!

 

[Colin Parkinson]

I've read that if you totalled up the total number of reported dead enemy soldiers during the vietnam conflict that the number is greater than the total population of vietnam 4 times over.

Combat Deaths
According to the Vietnamese government, 1,100,000 North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong military personnel were killed during the Vietnam War[4] R.J. Rummel reviewed the many casualty data sets, this number is in keeping with his mid-level estimate of 1,011,000 North Vietnamese combat deaths.[19] He further calculated a mid-level estimate of 251,000 Viet Cong military deaths.[5] Thus, Southern Forces (i.e.,Viet Cong) were around 22% of the total military deaths. What percentage of the remaining 849,000 North Vietnamese Regulars died in South Vietnam is unknown. The assumption is the vast majority of these deaths occurred in South Vietnam.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War_casualties#North_Vietnamese_Deaths