Canadian troops in battle near Kandahar city

The sounds of mortars and heavy machine-gun fire were echoing through Kandahar city today as Canadian troops along with U.S. and Afghan forces confronted a show of force by the Taliban in a major battle just outside the city limits.

Intense fighting reportedly left 50 Taliban dead and 50 more wounded after the Afghan National Police and NATO soldiers surrounded two villages in the Arghandab district, about 25 kilometres north of Kandahar city.

The Taliban were believed to have massed about 300 fighters in the area, hoping to take advantage of a leadership vacuum in the district which sits on a rebel infiltration route.

Major, Eric Landry, who is a chief of planning for the Canadian military contingent in Afghanistan as part of NATO's International Security Assistance Forces, or ISAF. said "The Arghandab district is very close to Kandahar city,"
"The Taliban shouldn't have arrived here. It was one of the safest districts but it's not safe any more."

Why are Talibans and US soldiers, even Canadians fighting? I can't believe how much damage is done. For example, In Kandahar city, most of the buildings are destroyed, many inocent children, citizens have been killed or wounded and many soldiers are killed. I blame both Talibans and our soliders. Talibans should stop attacking, trying to overrule the country and take advantage of a leadership.