More enemy losses in Afghanistan

CNN:

One NATO soldier and about 70 insurgents were killed in southern Afghanistan when fighting broke out Saturday between insurgents and Afghan troops and NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), officials said.

ISAF and Afghan forces came under fire from between 100 and 150 insurgents near an ISAF operating base in the Chora Valley, north of Tarin Kowt in Uruzgan province, ISAF said in a statement.

"In a firefight lasting several hours, the insurgents were engaged by ISAF and ANA (Afghan National Army) small arms fire, attack helicopters and close air support," the statement said.

The NATO soldier, whose nationality was not released, was killed "on the spot" in a bomb strike, ISAF spokesman Maj. Vincent Tassel told CNN Sunday. Nine soldiers and two civilians were also wounded in the clashes. They were later hospitalized.

Initial ISAF reports said 55 insurgents had been killed, but that number went up to about 70 on Sunday.

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While there is some discussion of the Taliban's use of human shields, there is no mention of the Taliban violation of the Geneva Conventions. The Taliban have also rejected a government proposal for talks. In this case that is probably because they are too weak to achieve anything though negotiation. Another reason for them to reject talks is because the are religious bigots who think they are on a mission from God, which would suggest that any compromise would be to compromise their faith and make them lose their ticket to Paradise.