General Electric: U.S.: More than 50 Taliban killed in battle

U.S.-led coalition forces and Afghan troops clashed with militants in southern Afghanistan overnight, leaving more than 50 suspected Taliban killed, the coalition said Thursday. The 12-hour-long battle that ended early Thursday targeted 16 compounds from where militants were attacking the troops in Helmand province, and also included coalition airstrikes, the coalition said in a statement. A coalition soldier broke his hand during the engagement, it said.
Source of the above press release: MSNBC, July 26, 2007

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How do you tell if they're Taliban or locals? Check for a Taliban Membership Card? The secret decoder ring? Were they videotaped beforehand giving the secret handshake? Had these 50 been on an earlier "killed list", or are they "new kill"?

TLC