Strange article. Can you imagine The Times war coverage in WWII lamenting the fact that UK troops had killed too many enemy?

This silly modern belief that killing your enemy only makes more enemy is an argument for paralysis. It is the genesis of the UK's prior failed negotiations with the Taliban in the south and its failed tactics in Basra, Iraq. This belief arises out of the fallacy that war (violence) never solves anything. WWII proves that wrong.

Britain, please shake off this silliness. The West still needs your strength. Redouble your efforts to kill your Taliban foes and trust that perseverance and skill of arms will deliver Afghanistan into a brighter future.

Brian, Chicago, USA

This story is inacurate at best. The 24th MEU Marines will not secure a border nor will they work side-by-side tracking "Taliban" across the border. The 24th MEU will act as a thaetre task force for the ISAF Commander. Furthermore, the overall mission of the MEU Marines is to provide an environment of stability in which the people of Afghanistan can prosper.

roger, Kandahar, Afghanistan

Go Brits!

steve, new york, usa

The term "Taliban" is a generic reference to the insurgents who are a combination of Taliban fighters and foreign jihadi's who operate in Southeastern Afghanistan and Western Pakistan. The rules of engagement are relatively straight-forward and the British/NATO soldiers return fire when they are fired upon. I don't recall Bin Laden or Mullah Omar asking for peace negotiations. I do read about suicide bombers, beheadings and using civilians as shields. The Taliban's history in Afghanistan is ruthless as evidenced by the Friday afternoon exectutions and mutilations in the Kabul Soccer stadium. Nothing like seeing a few heads roll or hands chopped off because their beard wasn't long enough or they played a musical instrument, etc. The world will be a better place when the Taliban movement grows stale. The region will never prosper until tolerance, education + economic opportunities take root. The Taliban + Al Qaeda will never be able to deliver that to the war torn Afghan people.

robertzm, Virginia, USA

I imagine it's fairly simple to identify the taliban: they are aiming guns at nato soldiers. it would be better if the afghan government could engage the taliban in the south and east of the country, as only the afghanis can settle this conflict.

col, seattle, usa

they need to create defenable towns same as in Malaya to prevent forced conscription.

Rob, London,

Wow! Nice to know the kill stats on Taliban. Almost seems that anyone labelled 'taliban' is not human but simply cannon fodder. How do you figure a taliban anyway, they share the same DNA profiles? Wear their turbans in a specific way? Speak Taliban?! What nonsense, you do not know why you're in Afghanistan.

Kil kill kill, you'll all carry on till everyone is dead. What's the point? You tried talking to them instead?

hasan zehn, Birmingham, UK

According to the UK Defence Minister British troops in Afghanistan fired 4 million rounds ammunition in less then one year in Helmand. Thats almost 12,000 rounds of small arms every day by the 7,800 UK Armed Forces. So 8 million rounds in 2 years and 7,000 dead Taliban is almost 11,500 rounds per one Taliban.

Now I know why the price of lead has gone up so much.

mohsen, malaga, spain