Washington - More Afghan soldiers are needed in the fight against the Taliban in a key province in the southern part of the country, a top Marines commander said Wednesday. Brigadier General Larry Nicholson told reporters at the Pentagon that the ongoing offensive launched last week in Helmand province would be more effective if there were additional native Afghan troops.
"I'm not going to sugarcoat it. The fact of the matter is we don't have enough Afghan forces - and I'd like more," Nicholson said.
Four thousand US Marines accompanied by about 650 Afghan soldiers moved into Helmand, which has been a Taliban stronghold and produces opium poppies that the militants use to bankroll their war effort.
