MARJAH, Afghanistan -- Explosions rumble through this former Taliban stronghold three or four times a day - an ominous sign that the insurgents have not given up despite losing control of this town to U.S. and Afghan forces about two weeks ago.[...]
Taliban fighters scattered but have not abandoned the fight - and are using homemade bombs as their weapon of choice.
New bombs are planted every night, even though Marines say they find and render safe more of them than explode.
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[C]oping with the daily blasts and hunting for bombs takes up time that could be [spent] helping set up a local Afghan administration.
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As the Marines improve their bomb-detection skills, the insurgents have begun to adapt to Marine tactics.
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On Thursday, two Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicles - heavily armored personnel carriers known as MRAPS - struck bombs within a couple of hours.
The southern Afghan town of Marja is still contested, even though U.S., NATO and Afghan forces wrested control from the Taliban in a three-week offensive in February and early March.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the fact that it is still contested mean that control has not been wrested from the Taliban? Are you in control if you're still being attacked daily?
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