US forces continue to press forward in the Marjah region of Afghanistan’s Helmand Province, but are said to be struggling mightily with home-made bombs and sniper fire, and were able to advance only 500 yards yesterday.

　　Despite the pretense that the battle is going “according to plans,” the promises of a quick victory with overwhelming force in Marjah has turned out to be overly optimistic, with some officials now saying the offensive could take upwards of a month.

　　Still, the optimism isn’t entirely lost, and some US commanders remain convinced, to quote Colonel Scott Hartsell, that “pretty soon, they are going to run out of gas.”

　　The US has been pledging the invasion for over a month, aimed at installing a Karzai appointee as governor of Marjah. The troops began the invasion on Friday, with Taliban forces pledging to “wait out” the raid.

　　PHOTO CAPTION

　　Map of Afghanistan locating Marjah region

　　Source: Agencies