Continued operations along the border left five Taliban dead, and two Taliban leaders captured. More of the fighting is being directed at stopping Taliban efforts to interfere with the coming elections. While most Afghans really don't know what a democratic government would do to improve their lives (tribal governments have been the rule for thousands of years). But the interim Afghan government has convinced many, if not most, of the tribal leaders that the democratic elections would be a positive thing.
American combat deaths have gone up in Afghanistan. Six American troops died in May, and two so far in June. But, historically, this is a very low rate of casualties for a force of 20,000 troops fighting irregulars. In nearly three years of fighting, there have been fewer than 30 dead troops a year.
