A roadside bomb killed 15 Afghan civilians in a southern region near Kandahar where American forces have previously clashed with the Taliban. Four women, three men, and eight children died when the bomb struck their crowded minivan. Increasing fatalities and attacks carried out as part of the Taliban's spring offensive has the White House debating whether or not to begin withdrawing troops as planned in July. Defense Secretary Robert Gates cautioned against a premature U.S. troop withdrawal that could allow the Taliban to take over ground previously claimed by troops.
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