bombs, the number one killing of u.s. troops. look at the statistics on just how bad it has gotten with the ieds. may is the month for the latest statistics we have. may 2010, more than 1,100 ied incidents and that compares to may of olast year, just over 500. again, a doubling of the violence. that s what general petraeus is face on the ground, kiran. a lot of challenges as you just shoed us. barbara starr for us this morning. thank you so much. northern troops are locked in a fierce battle with the taliban. atia is live in kabul for us this morning. run down the latest for us, if you would. john, the fighting is over after a six and a half gun battle between taliban forces and nato sources. it started around 3:00 in the morning where six taliban suicide bomber and gunmen tried to ram into the dea compound, a