Kabul, Aug 17 (DPA) The group of insurgents cannot see the helicopter gunship approach in the night. The pilots believe the men are in the process of laying a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan's Sabul province.

The helicopter's on-board camera is whirring to record the scene. A crew member announces via his headset: 'We're going in'.

A Hellfire rocket detonates near the group, the helicopter's machine gun fires, and all four men disappear in an explosion of fire and smoke.

The film that recorded the Aug 5 attack is not classified, but can be accessed on YouTube or on the Facebook page of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

Just ahead of the country's election this coming Thursday, the war in Afghanistan also rages in cyberspace as foreign forces have discovered Facebook, Twitter and similar internet sites for their purposes.

At ISAF, US Navy Lieutenant Commander Adam Clampitt is responsible for new media content.

The reserve officer is skilled at marketing, and worked for a public relations company in civilian life.

The 34-year-old not only developed ISAF's Facebook page but also the site of the US troops in Afghanistan.

A mere two months since its inauguration, more than 25,000 Facebook users have registered themselves as 'fans' of the 'US Forces - Afghanistan' site.

This was 'more than on any other military command site' currently on the internet, asserted Clampitt proudly.

Although the ISAF site has been present on Facebook for only a few days, it is pulling in more and more visitors.

Both Facebook sites - ISAF and USFOR-A - have video clips, photos, audio files and text. Press releases often appear on the page hours before they reach journalists via email.

This is because firewall applications installed by the military frequently delay the delivery of email, while information is being immediately uploaded on Facebook.

The social networking site not only provides fast information access for everyone, but also the opportunity to post replies to any content.

On the US forces' site almost all posters are supporters of the military deployment.

A poster called 'Greg Red' recently wrote: 'The party appears to be over for Islamic terrorists over there!'

Other posters express their concern for family members deployed in Afghanistan after they browsed casualty reports.

Some thank the US troops for implementing the Facebook page: 'From a mom whose son has been in Afghanistan since March. Thank you for giving us a connection to the soldiers who are fighting for us.'

Facebook is of course not the only new medium used by the troops.