NOTE: This material is from web pages and forums carrying statements attributed to the Taliban, Taliban spokespersons or supporters of the Taliban, or analysis thereof. Posting of this material neither confirms nor endorses any of its content – it is shared for information only. When material translated into English is not available, Google Translate is used to translate the original  – this is only a machine translation, NOT an official one.

Tuesday, 24 November 2009 17:29 By Qari Yusuf Ahmdi
KANDAHAR, Nov. 23 – The Canadian Army base came under missile attack near the center of the Zaria district in Kandahar. Reportedly, the base was hit with eight missiles fired by the Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate causing the facility to catch fire, where as the exact death and the injury toll have not been confirmed yet.

Collision of a tank of the occupation forces improvised explosive device in the Arghandab (Original in Arabic) – Google English translation

Continental / Yousuf Ahmadi
Collided with the tank to the Crusader occupation forces at sunset on Monday (2009-11-23) improvised explosive device near the area “Zondo Hderh” Province Arghandab, in Kandahar. News adds a powerful bomb blast occurred while the tank was on its way from the point of security to the other hit the improvised explosive device. The scattered intensity of the explosion of the tank, and still remain their parts in the courtyard of the explosion date. Recalls that the car was destroyed by a Ranger of the internal troops in the same area in a similar explosion, killing all on board, including their leader.

Mujahideen inflicted heavy losses to the enemy in Gereshk (Original in Arabic) – Google English translation

Continental / Yousuf Ahmadi
Occupier and the enemy suffered heavy losses the client throughout the day due attacks Mujahideen of Islamic Emirate of them in some areas of Gereshk in Helmand province. At approximately eight o’clock this morning (2009-11-24) In one hour of the afternoon, destroyed two military tanks of the occupying forces when the enemy’s military convoy was heading from the Directorate of Sngen (Sangin) to the center of the Directorate of Gereshk where improvised explosive devices detonated them in the “Hyderabad “Department Gereshk. As a result of both Aldbaptin blasts destroyed the enemy completely and killing all the occupants of the occupiers. Astuget as a military convoy of puppet army in about the ninth hour of the morning ambush Mujahideen in the “Commercial SE River” Department Gereshk when they were traveling from Hkurjah (Lashkar Gah) Center and Helmand to Kandahar province. Says that the local mujahideen result of this armed attack killed nine soldiers, agents and their bodies were left to age in place of the attack. Adds the report, that the Mujahideen looted two cars of the type of enemy, Ranger, at the end of the attack, Mujahid and wounded one too.

Attack on the status of British forces in the Directorate of Baba Ji (Original in Arabic) – Google English translation

Continental / Yousuf Ahmadi
At three o’clock in the afternoon (2009-11-23) launched Mujahideen of Islamic Emirate (7) rounds Hawan on a local British forces in the Directorate of Hkurjah in Helmand. According to the report, there were heavy losses to the enemy in the attack which is made by heavy weapons, but we have not been accurate information about losses. It should be noted that, in severe clashes between the militants and British forces, but did not have accurate information about the losses.

Remote-control bomb kills 8 policemen in Tarinkoot Bazaar (Official English) – Arabic version

Tuesday, 24 November 2009 17:40 By Qari Yusuf Ahmadi
URUZGAN, Nov. 24 – A police ranger vehicle got blown apart in a remote-control bomb detonated by the Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate adjacent to the center of Tarinkoot city in Uruzgan, in the morning of November 24. The vehicle was horribly wrecked, leaving 8 policemen dead including 2 police officers. A detective police was reported to be among the dead.

PDF version of this page also available
at non-terrorist site here.

NOTE: This material is from web pages and forums carrying statements attributed to the Taliban, Taliban spokespersons or supporters of the Taliban, or analysis thereof. Posting of this material neither confirms nor endorses any of its content – it is shared for information only. When material translated into English is not available, Google Translate is used to translate the original  – this is only a machine translation, NOT an official one.

Continental / Yousuf Ahmadi
We received the news of Kandahar province that the enemy losses in killed and wounded in life the result of three separate explosions in the Directorate of Bnjuaii. The first blast occurred at six in the morning on a foot patrol of the puppet army in the road stretches between the two “Nihal” and “ambassadors”. According to the paper: After the explosion, an explosion took place while the second provided the occupation forces and the internal foot to search in the region. Killed in the blasts (6) Afghan soldiers and (3) the occupiers, were also injured a number of other surgeries severe. In another independent news at ten in the morning blew up a tank for the occupiers to an improvised explosive device planted near the mountain “Khyeeri” the directorate in question, resulting in the destruction of the enemy tank and killed all those who were there.

PDF version of this page also available
at non-terrorist site here.

Back in May of 2008, I wrote about the danger of appeasement that the election of a liberal Democrat to the presidency posed.

The trend of American casualties had been increasing, without question, but we have NEVER seen the kind of DOUBLING of fatalities (we’re now at 293 American fatalities, versus 155 last year, with more than a month to go) that we are seeing now under Obama’s leadership.  That’s because the Taliban and the terrorists now know that we have a dithering, indecisive, vacillating and appeasing weakling in the White House whom they will be able to push around.

And apparently their piling on is paying off big as “the leader of the free world” cringes before them.

This story is only coming from a single source in Saudi Arabia, but, if true, it means we’re at Neville Chamberlain’s level of disgusting appeasement in exchange for a psuedo “peace in our time” all over again.

Afghan Source: The U.S. Has Offered the Taliban Control in Return for Quiet

An Afghan source in Kabul reports that U.S. Ambassador in Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry is holding secret talks with Taliban elements headed by the movement’s foreign minister, Ahmad Mutawakil, at a secret location in Kabul. According to the source, the U.S. has offered the Taliban control of the Kandahar, Helmand, Oruzgan, Kunar and Nuristan provinces in return for a halt to the Taliban missile attacks on U.S. bases.

Source: Al-Watan (Saudi Arabia), November 22, 2009

Even going back to April of last year, the Democrat presidential debates displayed a frightening ignorance of history, which would invariably lead to appeasement and – following the pattern, more demanding and stubborn enemies who sensed our weakness -  if their policies were ever implemented:

As a student of history, I remember the abject failure of the Western allies to grasp the growing threat of their enemies throughout the 1930s. I remember the refusal of the liberal governments of the Allied powers to comprehend what are now known to have been fundamental realities of naked aggression and looming war. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain abandoned his country’s commitment to Czechoslovakia with a promise from Hitler of peace. The liberal, “anti-war” Chamberlain returned home saying, “I believe it is peace in our time!” Chamberlain saw Britain’s policy as a willingness to compromise and a desire for peace. But Hitler saw only weakness, hesitation, and cowardice, and became emboldened for total war. Again and again, the West had had an opportunity to demonstrate its genuine resolve to Hitler, and again and again the West had failed to stand.

In our present day, the Democratic Party has demonstrated a shocking degree of treachery in regard to Iraq. It is their war as much as it is Republicans’ war – because it should be America’s war.

History repeats itself because we keep putting the same sort of moral cowards in power.

Note that I was referring to Iraq, rather than Afghanistan, in my above warning.  Why?  Because the Democrats were talking tough about Afghanistan, even as they talked about walking away from Iraq.  Who could have known that a Democrat would so violate his own promises and be so shockingly weak in a war that he himself said was a “must win”? I fully believed that Barack Obama would be a weakling and an appeaser in office; but I simply had no idea that he would be as pathetically weak as he has actually revealed himself to be.

Thankfully, George Bush’s surge strategy in Iraq worked – and worked so well that even Obama’s weakness hasn’t been able to turn the success in Iraq around.  Barack Obama opposed that strategy and said it would fail.  And when he was proven wrong, this weakling and coward merely deleted his wrong, deceitful, and malicious prediction from his web site.

Obama’s dithering (and that’s the term Pentagon officials used, rather than merely Dick Cheney, btw), have 1) emboldened the enemy, 2) undermined American troop morale, 3) undermined the confidence of the military that Barack Obama will remain true to his commitment, and 4) weakened the people of Afghanistan’s trust for us all at once.

The last is the worse: the months that Obama has spent cravenly dithering while the resurgent Taliban have spread their control has forced the Afghani people to begin to choose the Taliban – whom will stay the course – over a U.S. under Barack Obama which clearly won’t.  And that means we may have already lost.

And now this?

What do you expect from the president who sold out Poland to Russia on the 70th anniversary of weakling appeasers just like Obama selling out Poland to Russia?

On top of the defeat in Afghanistan, Obama faces a far more significant defeat in Iran.  Obama is desperate to talk; Iran is determined to build nuclear missiles.  Iran will get become a nuclear military power under Obama’s watch, because the only way to prevent them from becoming such a power is to be willing to go to war with them to stop them – and Iran knows that Obama will not take that step.

As the nightmare of a nuclear-armed Iran manifests itself in the form of increased terrorism, sky-high gas prices, and even nuclear war, just remember: we conservatives tried to warn you.

Update, November 23, 2009: Did I say that 293 U.S. soldiers have been killed so far this year?  Make that 297.  Meanwhile, the survivors are hunkering down and beginning to despair that they are in Afghanistan for no apparent reason while their commander-in-chief dithers around for three months more worried about his own political skin than about his soldiers.

…. before we put too much faith in the latest reports of talks between the Taliban and the United states – the latest from Pakistani media, and those who watch Middle Eastern media:

An Afghan source in Kabul reports that U.S. Ambassador in Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry is holding secret talks with Taliban elements headed by the movement’s foreign minister, Ahmad Mutawakil, at a secret location in Kabul. According to the source, the U.S. has offered the Taliban control of the Kandahar, Helmand, Oruzgan, Kunar and Nuristan provinces in return for a halt to the Taliban missile attacks on U.S. bases. (Al-Watan (Saudi Arabia), 22 Nov 09, via MEMRI blog)

The Obama administration may be close to reversing course on its current strategy in Afghanistan, after DawnNews quoted sources as saying that high-level talks with senior Taliban militants are currently underway.  The indirect talks involve officials from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Britain, and top Afghan Taliban leadership, including the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen Chief and the son-in-law of Osama Bin Laden’s former mentor. (23 Nov 09, DAWN.com)

The US-Taliban talks have been in progress for the last six months, sources said Monday.  Pakistan is also part of these talks, the sources added.  The Afghan Taliban have adopted a stance that they would only be able to guarantee peace in Afghanistan if the US undertakes complete pull out of its forces from the war-torn country.  According to Taliban sources, there is expectation of a positive outcome from the ongoing talks. (23 Nov 09, The News)

Hmmm, letting the Taliban run the show in some provinces in exchange for a break.  Where have we read that before?

The emboldened Taliban movement in Afghanistan turned down an American offer of power-sharing in exchange for accepting the presence of foreign troops, Afghan government sources confirmed.  “US negotiators had offered the Taliban leadership through Mullah Wakil Ahmed Mutawakkil (former Taliban foreign minister) that if they accept the presence of NATO troops in Afghanistan, they would be given the governorship of six provinces in the south and northeast,” a senior Afghan Foreign Ministry official told IslamOnline.net requesting anonymity for not being authorized to talk about the sensitive issue with the media. (2 Nov 09, islamonline.net)

And what did the Taliban say the other times “secret talks” have been mentioned?

“There are some people who are conveying each others’ (Taliban and US) messages. But there were no direct talks between us and America.”

“If you wait for 3000 years, our stand is the same that Taliban will never hold talks in presence of invader forces in Afghanistan.”

I’m going to bet my loony on more of the same coming from the Taliban Info-machine on this latest set of (alleged) talks.

Residents of Kandahar are taking part in a chess tournament in an attempt to revive one of the city’s former pastimes…. From BBC News. Full story

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Residents of Kandahar are taking part in a chess tournament in an attempt to revive one of the city’s former pastimes…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: morehead city. The blog is also related to: city center.

This, from MERX (PDF of posting here if link doesn’t work):

The use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) and other explosive hazards requires the Canadian Forces (CF) deployed in Afghanistan to use resources that allow detection of these hazards to mitigate their effects. Detection dogs have proven to be an effective tool in locating concealed explosives and explosive devices.

The use of certified Explosives Detection Dog (EDD) teams is intended to increase the number of IEDs discovered and improve the effectiveness of search operations. Joint Task Force Afghanistan (JTF-Afg) aims to see a reduction in casualties from explosive hazards and an increase in freedom of CF movement through the use of EDD teams.

JTF-Afg requires EDD services to execute force protection requirements in support of operations on a 24/7 basis. EDD teams will conduct effective searches of, but not limited to, structures, vehicles, open areas, choke points, and routes in concert with CF or the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to detect hidden explosives and explosive devices.

The Contractor shall deploy a team to Afghanistan consisting of one (1) Kennel Master / Project Manager, two (2) EDD Trainer / Supervisors and fourteen (14) EDD Handlers, who must meet and maintain the qualifications, experience and certifications specified in the Request For Proposal (RFP)….

More in the Statement of Work (PDF).

NOTE: This material is from web pages and forums carrying statements attributed to the Taliban, Taliban spokespersons or supporters of the Taliban, or analysis thereof. Posting of this material neither confirms nor endorses any of its content – it is shared for information only. When material translated into English is not available, Google Translate is used to translate the original  – this is only a machine translation, NOT an official one.

Sunday afternoon 22-11-2009 at around 4 pm local time, Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan with an IED blew up a foot patrol of the NATO invading terrorists in Char Bagh area in Arghand Aab area in Kandahar province, resulting in the death of thirteen terrorists and wounded six more. Reported by Qari Muhammad Yousuf

Leader and 5 puppet terrorists killed and a vehicle blown up in Kandahar (Original in Arabic) – Google English translation – Official English (2nd headline)

Sunday morning 22-11-2009 at around 6 am local time, Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed a patrol of the puppet army terrorists in Loy Kariz village area in Boldak district of Kandahar province, resulting in the destruction of an enemy car with a rocket-propelled grenade, killing six terrorists including their leader. Reported by Qari Muhammad Yousuf

Mujahideen gun down an puppet Intelligence officer in Kandahar city (Original in Arabic) – Google English translation – Official English (8th headline)

Sunday afternoon 22-11-2009 at around 7 pm local time, Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan gun down a puppets Intelligence Department terrorist Ahmad Zia in Kandahar city. This enemy was providing information to the American invaders and was also involved in raiding people’s home, but today he received his penalty for collaborating with the enemy. Reported by Qari Muhammad Yousuf

Mujahideen set fire to 6 invaders supplies trucks supplies and killed 6 terrorists in Helmand (Original in Arabic) – Google English translation – Official English (3rd headline)

Sunday morning 22-11-2009 at around 9 pm local time, Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ambushed a supplies convoy of the invaders in Momin Kahn Garave area in Nawa district of Helmand province, the ambush lasted for about an hour and an half, during which six supplies trucks were set on fire and six convoy security terrorists were killed. Reported by Qari Muhammad Yousuf

In Clash’s 10 NATO invading terrorists killed in Helmand (Original in Arabic) – Google English translation – Official English (7th headline)

Sunday morning 22-11-2009 at around 9 am local time, fight started between the Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the NATO invading terrorists in Sheen village area in Nad Ali district of Helmand province, which lasted for some time, than again at 3 pm local time the fighting re-started, during which Mujahideen killed three terrorists and wounded two. According to another report, Saturday 21-11-2009, a face to face battle took place between the Mujahideen and the invading terrorists in Heen village area in Nad Ali district of Helmand province, resulting in the killing of seven terrorists and wounding few, also two Mujahids were wounded. Reported by Qari Muhammad Yousuf

Puppet army vehicle blown up killing 5 terrorists in Helmand (Original in Arabic) – Google English translation – Official English (4th headline)

Sunday morning 22-11-2009 at around 10 am local time, Mujahideen of  the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan with an IED blew up a Toyota Surf of the puppet army in Yakh Chal area in Garishk district of Helmand province, resulting in the destruction of the vehicle and killing five terrorists in it. Reported by Qari Muhammad Yousuf

Puppets vehicle destroyed and 4 terrorists killed in Uruzgan (Original in Arabic) – Google English translation – Official English (last headline)

Saturday morning 21-11-2009 at around 11 am local time, Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan with an IED blew up a Ranger vehicle of the puppet police in Shali Nawa area in Khas Uruzgan district of Uruzgan province, in the explosion the enemy vehicle was destroyed and four terrorists in it were killed. Reported by Qari Muhammad Yousuf

PDF version of this page also available
at non-terrorist site here.

What a difference a few days makes.

On Thursday, we hear/read (courtesy of CTV sharing a Canadian Press story) – highlights, as usual, mine:

The incoming commander of Canadian Forces in Afghanistan is preparing to change the focus of counter-insurgency efforts as he deals with the possibility NATO will once again enlarge the area under Canadian control.

Brig.-Gen. Daniel Menard said Thursday he plans to increase troop levels in the province’s dangerous capital, marking a shift from existing strategy concerned largely with rural areas southwest of the city.

“We will be putting a lot of emphasis on Kandahar city,” Menard said. “Kandahar city, for me, remains centre of gravity. It is certainly key terrain and it needs to be taken care of.” ….

Interesting, considering this quote later on:

Menard took over Thursday as commander of Task Force Kandahar from Brig.-Gen. Jonathan Vance, whose so-called “model-village approach” had won praise from Canada’s NATO allies.

“There is much that others can learn from what the Canadian Task Force has achieved in the last nine months,” (ISAF RC-South commander General Nick) Carter said at the transfer of command ceremony.

“Canada had provided a model of how modern counter-insurgency should be prosecuted.”

Well, as of today, there’s a refinement of the incoming Canadian Task Force commander’s message (via the Canadian Press):

Canada’s top general in Afghanistan says he plans to continue the model-village approach pioneered by his predecessor.

Brig. Gen. Daniel Menard says coalition forces are likely to provide Canada with enough additional resources to focus both on Kandahar city and rural areas of the province.

Menard took over last week from Brig. Gen. Jonathan Vance, who experimented with concentrating Canadian troops in districts southwest of the city….

Here’s both versions in PDF format in case the links don’t work for you.

NOTE: This material is from web pages and forums carrying statements attributed to the Taliban, Taliban spokespersons or supporters of the Taliban, or analysis thereof. Posting of this material neither confirms nor endorses any of its content – it is shared for information only. When material translated into English is not available, Google Translate is used to translate the original  – this is only a machine translation, NOT an official one.

In Kandahar Saturday evening 20-11-2009 at around 7 pm local time, Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate of  Afghanistan with an IED destroyed a patrolling tank of the Canadian invaders and killed all on board in Nakhooni  area in Panj Wahi district of Kandahar province.  According to another report, Friday afternoon 20-11-2009 at  around 2 pm local time, eleven puppet army terrorists were killed and many were wounded, while trying to remove  a landmine planted by the Mujahideen but failed and it was detonated in Speer Wan area in Panj Wahi district of  Kandahar province.  According to another report, Friday afternoon 20-11-2009, the Mujahideen with an IED  destroyed a tank of the NATO invaders in Sanzari area in Zari district of Kandahar province, in the blast all the  terrorists in the tank were also killed. Reported by Qari Muhammad Yousuf

Patrol unit blown up killing 4 puppet police terrorists including a Commander in Helmand (Original in Arabic) – Google English translation – Official English (3rd headline)

Saturday morning 21-11-2009 at around 10 am local time, Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan with an IED blew up a foot patrol of the puppet army in Yakh Chal area in Garishk district of Helmand province, killing four terrorists, including their leader and wounded three. Reported by Qari Muhammad Yousuf

Puppet police vehicle blown up killing 3 terrorists Uruzgan (Original in Arabic) – Google English translation – Official English (6th headline)

Saturday morning 21-11-2009 at around 7 am local time, Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan with an IED blew up a Ranger vehicle of the puppet police terrorists in Pahi Nawa area in Tareen Kot city Uruzgan province, the blast destroyed the vehicle and killed three terrorists, including their leader. Reported by Qari Muhammad Yousuf

13 invader and puppet terrorists killed and two military vehicles destroyed in Zabul (Original in Arabic) – Google English translation – Official English (2nd headline)

Saturday afternoon 21-11-2009 at around 2:30 pm local time, Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan with an IED blew up a Ranger vehicle of the puppet police in Pash Kanda area in Shah Joy district of Zabul, which resulted in destroying the vehicle and killing of seven terrorists in it. According to another report, Saturday afternoon 21-11-2009, the Mujahideen with an IED destroyed a tank of the NATO invaders, killing six terrorists in it in Lawargai area in Naw Bahar district of Zabul province. Reported by Qari Muhammad Yousuf

PDF version of this page also available
at non-terrorist site here.

NOTE: This material is from web pages and forums carrying statements attributed to the Taliban, Taliban spokespersons or supporters of the Taliban, or analysis thereof. Posting of this material neither confirms nor endorses any of its content – it is shared for information only. When material translated into English is not available, Google Translate is used to translate the original  – this is only a machine translation, NOT an official one.

(Official English) The destruction of a tank of mine in the Canadian buttons
Friday morning 20-11-2009 at around 11 am local time, Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan with an IED destroyed a tank of the Canadian invaders in Lako Khail area in Zari district of Kandahar province, in the blast all the terrorists in the tank were killed. Reported by Qari Muhammad Yousuf

(Arabic to Google English) Continental / Yousuf Ahmadi
Tank exploded the Canadian Forces landmine in the region, “Lacko horses” Department of Kandahar province, two buttons. According to the paper contained: The accident occurred at about eleven o’clock in the morning (2009-11-20) While the enemy forces were being preparations for operations against the Mujahideen hit the tank hit a landmine. Destroyed in the blast, the tank is too full, killing all on board.

District headquarter and all the puppet police and army check posts attacked, invaders tank and puppets vehicle blown up in Helmand (Original in Arabic) – Google English translation – Official English (11th headline)

Thursday evening 19-11-2009 at around 8 pm local time, Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan simultaneously attacked Garishk district headquarter along with all the puppet police and army check posts in Garishk district of Helmand province, the attacks continued for two hours, during which Mujahideen were inflicted with heavy losses in the ranks of the enemy. According to another report, Thursday 19-11-2009, the Mujahideen in Yakh Chal area in Garishk district of Helmand province blew up a vehicle of the puppet army, in the blast the vehicle was destroyed and three terrorists were killed and two were wounded. According to another report, Thursday 19-11-2009, the Mujahideen Shah Pushti area in Washir district of Helmand province with an IED destroyed an NATO invaders tank, also resulting in the death of six terrorists. Reported by Qari Muhammad Yousuf

Commando attack claiming the lives of 27 soldiers, including two members of one of the district shura (Original in Arabic) – Google English translation – Official English (1st headline)

Martyrdom operations kills 27 puppet army terrorists and destroyed a building, Invaders tank destroyed and 5 terrorists killed in Uruzgan
Thursday afternoon 19-11-2009, a hero of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Abdullah carried out a martyrdom operation on the Security Council building in Dahrawat district of Uruzgan province, the Mujahid who was on foot stormed into the building and exploded his explosives vest, killing twenty-seven puppet army terrorists including two members of the puppets Security Council, the building was destroyed and also the few cars which were parked inside. We ask Allah to accept our brother among martyrs in Eelleyeen (high rank in the paradise). All praise and gratitude are due to Allah. According to another report, Thursday morning 19-11-2009 at around 9 am local time, the Mujahideen with an IED destroyed a armored vehicle of the NATO invading terrorists in Dahrawat district of Uruzgan province, the blast also killed five terrorists who were in the tank. Reported by Qari Muhammad Yousuf

7 puppet police terrorist skilled and a vehicle destroyed in Uruzgan (Original in Arabic) – Google English translation – Official English (6th headline)

Friday afternoon 20-11-2009 at around 3 pm local time, Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan with an IED destroyed a vehicle of the puppet police in Chinar area Tareen Kot city Uruzgan province, in the blast seven terrorists were also killed. Reported by Qari Muhammad Yousuf

Mujahideen killed 8 puppet police terrorists and destroyed a check post in Nimroze (Original in Arabic) – Google English translation – Official English (5th headline)

Friday midnight 20-11-2009 at around 1 am local time, Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan attacked a puppet police check post in Pusht-e-Hassan area in Khash rod district of Nimroze province, resulting in the destruction of the post, killing eight terrorists and wounded three others, at the end of the attack all the weapons and other equipments were Mujahideen’s booty. Reported by Qari Muhammad Yousuf

PDF version of this page also available
at non-terrorist site here.

NOTE: This material is from web pages and forums carrying statements attributed to the Taliban, Taliban spokespersons or supporters of the Taliban, or analysis thereof. Posting of this material neither confirms nor endorses any of its content – it is shared for information only. When material translated into English is not available, Google Translate is used to translate the original  – this is only a machine translation, NOT an official one.

Continental / Yousuf Ahmadi
According to the news Linker: a tank collided with the Canadian Forces occupied an improvised explosive device at about the third hour of noon yesterday (2009-11-18). Killing all the soldiers who were on board were killed. Mujahideen from the region said the enemy suffered such a loss when they were on a mission patrol near the Mount “Khyeeri” Panjwayj Department of Kandahar province. Witnesses say parents: After the explosions the dead soldiers were transferred by helicopter to their position, either the wreckage of the tank remained until the end of the day at the scene. In another separate report at about one little from yesterday afternoon also Mujahideen attacked a vehicle of the Afghan soldiers in the “Zonde Hderh” Arghandab Directorate of the mandate itself, which killed one soldier and wounding two others were by severe.

Mujahideen commander were killed and three soldiers in the Buldak (Original in Arabic) – Google English translation

Continental / Yousuf Ahmadi
Mujahideen of Islamic Emirate killed a local commander named / Najib, and three soldiers of his guards in an area for “Hiroobo” Buldak Province, State of Kandahar. According to information received: the American enemy, etc. Sarah patrol car when I came with the Mujahideen in an ambush at the third Zariom yesterday (2009-11-18). In this armed attack destroyed the car and also full of sheep Mujahideen weapons of the dead and their equipment security. And thankfully there have been no casualties in the ranks of the Mujahideen.

Target tank of English forces improvised explosive device in Musa Qala (Original in Arabic) – Google English translation

Continental / Yousuf Ahmadi
Mujahideen of Islamic Emirate targeted at around nine in the evening yesterday (2009-11-18). Tank of English forces occupied an improvised explosive device in the village of “Nebo” near the market district of Musa Qala in Helmand, when the tank in the case of exit from their point of security. According to the news Linker: destroyed in the blast, the tank is full, the killing Jima from the inside of the British soldiers, and military helicopters arrived to evacuate the dead to their positions, notably, among the dead officer as well. In another separate report at about eight o’clock this morning a car crashed into a kind of hip to the puppet army improvised explosive device, in the Province Ikjal Gereshk the mandate itself, which was on its way towards the city of Kandahar, the explosion of the car and was cut by (4) soldiers were killed customers. In a similar vein, collided with an armored foreign forces in around noon of yesterday afternoon an explosive device in the “Srkhaddoz Dorahi” province’s Nad Ali this state, killing all on board were killed.

Violent attacks on the enemy in the Directorate of Trinkot (Original in Arabic) – Google English translation

Continental / Yousuf Ahmadi
Mujahideen of Islamic Emirate attacked high-profile attacks throughout the day soldiers of the occupying forces and the client near the city center Trinkot mandate Uruzgan. According to the report, detonated an explosive device planted on a foot patrol of the occupiers at three o’clock this afternoon (2009-11-19) in the village, “Hashim Khan,” Bnaoh Darwisan near the city of Trinkot status and the mandate of Uruzgan, killing three soldiers as occupiers and a number of others injured. Adds the report, immediately after the explosion was an armed attack on the rest of the enemy soldiers, where losses suffered death and injury was overstated them. According to another report, the Mujahideen blew up two cars of the type of Army Ranger client improvised explosive device planted in almost five o’clock this afternoon in the “Niyazo” in the same city. Blasts resulted in the destruction of both vehicles to the enemy completely and five soldiers were killed by the inclusion of their leader.

Martyrdom attack in the Shah Joy harvested twenty-two ranking (Original in Arabic) – Google English translation

Continental / Yousuf Ahmadi
We received the news from the province of Zabul, do one of the heroes of the Islamic emirate / Mohammad Hashim martyrdom attack in about eleven o’clock in the morning (2009-11-19). Within the Center for Romanian troops near the center of the Shah Joy district of that province.  It was reported attack by the deadly car bomb of the type Saraf Toyota within the Center for the enemy, killing (22) Romania soldiers on the spot, and wounded a number of other serious surgeries. Have been destroyed six enemy military vehicles fully, and damaged nearby buildings of the severity of the explosion. Witnesses say: the enemy of these losses incurred when it entered the car Saraf Toyota cars in a convoy of the occupying forces into the station and exploded directly. In another independent news Mujahideen attacked yesterday afternoon near the village of “Rugani” Shenqui province of the same province, a police patrol on the client, resulting in the targeting of the type of car and truck on another Ranger Bakmaev RPG and completely destroyed. According to the news Linker: two motorcycles were also destroyed by the enemy in this attack, no precise information on the number of casualties in the ranks of the enemy until now.

PDF version of this page also available
at non-terrorist site here.

…about how the individual soldier contributes to the counterinsurgency fight in Afghanistan, in terms that are easy to understand – from the mouth of C.F. Corporal Duane Gyuricska, speaking to NATO’s natochannel.tv:

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Does this clip oversimply the task?  It does only show a small part of the work.  Does it explain the fight better or worse than how mainstream media does now?  You be the judge – let me know with your comments.

You can see the entire natochannel.tv video story about Canada’s approach to COIN here.

Why won’t we see/hear this on mainstream media?

Because it’s produced by our side.

To mainstream media, NATO or Canadian government produced video pieces = “falling into line with government propaganda”, while what the Taliban says = “including all sides in the interests of fairness”.

NOTE: This material is from web pages and forums carrying statements attributed to the Taliban, Taliban spokespersons or supporters of the Taliban, or analysis thereof. Posting of this material neither confirms nor endorses any of its content – it is shared for information only. When material translated into English is not available, Google Translate is used to translate the original  – this is only a machine translation, NOT an official one.

Continental / Yousuf Ahmadi
Collided with a tank-track of the occupying forces at about eight o’clock in the evening yesterday (2009-11-17). Improvised explosive device in the “Tel Klnjh” Meond province of Kandahar province, resulting in the outright destruction and the fate of soldiers dead and wounded. Enemy suffered the loss while they were in a routine patrol in the area. In another independent report: Starting a bomb exploded on a tank of the occupying forces in the region, “Sheikh Abad” in this province yesterday afternoon, the soldiers were inspired by the occupiers transporting the dead and injured to the tank exploded a bomb on them again. According to the source: in the successive blasts occurred in the dead and wounded among the enemy, but we could not AADC number.

Further losses of the enemy in Helmand province (Original in Arabic) – Google English translation

Continental / Yousuf Ahmadi
Mujahideen of Islamic Emirate reported from Helmand province: American enemy foreign and domestic losses as a result of further explosions in the provinces: Musa Qala, and Sngen, and Nad Ali, and Gereshk. Targeted a tank of the Crusader occupation forces in about one o’clock in the evening yesterday (2009-11-18). Improvised explosive device in the “Saul” to boycott the club, when she tried to get out of her point, security, and killing all on board of the soldiers. Against armored forces in the occupied about ten o’clock yesterday morning when she was in the task of a routine patrol in the area of “de false” Province of Musa Qala. Armored destroyed in the blast, killing all on board of the soldiers. A battle ensued directly in the afternoon with the crusader forces in the village, “Khushal” the same province, killing one soldier and wounding two crusaders. At about eleven o’clock in the morning ( 2009-11-18 ) received (3) soldiers Englishmen were killed and injured (4) other serious surgeries from two explosions in a row in the “Carry Boucetta” near the market district Sngen. A powerful explosion occurred at about eleven o’clock this morning, also on foot patrol of the puppet army soldiers in the “Ikjal” Gereshk Province, when they were surveying the small bridges along the route of Kandahar, Herat. Killed (3) Afghan soldiers in the blast on the spot and wounded two other Bjrhat. Collided with an armored car for the English forces in the hour of midday improvised explosive device in the “Zampeli” in the province itself, resulting in the destruction of the tank completely, and killed Jima on board of the soldiers of the Crusaders. It should be mentioned, suffered losses on the enemy before that in the provinces of Nawzad and Gereshk, has been published this morning.

Mujahideen destroyed another tank of the enemy occupier Nawzad (Original in Arabic) – Google English translation

Continental / Yousuf Ahmadi
Destroyed tanks of the occupying forces at about seven o’clock this morning (2009-11-18). When a bomb exploded in the province of Helmand Province Nawzad According to the mujahideen from the region: The deadly explosion occurred on a tank when the occupiers are the enemy preparations for operations against the Mujahideen in an area controlled by “Danny” in this province. Enemy tanks destroyed in the blast are fully met (5) soldiers as occupiers were on board immediately. Recall that yesterday destroyed a tank to the occupying forces in the same manner in the same area. In separate news, U.S. forces raided last night occupied the homes of people in the market, “the intersection of Crow” Department Marjp in the same province, resulting in the death of two civilians, including guard the market, and the other shop owner in the market, Astahbua four other innocent people with them to their positions prisoner.

Ranger destroyed a car near the enemy of Gereshk (Original in Arabic) – Google English translation

Continental / Yousuf Ahmadi
Destroyed a vehicle of the type of the Ranger puppet army in an attack by Mujahideen of Islamic Emirate in an area for “Norzu” near Gereshk district of Helmand province. According to the mujahideen from the region: this was the armed attack at about eight o’clock in the evening but a little bit yesterday (2009-11-17) when their convoy was moving from the province of Herat towards Kandahar province. According to the paper: At (3) soldiers were killed and (2) other serious surgeries, and sheep Mujahideen weapons Alguetyly soldiers and the rest of their equipment security. In a report, another independent: broke out yesterday afternoon battle between soldiers and police Alehic client proxy in a market in that province, killing a policeman and injuries to two other surgeries, said that the officer slain security guard commander of the province called / Abdul Alrarq.

PDF version of this page also available
at non-terrorist site here.

Mujeeb Ahmad, working for NBC News, managed to snag an interview (PDF of blog post here if link doesn’t work) with someone calling himself Commander Mullah Manan, “the second in command to Mullah Abdul Hakeem, the commander of Helmand Province”.

Some interesting messaging is coming out of the interview, which was reportedly done in or around Spin Boldak, Kandahar Province.

On where the bosses of the Afghan Taliban movement are these days, he says they’re not in Quetta anymore:

“This is Western propaganda …. The only true Taliban shura is the one led by Mullah Omar. It has 29 members and is spread around Afghanistan – some of the members are even holding key government posts. Their identities are known only among the shura members …. We are not safe in Quetta (Pakistan) …. These days, the Pakistani security forces are looking for us and it is no longer safe to even cross the border to visit friends. Besides, we control almost 80 percent of Afghanistan, why should we hide in Pakistan?“

Zat right?  Don’t know whether that’s true or not, but he seemed secure enough in or around Spin Boldak to have his picture taken without his face covered:

This means:

• he’s pretty comfortable about not getting caught,
• he’s not who he says he is, so he’s not worried about getting caught, or
• he’s pretty dumb and will be “Darwinized” by NATO forces soon enough.

The messaging on trying to buy off potential Taliban fighters is short and sweet:

“Some of us will take their money, but none of us will ever give up our fight.”

The biggest thing leaping out at me from the exchange was this bit (emphasis mine):

“Will you guarantee to the Americans that if they leave [Afghanistan] there won’t be another 9/11 attack against them?” I asked.

“Look, we want an Islamic state with Islamic laws,” Manan replied quietly, while his eyes seemed to bore right through me. “If the Americans leave, then we will not concern ourselves with them any longer.”

Manan paused and then asked: “Do you understand what I am telling you?” And then he put it this way. “That means we will never again allow our country to be used in the same way as it was used against America in the past.”

“That sounds like a peace proposal,” I said.

Manan laughed. He was quick to point out that this was the Taliban viewpoint, but since no one recognizes them as an international force, no one is asking them to abide by any international obligations.

I know that any statement coming either officialy or unofficially from the Taliban has to be taken with a HUGE grain of salt.  That said, has anyone else heard/read/seen anyone claiming to be Taliban saying so clearly, “If you Yanks leave, we won’t let Afghanistan be used as a base against you again”?  I’ve seen a lot of “we’ll fight as long as foreigners are in Afghanistan” messaging, but nothing making this kind of linkage this clearly.

The armed forces remain a mystery to a huge section of UK society. I thought this quite strongly when our bus rattled over the cattle grids at Caerwent training area yesterday.

As us 10 trainee journalists skidded along the rain-soaked roads of the 1,500-acre site, we got held up by marines with tired-looking black and green faces and their guns. Smashed-up warehouse buildings and barbed wire lined the roads while skeletal sheep grazed the tufts of grass around them. It was like entering another world.

We were there on a Senior Command Course to watch marines Non-Comissioned Officers – the forces’ real on-the-ground elite – compete for promotion from corporals to sergeants. We were herded around on patrol, ‘embedded’ with the military to test their skills in keeping us alive. Read on to find out if they managed it.

But we also had to test our skills as journalists – whether we could pick through the miles of jargon and chaos, and of course, darkness and freezing rain, and come out with a usable story on the other side.

The military and the press have always been at odds. Journalists take risks; they don’t fall into line, and the soldiers looking after them have to risk their necks to pull them back, like children, from the side of the road.

But it’s worse being a freelancer. If you’re not embedded with a unit you have the advantage of uncensored copy – but the disadvantage of being blown up or kidnapped at any second, as the case of Javed Yazamy proves. According to the International News Safety Institute, 23-year old Mr Yazamy, a freelancer who contributed to the Canadian Press, was killed in a drive-by shooting in Kandahar City, Afghanistan on 10 March this year. He was in his vehicle at the time. There are countless cases like his.

So the MOD’s line recently, especially since Iraq, has been that they’re in support of the press. “It’s part and parcel of being in a liberal democracy,” Major Andrew Ferguson told us.

“Some journalists, once they’re embedded, decide to go against the military to get the story they want. But the individual will be ostracised – and they won’t be allowed to work with the military again.”

The two of us, he said, must work under the same sense of brotherhood the forces work with themselves. And surprised though we were, once we were on patrol with the marines they treated us like family.

The troop, made up of 38 corporals from all over the UK, took us under their wing and showed us round. The men in their mid-thirties, all with years of operational experience, were spending the 10-day period camped out in one of the deserted buildings. They lived on an hour or so of sleep every 24, and 7000-calorie ration kits which included dehydrated lamb dinners, unbranded milk chocolate and even tiny bottles of tobasco sauce.

It was few days in and they were already exhausted; five had dropped out from an original 43, one due to appendicitis. While they sat around and told us their war stories, the November wind whipped through the broken windows of the old ammunition factory where they still are now.

The time came for orders – their briefing - and they all gathered in a darkening corner of the warehouse where a model of little cardboard boxes and crepe paper had been put up. We sat on a cot bed along the wall and were introduced as “our friends in the media”, which earned us a curt nod from around the room. The report points on the model were given names like Kate Adie and Trevor McDonald, in honour of us.

The mission was to make a reassurance patrol in a fabricated Afghan village down the road, with the intention of setting up future civic projects. Those in charge of the various sections ran through a dazzling array of jargon that we tried furiously to scribble down in the near-dark. They explained parts for us, which we just about understood before they moved on again. By the end of the orders we were fairly confident the three of us would just be following the troop sergeant in single file the whole way.

But, as could be expected, the mission didn’t go to plan. We were at the rear of the troop when those at the front came under fire from insurgents (played by members of the army). We were impressed by how we were looked after. They had us sit completely still while supposed chaos unfolded and gunfire rattled overhead.

Some of our colleagues, playing freelance journalists, were locked in a toilet and told to stay there until things calmed down. They weren’t told what was going on; we were. We had various officers retreat from the front line to calmly reel off what they were doing now; even to make some light conversation. Many of them seemed to enjoy having guests in their midst.

Then a corporal from one section was ‘injured’ by a ‘gunshot wound to the leg’ at around 6pm. He was stable, and so it wouldn’t be newsworthy, we were told. As there was a risk of injuring civillians the troop withdrew back to the base. We came back cold, wet, and without a story.

We got back, debriefed, and the men went off to get some kip while we were driven back to our base. It felt like we’d hardly started; and when some young riflemen we got chatting to back at the base went out to play more insurgents at 11pm, and left us to sleep, we felt inadequate.

Before they left, they were a little suspicious – asking if I was hiding a dictaphone under my Times - but more often they were just incredulous about our work, much as we had been towards theirs. Maybe our relationship with the military is not so much hostile as, well, ignorant.

So we could all do with learning a little more about each other - even if the work’s not to our taste. And it seems the feeling’s mutual. As one 21-year-old rifleman said: “Is that all you do? Read papers all the time? I’d rather be shot at any day.”