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Taliban threaten Kandahar City" Hundreds Flee!
by Barry Artiste | June 17, 2008 at 08:13 am | 579 views | 19 comments
Opinion
Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor
Last week's prison escape in Kandahar by Taliban forces it is said are regrouping for a major attack to get their stronghold back, a stronghold held by Canadian Troops does not have one UN General worried who dismissed an Attack by the Taliban, has one Canadian soldier in Kandahar who countered that "Shit is gonna Hit the Fan".
Certainly makes one wonder where this Nato General's (Mind) is at the moment?
KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN -- Taliban fighters stormed onto the doorstep of Afghanistan's second-largest city yesterday, claiming control of villages, bombing small bridges, and scattering landmines to keep Canadian and international troops at bay.
The head of the Kandahar provincial council and brother of President Hamid Karzai said rebels had seized a handful of villages and were rumoured to be seeking a bigger target -- Kandahar city.
Canadian soldiers are playing a major role in the multinational push to keep the Taliban from advancing and are accompanied by the Afghan army and U.S. special forces, said Ahmed Wali Karzai.
Karzai said the Taliban had nabbed control of several villages in the lush Arghandab river valley -- just next door to Kandahar city.
"They have taken over there," Karzai told The Canadian Press.
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June 17, 2008 at 08:13 am by Barry Artiste, 579 views, 19 comments
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Barry Artiste
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Comments (19)
at 08:42 on June 17th, 2008
Taliban forces have bombed bridges and planted landmines in anticipation of the battle for Kandahar city.
At least 1,000 taliban fighters were freed from prison in a daring raid in Kandahar just over a day ago, adding to the number of combatants that have so far captured at least eight villages on their way to the southern city.
Source: cbc.ca
Source: english.aljazeera.net
at 08:55 on June 17th, 2008
Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 09:59 on June 17th, 2008
Thanks Rob for the flag and the additional news footage. certainly makes one wonder where this Nato General's head is at when he shows no concern, yet Canadian soldiers seem to be worried, as why else would the Taliban send in Suicide bombers to blow up a prison to free some big name Taliban commanders? A friggin Tea Party. I think it will get worse before it gets better. What is scary is a Nato general who thinks it is no big deal, I hope to christ this guy isn't leading our troops, cause if there was ever an excuse to frag someone, this guy certainly fits the bill!
at 11:23 on June 17th, 2008
War is, in general, bad stuff (although sometimes necessary stuff). And those of us who aren't there don't really understand what's going on. The closest we can come is by sharing the up close and personal experiences, in real life, of people who've survived war.
With that in mind, as well as my own personal beliefs, Barry, I think that calling for the fragging of someone is not a good thing to do. There isn't an "excuse" to frag someone. Any more than there's an excuse to shoot someone among your own troops.
This won't be a popular comment but I decided that I wanted to say what I thought. How many of us bewail the constant violence around Jerusalem? Well, we can stop with that -- if we agree that there's a reason to frag our own troops, then we don't have anything to stand on when we condemn other people for fragging others they consider enemies.
I'm a Vietnam generation girl, who grew up in a family where family members were in Korea, and where family members had served in WWII--and every damned war since pre-1776, and some on both sides. My personal losses to war are deep and still hurt.
We honor our military in my family, among my friends, tribes, and town. Call us simplistic, we don't care. And we know that they are each people, as well as troops. And calling for or excusing fragging of our own is simply not something that I am going to sit by and listen to without speaking up for troops, their families, and just plain ethics. If I ever had to go into the field, I'd like to know that the troops with me will have my back.
If there are any troops reading this, know that somewhere out there are people who support you and who have your back, even when it's "just words."
at 18:43 on June 17th, 2008
Hey Pep, as regards Barry's comment on the general, I may not know where his head is but I am betting his ass is nowhere near Kandahar. My guess is that in this case said General is acting in his role as P.R. flack, which is a sad and misfitting role for a general to be in. He should be concentrating on winning a war and not talking for the press's benefit.
at 12:54 on June 18th, 2008
The constant tensions between the need for classified operations to protect our troops in war and the need for an open media is one that puts military leaders into a very peculiar place. And from having walked in a classified world, and then also having had to do media interviews on portions of operations that weren't classified, one thing I know is this: when the media wants to talk to the head cheese, you have to produce a head cheese now and then. And usually the head cheese hates doing it, and if they're smart, someone teaches the head cheese how best to do it. I've done that, too.
at 17:14 on June 21st, 2008
I confess I still find myself not agreeing with a call to frag our troops. But of course, there are always differing opinions.
at 10:15 on June 17th, 2008
Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 10:22 on June 17th, 2008
thanks Rhonda for visiting and flagging this important story
at 10:22 on June 17th, 2008
Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 10:41 on June 17th, 2008
You are very welcome, Barry!
at 13:12 on June 17th, 2008
Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff.
- reply
Nicole Billardat 13:13 on June 17th, 2008
Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff. I think all of us know someone who is there, or is going or has some sort of relation to this story... thanks for staying on top of it!
at 13:13 on June 17th, 2008
Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 13:13 on June 17th, 2008
Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 13:40 on June 17th, 2008
Barry, I do not like war. I do not believe anyone wants it, requests it or likes it - even though at times like these it is placed or imposed upon those that must do just that, fight in what is called war. We have place men and women to guard, protect, secure what they are told and do what is necessary in do so. Even if it is to kill another human to get it done.
May the troops stand strong with courage, while doing what most be done.
AS for the UN general, maybe he should be at the front lines, instead of some desk somewhere.
I can not and will not post this as good stuff although the story is need and important to be told. For there is nothing good (good stuff) about war, in most cases it does not heal wound, it only cause more them for another generation to want to fight.
at 15:32 on June 17th, 2008
Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff.
My opinion - Canada should not be there. There’s too much to take care of here at home without worrying about fighting a war that wont be won.
Again, just my opinion.
at 18:12 on June 17th, 2008
Thank you everyone for your comments, sometimes stupidity in the face of danger gets the best of me and I sometimes rant, e.g. fragging the General , it is just that his idiotic thinking like his, gets troops killed, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers. Some most likely will agree with me, though in reality a bitch slap upside this generals head is a more sane option. Thanks to you all for your comments.
at 20:45 on June 17th, 2008
:-)