11 Taliban killed in Afghan airstrikes

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - At least 11 suspected Taliban and possibly dozens more were killed by airstrikes on Taliban compounds Tuesday in southern Afghanistan, officials said.

Afghanistan's Defense Ministry said 11 Taliban were killed in the Zhari district of Kandahar province early Tuesday, though the provincial police chief said more than 60 suspected insurgents died, including three regional commanders.

The airstrikes were carried out at 3 a.m. local time, and many other suspected Taliban were wounded, said Kandahar Police Chief Esmatullah Alizai. He said there were no civilians killed or wounded.

Casualty tolls from remote battle sites in Afghanistan often vary widely, and the number of casualties could not be independently verified.

Alizai said NATO forces carried out the airstrike, but NATO's International Security Assistance Force did not immediately have any details. The separate U.S.-led coalition said it was not their operation.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070515/ap_on_re_as/afghan_violence

[Eugene]

1. Interesting. Initial reports claimed 60 killed.

I trust that the full story will emerge later in the week.

[maddezmom]

2. it's always odd to me that no one has details

if they have planes in the air bombing sites you'd think they'd have a clue :shrug:

[ShortnFiery]

3. Add to that "body count" 5 goats and 10 women and 2 children.

:eyes: I don't know about the rest of you, but I find these blessed "body counts" a cheap attempt to imply that we are actually accomplishing something instead of GROTESQUELY LOSING the hearts and minds of the native peoples. :thumbsdown:

Airstrikes are the height of scorched earth, chickenshit offensive operations: Every living thing is cut in half or turned to confetti. :puke: :(

[Marrah_G]

7. The native women will be theones who pay if the Taliban regain power

I'd like to see every one of them renounce thier views or be locked away from the rest of civilization forever. I will never shed a tear for any of those bastards.

[Nihil]

8. So it's better to kill/maim them first? Nice logic ...

Or perhaps you think that foreign invaders can defeat Afghan people
and convert them to good Christian "civilised" values?

I don't shed a tear for the Taliban but have only bitter laughter for
those who still believe that such a change can be imposed on a people
who have been fighting off invaders for more years than the latest
invaders have had even a country.

[Marrah_G]

9. Where did you possibly come up with that?????

The Taliban need to be stopped. I hate seeing any innocents die, but to do nothing and allow them to regain control would be a sentence worse then death for most Afgani women.

I'm not a christian either, so why you would bring up "good christian values" is beyond me.

[Bragi]

11. This is not about women's rights...

The supression of women in Afghanistan has been going on for hundreds of years, and will likely continue for hundreds more once the US packs up (post-Iraq) and sets up a government of former Taliban elements, a few communist holdovers, as well as some prominent drug lords and war lords to look after things long enough for everyone to stop looking and caring about what happens there.

Blather about women's rights is just part of the PR spin used to keep ill-informed Americans onside with this war. Women's rights don't exist there, and never have. They weren't the issue when the US set the stage for the Taliban takeover in the 90's, nor were they the reason the US invaded in 2001. And women's rights won't be much of an issue when the US packs up and leaves shortly after it is forced out of Iraq.

- B

[Marrah_G]

12. Blather about women's rights?

Okay I can see you and I aren't anywhere close to the same page so it's probably not worth any further discussion.

[Bragi]

15. Women's rights isn't all "blather"...

But all the nonsense from Bush and his war backers about the war in Afghanistan being about women's rights is pure blather. What the war is about is geopolitics and power and American hegemony. The women's rights stuff is PR flackery.

- B

[Marrah_G]

17. Of course Bush doesn't care, but that does not make the Taliban any less monsterous.

I will again post the laws under which women lived when the Taliban ruled. These women have NO choice. They are captives in their own home. Those who try and fight against it are killed.

Taliban restrictions and mistreatment of women include the:

1- Complete ban on women's work outside the home, which also applies to female teachers, engineers and most professionals. Only a few female doctors and nurses are allowed to work in some hospitals in Kabul.

2- Complete ban on women's activity outside the home unless accompanied by a mahram (close male relative such as a father, brother or husband).

3- Ban on women dealing with male shopkeepers.

4- Ban on women being treated by male doctors.

5- Ban on women studying at schools, universities or any other educational institution. (Taliban have converted girls' schools into religious seminaries.)

6- Requirement that women wear a long veil (Burqa), which covers them from head to toe.

7- Whipping, beating and verbal abuse of women not clothed in accordance with Taliban rules, or of women unaccompanied by a mahram.

8- Whipping of women in public for having non-covered ankles.

9- Public stoning of women accused of having sex outside marriage. (A number of lovers are stoned to death under this rule).

10- Ban on the use of cosmetics. (Many women with painted nails have had fingers cut off).

11- Ban on women talking or shaking hands with non-mahram males.

12- Ban on women laughing loudly. (No stranger should hear a woman's voice).

13- Ban on women wearing high heel shoes, which would produce sound while walking. (A man must not hear a woman's footsteps.)

14- Ban on women riding in a taxi without a mahram.

15- Ban on women's presence in radio, television or public gatherings of any kind.

16- Ban on women playing sports or entering a sport center or club.

17- Ban on women riding bicycles or motorcycles, even with their mahrams.

18- Ban on women's wearing brightly colored clothes. In Taliban terms, these are "sexually attracting colors."

19- Ban on women gathering for festive occasions such as the Eids, or for any recreational purpose.

20- Ban on women washing clothes next to rivers or in a public place.

21- Modification of all place names including the word "women." For example, "women's garden" has been renamed "spring garden".

22- Ban on women appearing on the balconies of their apartments or houses.

23- Compulsory painting of all windows, so women can not be seen from outside their homes.

24- Ban on male tailors taking women's measurements or sewing women's clothes.

25- Ban on female public baths.

26- Ban on males and females traveling on the same bus. Public buses have now been designated "males only" (or "females only").

27- Ban on flared (wide) pant-legs, even under a burqa.

28- Ban on the photographing or filming of women.

29- Ban on women's pictures printed in newspapers and books, or hung on the walls of houses and shops.

Apart from the above restrictions on women, the Taliban has:

- Banned listening to music, not only for women but men as well.

- Banned the watching of movies, television and videos, for everyone.

- Banned celebrating the traditional new year (Nowroz) on March 21. The Taliban has proclaimed the holiday un-Islamic.

- Disavowed Labor Day (May 1st), because it is deemed a "communist" holiday.

- Ordered that all people with non-Islamic names change them to Islamic ones.

- Forced haircuts upon Afghan youth.

- Ordered that men wear Islamic clothes and a cap.

- Ordered that men not shave or trim their beards, which should grow long enough to protrude from a fist clasped at the point of the chin.

- Ordered that all people attend prayers in mosques five times daily.
Marrah

[ohio2007]

13. ?...Maybe it should be

This entire WOT was sidetracked by GWB. The trail in Afghanistan led directly back to the house of Saudi .....ooops.
Can't allow the overthrow of the Wahabi dominated house of Saud and send the worlds economy into depression due to the oil spigots being blown up.

Maybe if woman were in position of power roles in the western world the rest of the women would stop playing the submissive roles over in the middle east.

imo,
women may prefer to be submisssive to men that are empowered through their male dominated religion.

/ SCREED

[Marrah_G]

16. This goes beyond submission

I will again post the laws under which women lived when the Taliban ruled. These women have NO choice. They are captives in their own home. Those who try and fight against it are killed.

Taliban restrictions and mistreatment of women include the:

1- Complete ban on women's work outside the home, which also applies to female teachers, engineers and most professionals. Only a few female doctors and nurses are allowed to work in some hospitals in Kabul.

2- Complete ban on women's activity outside the home unless accompanied by a mahram (close male relative such as a father, brother or husband).

3- Ban on women dealing with male shopkeepers.

4- Ban on women being treated by male doctors.

5- Ban on women studying at schools, universities or any other educational institution. (Taliban have converted girls' schools into religious seminaries.)

6- Requirement that women wear a long veil (Burqa), which covers them from head to toe.

7- Whipping, beating and verbal abuse of women not clothed in accordance with Taliban rules, or of women unaccompanied by a mahram.

8- Whipping of women in public for having non-covered ankles.

9- Public stoning of women accused of having sex outside marriage. (A number of lovers are stoned to death under this rule).

10- Ban on the use of cosmetics. (Many women with painted nails have had fingers cut off).

11- Ban on women talking or shaking hands with non-mahram males.

12- Ban on women laughing loudly. (No stranger should hear a woman's voice).

13- Ban on women wearing high heel shoes, which would produce sound while walking. (A man must not hear a woman's footsteps.)

14- Ban on women riding in a taxi without a mahram.

15- Ban on women's presence in radio, television or public gatherings of any kind.

16- Ban on women playing sports or entering a sport center or club.

17- Ban on women riding bicycles or motorcycles, even with their mahrams.

18- Ban on women's wearing brightly colored clothes. In Taliban terms, these are "sexually attracting colors."

19- Ban on women gathering for festive occasions such as the Eids, or for any recreational purpose.

20- Ban on women washing clothes next to rivers or in a public place.

21- Modification of all place names including the word "women." For example, "women's garden" has been renamed "spring garden".

22- Ban on women appearing on the balconies of their apartments or houses.

23- Compulsory painting of all windows, so women can not be seen from outside their homes.

24- Ban on male tailors taking women's measurements or sewing women's clothes.

25- Ban on female public baths.

26- Ban on males and females traveling on the same bus. Public buses have now been designated "males only" (or "females only").

27- Ban on flared (wide) pant-legs, even under a burqa.

28- Ban on the photographing or filming of women.

29- Ban on women's pictures printed in newspapers and books, or hung on the walls of houses and shops.

Apart from the above restrictions on women, the Taliban has:

- Banned listening to music, not only for women but men as well.

- Banned the watching of movies, television and videos, for everyone.

- Banned celebrating the traditional new year (Nowroz) on March 21. The Taliban has proclaimed the holiday un-Islamic.

- Disavowed Labor Day (May 1st), because it is deemed a "communist" holiday.

- Ordered that all people with non-Islamic names change them to Islamic ones.

- Forced haircuts upon Afghan youth.

- Ordered that men wear Islamic clothes and a cap.

- Ordered that men not shave or trim their beards, which should grow long enough to protrude from a fist clasped at the point of the chin.

- Ordered that all people attend prayers in mosques five times daily.

[Igel]

18. There's a problem with using a brush that size.

The Taliban had a harsher Islam than many Pashtun did; they enforced the most conservative conduct upon everybody. If everybody liked the kind of shari'a imposed by the Taliban, they wouldn't be nearly the problem that they were.

Now, much of Afghanistan isn't Pashtun, and the Taliban traditions were foreign in those areas. Moreover, in cities things were a bit more liberal. The Taliban didn't want secular education or girls in school; before they took power, and even before the Soviets moved in, secular education was available in many areas and women could even go to college. Not all Afghans are as backward and retrograde as you think.

[Marrah_G]

23. First off I don't see Afghani's as backwards

I do however see the horrific treatment that women are subjected to under Taliban rule. Those men, the ones imposing slavery and death upon women and to a lesser extent other men are the ones my venom is targeted at.

There is a really good book out there, for those interested in the history and struggle of the Afghani people told by a young woman who lived it. Her story touched my heart in a really big way.

A Bed of Red Flowers: In Search of My Afghanistan- By Nelofer Pazira

http://www.aarpmagazine.org/books/book_review_red_flowers.html

Also movies to look for: Osama and Kandahar

[ShortnFiery]

10. "I will never shed a tear for any of those bastards. "

How lovely. :eyes:

[Marrah_G]

14. You would cry for the Taliban?

I am NOT talking about innocent Afganis. I am talking about the guys that have murdered and enslaved women since we so thoughtfully put them in power. Under their rule women are worth less then their livestock. Living Ghosts. Barely seen, rarely heard, a crime to hear their footsteps even. No medical treatment, no education, no leaving the house without an immediate male relative. If you don't have an immediate male relative then too bad.... perhaps your kind nieghbors will bring you some food so you do not starve in your home.

THOSE people, those people I will NEVER shed a tear for. I will still cry for their victims though, just as I did before Sept, 11th. If you feel they are deserving of your pity then so be it.

[ohio2007]

19. Take it to Denver in 08

the talking point are there and should be part of a platform to get back on course in this WOT.
Otherwise, as goes Europe,so goes the sufferage won by women but only century ago in a small pocket in this corner of the world.

http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?subchannel_id=25&story_id=39829

These are the times that try womens souls.


btw
good posts Marrah_G

[Marrah_G]

22. Thanks Ohio

I keeping hoping that world leaders will step up and give the women in countries like these support in their fight for even the most basic human rights. Their stuggles make our own look like very small hurdles in comparison.

[Eugene]

4. (Reuters) Air strikes kill 60 Taliban in Afghanistan: police

Source: Reuters

Air strikes kill 60 Taliban in Afghanistan: police
Tue May 15, 2007 4:57AM EDT

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Sixty Taliban fighters including
three commanders were killed in overnight air strikes on two rebel bases
in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar, a provincial police chief
said on Tuesday.

The joint operation involving foreign and Afghan security forces took
place in the Zharai district of Kandahar, police chief Esmatullah Alizai
told Reuters. He said there were no casualties among the foreign or
Afghan forces.

A U.S. military spokesman said he was aware of the reports and would
check. NATO said it did not have any information.

-snip-

In the latest attack, a roadside bomb killed seven Afghan soldiers in
the eastern province of Nuristan on Monday, the defense ministry said.
Four soldiers were missing after the blast.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSISL5665420070515

[ShortnFiery]

5. Yeah, all 60 were hunkered down together with three commanders?!?

:eyes: <cough> Bullshit!

[ohio2007]

6. The "spring offensive" stories are far and few

and can only be found between the lines of articles out of Afghanistan

[RL3AO]

21. A 2000lb bomb will take out a whole camp.

[Spazito]

20. So, it seems 60 Afghanis died, 11 of whom were identified? as

Taliban. If my math and the numbers in the article are "correct", 49 of those killed were NOT Taliban. WTG NATO, you have added far more to the number of dead innocent Afghanis than you did to the number of dead Taliban.