Big surprise here. “Afghan National Police penetrated by Taliban at ‘every level,’” by Thomas Harding and James Kirkup from the Telegraph, November 4 (thanks to Axel): The Afghan National Police have been penetrated by the Taliban “at every level” with officers poorly trained, corrupt and some addicted to drugs, a former Army officer has said. […]
Taliban welcomes Hillary Clinton to Pakistan with car bomb that kills 90
A welcome according to time-hallowed local custom. “Car bomb kills 90 in Pakistan as Hillary Clinton visits,” by Zeeshan Haider and Andrew Quinn for Reuters, October 28 (thanks to Maxwell): ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (Reuters) – A car bomb ripped through a crowded market killing 90 people in Pakistan’s city of Peshawar on Wednesday, just hours after […]
Islamic jihadists attack UN guesthouse in Afghanistan, six dead
But the UN spokesman says that the UN will continue its good works in Afghanistan, building things for the Taliban to destroy. “Kabul Guesthouse Attack Leaves 6 Dead, Including 5 UN Employees,” by James Rupert and Gregory Viscusi for Bloomberg, October 28: Oct. 28 (Bloomberg) — Six international workers were killed and nine wounded when […]
Afghan musician hopes the Taliban will go away so he can play again
The Taliban believe music is un-Islamic. Why? Hadith Qudsi 19:5: “The Prophet said that Allah commanded him to destroy all the musical instruments, idols, crosses and all the trappings of ignorance.” The Hadith Qudsi, or holy Hadith, are those in which Muhammad transmits the words of Allah, although those words are not in the Qur’an. […]
“This war in Kunduz belongs to the narcotics mafia, which is operating in the name of Islam”
Mohammad Razaq Yaqubi said that. He must be some kind of Islamophobe. “Taliban continue to expand their reach,” by Gull Rohm Niazmand for MCT News Service, October 20 (thanks to James): KUNDUZ, Afghanistan The insignia on the door says the vehicle belongs to the provincial police. But the man behind the wheel is clearly a […]
NY Times reporter, held captive by the Taliban, gets hit with a giant cluebat
Able to observe the Taliban close up for an extended period, a New York Times reporter discovers that they aren’t actually the moderate nationalists that his own paper may have led him to believe they were. “7 Months, 10 Days in Captivity,” by David Rohde in the New York Times, October 17 (thanks to Sounder): […]
U.S. also confronted Italy about allegations of bribing Taliban
An update on this story. “United States admits tackling Italians over payments to the Taleban,” by Tim Reid for the Times Online, October 17: The US Government acknowledged for the first time yesterday that payment of protection money to the Taleban by Italian forces in Afghanistan was discussed by American officials and their Italian counterparts […]
Italy was bribing the Taliban but didn’t tell the French, French troops killed and mutilated
The Italians forgot to mention to the French that they were playing Aethelred the Unready, and so the French were ambushed and killed. “French troops were killed after Italy hushed up ‘bribes’ to Taleban,” by Tom Coghlan in The Times, October 15 (thanks to Weasel Zippers): When ten French soldiers were killed last year in […]
Pakistani Taliban leader: “We want an Islamic state. If we get that, then we will go to the borders and help fight the Indians”
Actually, Pakistan has already been extending that option to captured Taliban jihadists. “Pakistan: Taliban leader warns India will be ‘attacked’,” from AdnKronos International, October 14: Islamabad, 14 October (AKI) – The Pakistani Taliban’s new leader Hakimullah Mehsud warned India of future attacks and sent a message to Pakistan’s army that if it wanted a halt […]
Pakistan: Most hostages released from army headquarters
An update on this particularly brazen attack. “Most hostages freed in army HQ raid: Pakistan military,” from Agence France-Presse, October 10: Most hostages seized by militants after a bid to storm Pakistan’s army headquarters were rescued as the army launched an operation against the attackers Sunday, a military spokesman said. “The operation has been started […]