41 jailed Taliban in tunnel escape

[Nottingham]

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/redir.php?jid=2db9402b118bec9e

41 jailed Taliban in tunnel escape
Saturday, October 11, 2003 Posted: 1330 GMT ( 9:30 PM HKT)




KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (Reuters) -- Forty-one Taliban prisoners tunneled out of jail in southern Afghanistan in a dramatic escape that is embarrassing for the government and presents yet another security headache in the troubled region.

The break-out from the main jail in the volatile southern city of Kandahar occurred on Friday night, the city's security chief General Salem told Reuters. He said all the prisoners were from one barracks of the jail, which houses some 400 prisoners.

"Last night, in the middle of the night, about 40 prisoners escaped through a 30-meter tunnel," he said. "They included some important Taliban -- one was the brother of Mawlavi Obaidullah."

Obaidullah was Taliban defense minister and has evaded capture since the hardline Islamists were overthrown by U.S.-led forces two years ago. In June, he was named as part of a 10-man leadership council by shadowy Taliban leader Mullah Omar.
more....

I bet these guys are gonna Bomb the State Dept! :nuke:

[bahrbearian]

1. We just moved them to Iraq

So we could contain them, otherwise we'd have to fight them on the streets of our Cities.

[Nottingham]

2. Oh WOW guys look at this quote from the Article!

"News of the escape comes days after Karzai and the U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad denied reports earlier this week that former Taliban Foreign Minister Mullah Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil had been freed from U.S. custody for facilitating talks with Taliban officials in Kandahar.

A government official in Kandahar, who did not want to be named, said there could have been a connection between Muttawakil and the escape."

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/redir.php?jid=2db9402b118bec9e

So did America let this terrorist go???????????????OMG!!!
WHAT THE HELL!!!

:wtf:

[bahrbearian]

5. Wouldn't be the first time we let one go... Osama

[ConcernedCanuk]

3. Related thread on DU

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=161844

[davhill]

4. Don't worry

The "escape" was likely faked and the "escapees" probably Taliban who have been turned. The CIA has to infiltrate that bunch somehow and this seems the most likely way.

[Nottingham]

6. Wait aminute! How can ya be sure of that! Cheney let them Go!

He needs a terrorist bombing so his Polls go up!

:bounce:

[diamond14]

7. also in Sunday's WP....'very serious incident'......

40 Taliban Inmates Flee Afghan Prison
Escapees Tunnel to Freedom; Five Officials at Site Are Also Reported Missing

Associated Press. WP
Sunday, October 12, 2003; Page A25


The prisoners were among 54 arrested in recent months during fighting between Afghan government forces and insurgents. Kandahar was the stronghold of the Taliban, the hard-line Islamic movement that controlled most of Afghanistan until it was ousted by a U.S.-led military operation in late 2001.

"This is a very serious incident," Pashtoon said, adding that a search for the prisoners was underway throughout the province.

Two government officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said five prison officials were also missing. Pashtoon said the role the five might have played in the escape was being investigated.

"The Taliban dug a 30-foot tunnel, and initial investigations indicate that they were working on it for the past month," Pashtoon said.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13543-2003Oct11.html