US, Afghan troops launch fresh hunt for Taliban leader Mullah Omar

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.myafghan.com/news2.asp?id=-2069348070

(AFP) - Taliban spiritual leader Mullah Mohammad Omar may be hiding with 800 Taliban fighters in mountains pounded by US and Afghan forces in a fresh offensive this week, an Afghan military commander was reported saying on Wednesday.

General Garni, military commander of the restive southeast border province Zabul, made the claim in an interview with the private Afghan Islamic Press (AIP).

"Mullah Omar may be hiding in the mountains of Daichopan in Zabul, along with around 800 Taliban," AIP quoted Garni as saying.

Since Monday, allied US and Afghan forces, backed by US military craft, have been raiding bases in Zabul's Daichopan district, some 300 kilometres southwest of Kabul where they believe hundreds of resurgent Taliban have been hiding.

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[MrBenchley]

1. Thought they were looking for him all this time?

By the way, what did he have to do with September 11?

[no one in particular]

2. He was sheltering Bin Laden and the boys.

You know, the guy who morphed into Saddam?

Actually, I agreed with taking out the Taliban. Damn shame we didn't/can't/won't finish the job.

[toopers]

3. I believe attacking a known stronghold

is an attempt to finish the job.

[Wetzelbill]

4. Due to catch him

right around November '04

[htuttle]

5. Feh...

Attacking a known stronghold in Afghanistan is called taking the bait. The Taliban would much rather fight US troops in the mountains than on the plains.

Review the books 'The Bear Went Over the Mountain' and 'The Other Side of the Mountain' about tactics on both sides of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, and then send them to Rumsfeld. He obviously hasn't read them.

[toopers]

6. If memory serves me . . .

this war started in the mountains. Of course, that preceeded the death and destruction of the Taliban as controllers of Afghanistan. I am sure the Taliban are saying, "we got them right where we want them!"

[NickB79]

8. Ha! You think the Taliban is destroyed?

Who do you think still controls 90% of the country? Coalition forces pretty much control the capital city of Kabul and a few other major cities, with Pres. Karzai as a puppet. Outside that, the rest of the country is still controlled by local warlords loyal to the Taliban. If we have destroyed the Taliban, why have 200+ Afghan people been killed in fighting with pro-Taliban forces in the last 2 weeks? Why is Afghanistan producing a record crop of opium poppies this year to flood our streets with cheap, lethal heroin, if the Coalition is in control? Why was a school devoted to teaching women how to read and write burnt to the ground last week (the Taliban forbad women from going to school)? Why is Karzai begging the US for more funding for rebuilding, if he's not worried about the return of the Taliban?

If you think we've defeated the Taliban, you're just lying to yourself.

[markses]

9. We got them right where we want them

I thought that's what the delusional neo-cons (friends of yours?) were saying about the "terr-ists" in Iraq...:eyes:

[BiggJawn]

7. Hah! Mountains! what IMBECILES!

Ohmar's in Kabul, living it up and charging it all to Karzai...