More dead in Afghanistan

[Bragi]

Why does last week's much-touted big victory by the coalition over Taliban fighters look more like a successful tactical withdrawal by the Taliban from fixed positions so they could escape US air bombardment, and live to fight another day?

It certainly looks that way from here, what with the Taliban having melted into the countryside, and now resuming their suicide bombings and their usual guerilla tactics.

And so it goes, on and on.

Canadian troops will no doubt continue to die until we abandon the arrogant neocon conceit embraced by our government (and our generals, who were so keen on sending their charges into a real shooting war) that we can use military force to change Afghanistan.

Quite sad.

- B

[CHIMO]

1. Four Canadians dead in Afghan suicide

KANDAHAR — A suicide bomber on a bicycle attacked Canadian troops handing out candy to children in southern Afghanistan on Monday, killing four and wounding many others, NATO officials said. The Taliban said it was behind the blast.

The attack in Kandahar province's Panjwai district came a day after NATO declared an end to a two-week offensive aimed at driving Taliban militants out of safe havens in the same area. More than 500 insurgents were reported killed in the Canadian-led operation, which NATO described as a success despite continuing violence in the south.

Major Luke Knittig, a NATO spokesman, said the blast killed four NATO soldiers and “wounded a number of others, including civilians.” Major Knittig refused to give the nationalities or identities of the slain soldiers.

NATO also issued a statement saying “multiple” casualties had been inflicted and that the victims were rushed to a military hospital.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060918.wafghan0918/BNStory/International/home

[Spazito]

2. NATO has taken to lying just like the bush cabal

Claiming success while none exists, soldiers and civilians still dying. I am SO sick of the lies.

[daleo]

3. Taliban shouldn't be hitting children in attacks on western troops

But Canadian soldiers shouldn't be endangering local children by handing out candy either.

[MrPrax]

4. One...Two...Three...

What are we fighting for...don't give a damn...next stop...afghanistan

Let Them Drink Coke!

"...On September 10 President Hamid Karzai opened a 25 million-dollar Coca-Cola bottling plant in Kabul.

The charity Christian Aid reported last week that "Most of the water has dried up in the provinces of Herat, Badghis and Ghor, and the wheat harvest is down by 90% to 100% in parts of Faryab province." But why worry? ---- Send for Coca Cola to use up even more water. A press report said that "Karzai praised the plant's developer, Habibullah Gulzar, for investing US $25 million to build the facility, which has provided 350 jobs and can annually produce 15 million 24-bottle cases <360 million bottles> of the soft drink."

The millionaire developer lives in Dubai, while in Kandahar :

"entire communities are malnourished, with no clean water, food, nor medical care of any kind."

CP -- you think that's ridiculous, you should read about the toll highway!

:eyes:

[daleo]

5. Evacuating 10 soldiers to Germany, for treatment

"Plans are being made to medevac 10 Canadian soldiers who were injured in today's suicide attack to Landsthul, Germany, for further medical treatment," a National Defence release said. "Pending medical assessments, several other soldiers may also be sent to Germany. None of the soldiers have life-threatening injuries."

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/09/18/bombing-canadians.html

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Those injuries may not be life threatening, but they must be severe.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

"In the opening session of the House of Commons today, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the soldiers were handing out candy to children when the bomb exploded."

----------------------------------------------------------
Given what we know from Iraq, this is a reckless practice.
----------------------------------------------------------

[Bragi]

6. You wrote:

----------------------------------------------------------
Given what we know from Iraq, this is a reckless practice.
----------------------------------------------------------

Absolutely true!

- B