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| Afghanistan |
| ''I dunno. I reached for the ring, then — BOOM!'' |
| 2003-01-03 |
| In another development, an American radio station, broadcasting in Pashtun language, said Thursday that seven people were killed and twenty others wounded when a hand grenade exploded during a marriage ceremony in Pakita on Wednesday, January 1. The bomb exploded when an Afghan young man mistakenly dropped the bomb, said the broadcast. "Goddammit, Mahmoud! I told you: the ring in the left pocket, the grenade in the right! But do you listen? NO! You never listen!" FOLLOWUP: And here's some more on that. Don't drink any coffee while reading... Five people were killed and six wounded when guests at an Afghan wedding party fired a rocket propelled grenade into the air, only to have it land nearby and explode, an official said Wednesday. Rule number one: When "One of the grenades landed back on the ground near the wedding party, but it hadn't gone off," said Abdul Matin Hasankhiel, a senior military commander in the area. "A commander attending the wedding went to see why it didn't explode. When he touched it, it went off." Rule number two: If you do, and the grenade doesn't explode right away, don't ask it why... The blast occurred Friday in Gardez province, about 77 miles south of Kabul, but the casualties were not reported for several days. Even the Pashtuns were embarrassed about it. It was reported by a guy with a bucket over his head... Hasankhiel said revelers fired assault rifles and seven rocket-propelled grenades to celebrate the wedding. Guns are often fired into the air to celebrate marriages in Afghanistan, but that tradition does not often include firing heavier munitions, such as grenades or rockets. Rocket-propelled grenades are normally designed to explode on impact. The grenade in the Friday accident may have been defective. Doesn't sound like it was, though... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #6 Tears streaming down my face. Unbelievable...and thanks for the warning Fred, I had a gobfull of wine before reading the second part. |
| Posted by: Tony 2003-01-03 15:19:58 |
| #5 According to "The Etiquette Guide to Afghan Weddings", this is considered a major faux pas. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-01-03 10:57:04 |
| #4 My keyboard thanks you for the warning, Fred. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-01-03 10:56:21 |
| #3 A definite Darwin Award Nominee here... |
| Posted by: Raj 2003-01-03 10:46:15 |
| #2 Bus Bunny again: What a bunch of maroons! |
| Posted by: Chuck 2003-01-03 10:24:44 |
| #1 The guy who went and checked out why the grenade didn't explode was a COMMANDER? This begins to explain a lot about the combat effectiveness of the local jihadis. Commander: "Dang, the grenade didn't explode. Hey Achmed, go check it out." Achmed: "Cripes, boss, you always send me to do your scut work. Aren't commanders supposed to lead from the front?" Commander: "Hokay, you gotta point. [walks over] See, there's nothing to ... [BOOM!] |
| Posted by: Steve White 2003-01-03 10:08:12 |