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Afghanistan
Another "set-up" raid in Paktika
2002-03-10
  • Twenty-three people praying for the release of an al-Qaeda supporter were killed in US raids in rural Afghanistan. Holy men had told the Kharoti tribesmen to sacrifice animals at the shrine of a ‘sufi’ to secure the release of Macha Dad, a tribal leader in Landai Doog village of Paktika province. Thirty tribesmen headed for the shrine in two pick-up trucks, one of which was attacked by a warplane. All 15 passengers, 10 of them women and children, and the driver were killed by the bombing. The other pick-up truck was not hit, but later a warplane attacked the shrine, killing another seven people. US commandos then parachuted into the area by helicopter and left after inspecting it.

    Macha Dad, who was known to support al-Qaeda network, was snatched last month by US forces who arrived in helicopters and also seized his satellite telephone and power generator. 'Macha Dad was a very rich man in the area and lots of Arabs and Pakistanis used to visit him and stay with him,' a local elder said. The elder said US forces suspected Macha Dad of providing refuge to al-Qaeda members or possibly Mullah Mohammad Omar.
    Hmmm... Just guessing off the top of my head, I'd say somebody didn't like them. 30 people in two pickups? That kind of raid doesn't happen without some intel to target it, but when you see that kind of load from the air, what does it look like?
    I wish the author would add sources to these articles. The coverage of events in Afghanistan is p-poor in the US media, and I rely (believe or not) on weblogs for significant details like this on the war.
    Posted by Anonymous 3/10/2002 2:40:01 PM
    The bold text is the link to the original article. All of them are sourced.
    Posted by Fred 3/10/2002 2:45:39 PM
    Wait a minute. "Holy men had told the Kharoti tribesmen to sacrifice animals at the shrine of a ‘sufi’". Granted the survival of pre-Islamic practices, this doesn't sound particularly orthodox to me. If Macha Dad had been sprung, would he have thanked them for their prayers before ordering them killed as not worthy of living in the Dar al-Islam?
    Posted by John "Akatsukami" Braue [www.win.net/ratsnest/log.htm] 3/11/2002 12:27:49 AM
    • Posted by:Fred Pruitt

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