You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Afghanistan
Taliban paying Afghans to attack troops: US
2003-08-07
Taliban militants are threatening and paying local Afghans to carry out attacks against US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan, a US military spokesman said on Wednesday as troops came under renewed rocket attack. “Afghan civilians have told coalition forces that they have been ‘approached’ by Taliban to launch rockets at coalition targets in exchange for money,” Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Lefforge told reporters at the Bagram Airbase. Some 20 months after the fall of the Taliban, remnants of the militia still launch regular attacks on US-led troops, mostly using 107-mm rockets which are inaccurate and seldom hit their targets.
Sometimes falling in the wrong county...
Lt Col Lefforge attributed the inaccuracy to lack of experience by those firing the rockets and payments or threats by the Taliban to locals. “We have interviewed people who either know somebody who has been paid or they have actually been paid (to fire rockets) and have promised they never do it again,” he said.
"Well, y'see, they gimme this money, so I just popped one off. I mean, it ain't like I was gonna hit anything, 'cept by accident. I only got the one eye, and my turban keeps falling down over it..."
Posted by:Fred Pruitt

#12  Muslems are not obligated to uphold a promise given to a Kafir,in otherwords thier promise don't mean squat.
Posted by: raptor   2003-8-7 6:12:15 PM  

#11   “We have interviewed people who either know somebody who has been paid or they have actually been paid (to fire rockets) and have promised they never do it again,”

Said promise being made after we inform them that our troops are not only paid to kill people who do that, but also they feel compelled to do so in the interest of the advancement of the species.
Posted by: Hodadenon   2003-8-7 5:09:28 PM  

#10   mostly using 107-mm rockets which are inaccurate and seldom hit their targets.

The VietCong used these useless toothpicks, too. I remember one attack against Tan Son Nhut AB when I was stationed there - the VC fired eleven rockets. Ten hit open areas, the eleventh took out the 13th green on the local golf course. It was two in the morning, so I doubt anyone was playing a round...

Anon1--another keyboard--gone--coffee and electricity don't mix LOL

I'm surprised there are any Rantburgers left who haven't gone to the plastic covers for keyboards. Keeps the problem of a failed coffee alert from reaching catastrophic proportions.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2003-8-7 1:25:16 PM  

#9  NMM: Taliban are to Moslems what the snake handlers are to Christianity

It is gratifying to see that Muslims are smart enough to understand the benefit of temporary deals with infidels. The alternative would be much more carnage, mostly on the Muslim side. Looks like they don't really love death as we love life, huh?
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2003-8-7 10:34:59 AM  

#8  I would say that is a good indication the Tali's "ain't doin to good".
Posted by: raptor   2003-8-7 6:59:28 AM  

#7  Oh NMM you ole charmer, you ;)
Posted by: Anon1   2003-8-7 4:06:58 AM  

#6  Anon1--another keyboard--gone--coffee and electricity don't mix LOL
Posted by: Not Mike Moore   2003-8-7 2:56:44 AM  

#5  Lefforge to the bridge: we've got a problem with some natives firing RPGs too close to the warp reactor.

Picard: red alert, all hands to battlestations!
Posted by: Anon1   2003-8-7 1:54:07 AM  

#4  Taliban are to Moslems what the snake handlers are to Christianity
Posted by: Not Mike Moore   2003-8-7 12:56:07 AM  

#3  Or pimps. maybe. Something you wouldn't want to rub up against, anyway.
Posted by: ·com   2003-8-7 12:49:36 AM  

#2  Are the Taliban like the crack whores of the Islamic terrorist movement?
Posted by: tu3031   2003-8-7 12:33:30 AM  

#1  Lt Col Lefforge attributed the inaccuracy to lack of experience by those firing the rockets and payments or threats by the Taliban to locals.

I suspect the inaccuracy has to do with the mentality of "You asked me to fire off a rocket; I did so; now pay me". Unless these contractors are insane, they're not going to risk drawing the ire of our guys by actually hitting them.
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2003-8-7 12:10:24 AM  

00:00