| Submit your comments on this article |
| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| COALITION FORCES CAPTURE 11 INSURGENTS |
| 2004-08-18 |
| Aug. 18, 2004 Afghan and Coalition soldiers assisted by U.S. Special Forces captured 11 insurgents, two of which were injured and also recovered a weapons cache two kilometers south of the village of Nangalam today. The troops encountered insurgents at 8:40 a.m. The troops were supported by AH-64 Apache Helicopters and mortar fire. U.S., Afghan and Coalition forces sustained no casualties during the 4.5-hour battle. The coalition and the Afghan government will continue working together to bring security and stability to the region and provide for a free and democratic Afghanistan. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #1 These âinsurgentsâ may well be Al Qaeda, or remnants of the Taliban providing armed escort for drug dealers. The Konar area is one of Afghanistanâs many opium poppy growing regions and Nangalam central to that cultivation effort. Making the âdrug connectionâ even more probable is that Nangalam is home to the U.S. Special Forces Base-Camp Blessing, and the poppy fields are within easy view of the camp. Poppy cultivation would have begun in the late February, early March time frame, with harvesting approximately four months later; hence, the appearance of âinsurgentsâ in the area to escort the product across the border into Pakistan. With its once plentiful funding for terrorism through non-profits and third parties drying up, Al Qaeda, and its ilk are turning to international drug dealing to fill their coffers. And, whereas, prior to 9-11 the Taliban had nearly wiped out poppy cultivation as it was âagainst the teachings of the Koranâ, itâs now business as usual. |
| Posted by: RN 2004-08-18 4:03:17 PM |