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| Afghanistan |
| Troops kill 34 Taliban in major Afghan operation |
| 2009-05-22 |
| Troops killed 34 Taliban and seized 15 tonnes of drugs during an ongoing operation in southern Afghanistan's insurgent stronghold of Helmand, the US military said on Thursday. The joint Afghan and international action started on Tuesday in Marja, about 40 kilometres from the provincial capital Lashkar Gah, the force said in an update released to media. "A total of 34 Taliban have been killed," the statement said. "The most recent enemy deaths were caused by a series of precision air strikes during heavy fighting in the area." The Afghan army had announced 25 deaths on Wednesday. The latest battle started when troops began to secure an area called Loy Cherah Bazaar, which the statement said was a Taliban stronghold and drugs-processing hub. They found at the bazaar two "war rooms" stocked with maps, communication equipment, Russian-made night vision goggles, US military vehicle parts and weapons, the statement said. The troops in the Marja operation had uncovered 15,000 kg of high-grade narcotics, "a massive supply" of products used to make heroin, 40 tonnes of explosive materials and drugs packed into drums for use in suicide car bombs, the statement said. "The Afghan commandos have dealt a significant blow to the insurgents," said US military spokesman Colonel Greg Julian, adding routing a main command centre and uncovering the massive supply of drugs "hit them where it hurts the most". |
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| #10 Ether is used to make freebase cocaine, probably the most addictive substance on earth. Ether is dangerous by itself, but mix with cokeheads and you get Flambe ala Richard (Pryor). |
| Posted by: ed 2009-05-22 19:22 |
| #9 I remember a bit more, this comes from my Drag Racing days, I tried to buy ether to add as a fuel aditive and found it was hevily regulated. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2009-05-22 18:19 |
| #8 Would heroin be distilled from opium the same way, Redneck Jim? Sorry memory is incomplete, I just remember the use of ether gave law enforcement an edge, either the ether exploded, or was easily traced when bought in bulk. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2009-05-22 18:16 |
| #7 like the exploding silos in the midwest |
| Posted by: Frank G 2009-05-22 17:28 |
| #6 Powdered milk is explosive if one has the right fuel-air mixture. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2009-05-22 16:32 |
| #5 Would heroin be distilled from opium the same way, Redneck Jim? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2009-05-22 16:14 |
| #4 In the wee back corner of my mind I recall that Cocaine Itself is explosive. Something about the way it's distilled using ether. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2009-05-22 14:22 |
| #3 No doubt they had stocked a large number of the drums, funky skunk, but temporarily needed some to keep the drugs from being contaminated by the explosives... or vice versa. Besides, there aren't many who'd interfere with a drugs delivery if they thought it actually was a vehicle borne improvised explosive device. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2009-05-22 11:43 |
| #2 The devout can't get to Jannah unless they're high as a kite. Sez so in the koran. |
| Posted by: ed 2009-05-22 11:36 |
| #1 15 tons is gonna put a dent in someones pocket, and is that a misprint when it said they drugs packed into drums for use in suicide car bombings? |
| Posted by: funky skunk 2009-05-22 10:44 |