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Afghanistan
US Marines seize Taliban headquarters, IDs, photos
2010-02-20
After a fierce gunfight, U.S. Marines seized a strongly defended compound Friday that appears to have been a Taliban headquarters - complete with photos of fighters posing with their weapons, dozens of Taliban-issued ID cards and graduation diplomas from a training camp in Pakistan.

Insurgents who had been using the field office just south of Marjah's town center abandoned it by the end of the day's fighting, as Marines converged on them from all sides, escalating operations to break resistance in this Taliban stronghold in southern Helmand province.

Marines from Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines fought their way south from the town center Friday after residents told them that several dozen insurgent fighters had regrouped in the area.

Throughout the day, small groups of Taliban marksmen tried to slow the advance with rifle fire as they slowly fell back in face of the Marine assault.

"They know that they are outnumbered ... and that in the end they don't have the firepower to compete with us conventionally," said Capt. Joshua Winfrey of Tulsa, Okla., commander of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines.
Posted by:Fred

#10  Think of them all as a cross between a corporation, organized crime, gangs...

Look for the Service Employees International Union to start a recruiting drive.
Posted by: SteveS   2010-02-20 12:05  

#9  Charlie is in Afganistan?
Posted by: bman   2010-02-20 12:01  

#8  Diplomas? Since when did terrs need diplomas?

Because they aren't actually 'terrs'? Look up the Taliban's origins.

Somebody spent a lot of time setting up an organization geared for both recruiting people outside of the religious-fanatic mode, and self-promoting public relations. Othewr groups are doing so as well. Recall that Al Qaeda established a 'life insurance' compensation program for their members. Hamas hands out payments to surviving family members. Of course they still do the usual intimidation stuff with villagers, etc.

Think of them all as a cross between a corporation, organized crime, gangs, the Tammanys, and the marxist 'liberation' groups we saw in Vietnam and Africa.
Posted by: Pappy   2010-02-20 10:31  

#7  
...official Taliban letterhead stationery...

Uh, yeah!
Posted by: Parabellum   2010-02-20 09:18  

#6  Would a nicely worded letter of recommendation from Professor Bill Ayers get me in that terrorist graduate school?
Posted by: JDB   2010-02-20 05:45  

#5  #5 WTW!? Graduation diplomas? Grades too I suppose, so they can apply to the Ivy's. Interest free, public service/no payback loans from POTUS for post graduate degree programs, courtesy ...........

In keeping with the high standards of White House privacy and ethics, no public disclosure of actual classes taken or grades please.
Posted by: Besoeker   2010-02-20 05:32  

#4  WTW!? Graduation diplomas? Grades too I suppose, so they can apply to the Ivy's. Interest free, public service/no payback loans from POTUS for post graduate degree programs, courtesy ...........

12 to 1 ratio? Unacceptable. Get those afghans on their feet, on point, reverse those figures - NOW! Fix that.
Posted by: Last Breath Farm Resident   2010-02-20 05:18  

#3  "Geeze, what an ugly brute!"
"Don't talk that way about my dog!"
"I was talking to the dog..."
Posted by: mojo   2010-02-20 04:40  

#2  Diplomas? Since when did terrs need diplomas? What's next? Permanent privileges at the Arab Afghan Fiends Exchange Service? Butt stickers for camels?
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2010-02-20 02:38  

#1  Mods, another cleanup on Aisle 1 over here, too!
Posted by: gorb   2010-02-20 02:29  

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