Taliban cmdr. may have targeted Canadian troops:

[Praxius]

CTV.ca | Taliban cmdr. may have targeted Canadian troops

A senior Taliban leader thought responsible for several roadside bombings may have deliberately targeted Canadian soldiers, an exclusive interview with CTV News has revealed. Mullah Abdullah, nicknamed Qhushnai or "Shorty" because of his four-foot-six frame, is currently detained by Afghanistan's secretive spy agency. Officials say he was a medium level Taliban commander for the past year in the Zhari district. That area includes Pashmul, where the Canadian Forces patrols and at least 10 soldiers have died under his watch. Abdullah said he told his men to kill Americans any way they could, suggesting they use improvised explosive devices (IEDs). When asked whether Abdullah knew the difference between American and Canadian convoys, he said he did not. But an Afghan secret service agent contradicted him during the interview, calling him a liar and demanding he admit to deliberately burying bombs to attack Canadians. Abdullah then replied: "It doesn't matter if it's Canada or America. We target all of them because they are here; they help each other against the Taliban." He also said he thought American troops are doing all the killing. And with a laugh, he added that while Canada has done some good things in the country, they should leave. The agent who interrupted the interview stayed behind camera, wishing to remain anonymous. A 2005 New York Times article described one fight between a contingent of Taliban fighters, led by Abdullah, and American troops. Abdullah's entire fighting unit of 14 men were killed and he barely escaped with his life, according to an informant. But as word of the battle spread, dozens of additional fighters joined Abdullah, until he had a renewed force of 40 men. Taliban militants have already found a replacement for Abdullah, and he said his capture will not affect their influence. "No, we will never lose our power," he said. Abdullah has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. But Canadian soldiers who watched their friends die on a road he controlled say that punishment is far too light.

In the interview I watched of this last night on CTV NewsNet, He claimed that the men blowing themselves up as suicide bombers in paticular, are not Taliban, nor are they Taliban tatics. He claimed they were US blowing up civilians for propaganda purposes. He claims responsibility for IED's on the roads that target the military, but not the civilians.

The way he said it and his expression sounded like he wanted to say it, because he felt it was the truth, but he knew nobody would believe him, so he laughed a bit as he said it as if it was kinda pointless to mention....

Although he is classified as the enemy, what if there's truth to some of his words?

And the quote is a bit off from last night, which when he commented on Canada's involvement, he said "Yes, Canada is doing some good things for Afghanistan.... now they should leave." ~ As if before we wear out our welcome of something, lol.

At least he was polite about it.

[Sugar]

Shorty is another creep which must be hounded out and shot as were the pack of cards in Iraq. There fanatics are out and out bend upon destroying the world peace at any cost.

[medi]

Yes he deserves what the pack of cards of Iraq got. and soon his mentor A B L will get.

[deepk]

This person is an absolute monster. He sould be hounded like Saddam Hussien and publicly hanged for his deeds

[Praxius]

Jeez... With comments like that, I'd hate to be on the recieving end if captured by them.... He just confessed to being in charge of taking out enemy heavy armor so his own troops wouldn't get their asses served to them on a plate.... I imagine they would be similar tactics that we would use in their position.

He didn't claim any of the suicide attacks, but if he did, then I would see a warrent for calling him evil, etc.... but as far as it sounds to me, he's just a comanding soldier who was responsible for a certain battle tactic used against us.

[Sugar]

Quote by: Praxius Jeez... With comments like that, I'd hate to be on the receiving end if captured by them.... He just confessed to being in charge of taking out enemy heavy armor so his own troops wouldn't get their asses served to them on a plate.... I imagine they would be similar tactics that we would use in their position. He didn't claim any of the suicide attacks, but if he did, then I would see a warrant for calling him evil, etc.... but as far as it sounds to me, he's just a commanding soldier who was responsible for a certain battle tactic used against us.

Well then every Nazi soldier was also not evil by virtue of your arguments. They were simply following their bosses orders. Do you want to justify the deeds of the talibans by terming them as obedient soldiers?

[Praxius]

Quote by: Sugar Well then every Nazi soldier was also not evil by virtue of your arguments. They were simply following their bosses orders. Do you want to justify the deeds of the talibans by terming them as obedient soldiers?

There were plenty of Nazi Soldiers who didn't take part in all the war crimes that were reported..... I wouldn't say they overwelm the guilty by any standards, but not all were evil, just as not all the people in the US are evil.

Oh and you took my argument incorrectly... I didn't say all were not evil, and I didn't say all the Nazis were angels..... read the words and they come together to form a sentance.... jeez.

Maybe, just maybe there are soldiers who just do their jobs..... I don't attribute your whole military as ruthless and evil based on a few of them raping, murdering and torturing Iraqi civilians, do I?

Well that's what you're doing towards "The Enemy" ~ Believe it or not, but most of the evil ones in the Taliban and the sort, are the head leaders, the ones we're all looking for... they recruit many who have little education, they then feed them their propaganda, teach them that if they sacrafice themselves for Islam they will have great rewards, etc etc..... they never go out and do these attacks, they make other's do them, for food and money..... that's the key thing in Afghanistan right now.... the people don't care for polotics, they need food, water, homes, and money to start off their lives.... they will turn to whoever can give them these things... in the last while, it was the taliban who was giving these things, but they were not giving them education.... that's one of the big differences between Iraq and Afghanistan..... it's not a religious civil war, it's about basic survival and who can give it to the people.

This is why there is a big deal about reconstruction there.....

This man has probably been in the Taliban for many years now, and the Taliban work just like your military or our military.... they have departments for recon, sabotage, infantry, etc...... the only thing that's different is their tactics.... and their tactics are different from ours, because we have LAV's, Lepoard Tanks, Artillary, Aircraft.... They have adapted to survive, much like any of us would if they had the big guns and we didn't..... much like the United States had to adapt their tactics when fighting the revolutionary war against the British.

The moment you start to understand your enemy and who they are, the quicker you can learn to find a solution to the conflict, be that peacefully or by force.

[nmspl]

This man has probably been in the Taliban for many years now, and the Taliban work just like your military or our military.... they have departments for recon, sabotage, infantry, etc...... the only thing that's different is their tactics.... and their tactics are different from ours, because we have LAV's, Lepoard Tanks, Artillary, Aircraft.... They have adapted to survive, much like any of us would if they had the big guns and we didn't..... much like the United States had to adapt their tactics when fighting the revolutionary war against the British.

I agree with your point of view that after being in taliban for years they have adapted to survive. And in the modern world it is the survival of the fittest which sees you through the worst of your times.

[Praxius]

Agreed.....

If these guys were going out and claiming the attacks on the civilians and such, blowing them up with suicide bombers, etc... that I imagine I would have a similar feel towards the guy....

.... but he didn't claim any responsibility of any attacks on civilians.... just on military personel and operations, which sounds strictly military/statigic to me, not terrorist.

He claimed the suicide bombings are not their tactics, just the IED's.... he said no Taliban has started any suicide bombings.... He claimed the Suicide Bombers are actually US Backed to add more hatred towards the Taliban (Which really isn't needed in the first place, lol.)

I will see if I can find the full interview, because what he says is very..... I don't know..... "Genuine?" perhaps...... it didn't sound like the typical propaganda you hear.... esspecially how he said it.

Actually click on the link in post #1 and click on the video feed, located in the bottom right of the page (Video) "CTV News: Lisa LaFlamme on a Taliban plot 2:03"

[Sugar]

interrogation of an captured Taliban is going to lead us nowhere. he will always speak what is convenient for hi to speak and please the interrogators.

[shawmutt]

Well then every Nazi soldier was also not evil by virtue of your arguments.

Should we gather up every living WWII Nazi vet and execute them?

[shawmutt]

Sorry about the double post, I ran out of edit time.

Why is it that when there is collateral damage in Iraq and Afghanistan, people use cute quotes like "war is hell," yet when faced with an enemy warrior he's a demon?

[Praxius]

Yeah I noticed that rythem too.....

Killed forign civilian
"Well he had it coming if he was there.... he just collateral."

Killed US aid worker or civilian
"Those evil bastards, we'll hunt them down and kill them, their families, their goats, and their mothers!!!!"

"er.... their mother's are part of that family equation."

"Quiet You! Release the Hounds!!"

Sure doesn't paint a pretty picture.

[medi]

How do you think taliban operate? They are a bunch of butchers ready to kill anything that moves. So no question of believing a talibal commander.

[Derach]

This isn't shocking or suprising in the least ... well, unless you consider the fact that he didn't go on a 20 minute rant about the courage of the 6 'warrior brothers' that tried to attack Ft Dix, or go on about the impending rivers of american/canadian/any infidel blood that would soon flow in the streets of all major western cities ... blah blah blah being 'shocking' ... because that's what I would have expected.

The guy admits to being at war with whatever troops are trying to kill him and his 'friends' ... I don't blame him. He admits he doesn't know the difference between US and Canadian forces ... I would say that's a moot point ... he's trying to kill 'infidels' ... which are both (in his mind). I guess he denies that he is directly involved in IED bombings or 'booby trap' type attacks ... I don't know that I believe him. That is the tactic that this 'enemy' is using primarily and most effectively against any force they see as 'western', or pro-US, or pro-UN ... or their allies ... so Canadian troops certainly fall within this category. The allegation about Americans setting up the suicide bombing videos as propeganda is more like what I would have expected it, but on a much larger scale. Anyway, I think he should be turned over to the military and treated as an enemy combatant. Seems obvious.

[Praxius]

Quote by: medi How do you think taliban operate? They are a bunch of butchers ready to kill anything that moves. So no question of believing a talibal commander.

Yeah I could say the same about US Marines, but I won't.

[Derach]

ooh Praxius ... you could say whatever you want about Marines ...

but you'd be wrong if you called them butchers or tried in any way to compare their battlefield ethics with that of the Taliban or Al Qaeda.

and I'd be REAL careful about saying it directly, in person, to an actual Marine.

[shawmutt]

What's your point? I'd be real careful about saying it, in person, to an actual Al Qaeda or Taliban.

[Derach]

Shawmutt - i don't know about you, but in my day to day life, if I run into an admitted Al Qaeda or Taliban member, he would most likely either be in custody, or something's gone horribly wrong and my life is in eminent danger. So I'd really have no reason NOT to call out how I feel about them. On the other hand, my kid plays lacrosse with several Marines (and I work with a former Marine every day) ... so if I in fact felt they were butchers, etc. I would stand more of a chance of regretting actually telling them that than if I did it to the Al Queda or Taliban.

It's easy to be a tuff guy behind a comp screen ...

[Praxius]

Quote by: Derach ooh Praxius ... you could say whatever you want about Marines ... but you'd be wrong if you called them butchers or tried in any way to compare their battlefield ethics with that of the Taliban or Al Qaeda.

Oh really? How about all the masacares that occured in Veitnam towards villages and the sort, from Marines? How about the incidences that are still occuring in Iraq? How about those Marines who detain suspected Al'Queda (sp) (Suspected, not Proven) and treat them like shit? How about all the Civilian Casualties that seem to be occuring in Afghanistan?

Kinda sucks when you got a select few tainting the name of the collective, doesn't it? That's what I was getting at.

and I'd be REAL careful about saying it directly, in person, to an actual Marine.

Yeah why? Because they'll kick my ass? They'll shoot me? Butcher me? That'd at least prove me right, now wouldn't it? Same thing can be said about calling all Taliban and the sort Butchers.... say it to their face and see what happens...... I was expressing the hypocracy that seems to rot this place often, and how foolish the mentality is.