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| Afghanistan |
| Taliban acquires Iraqi training video |
| 2006-03-15 |
| Taliban fighters in Afghanistan have acquired a training video on urban guerilla warfare produced by an Iraqi militant group. A copy of this video, which is in a CD format, has been obtained by Adnkronos International (AKI). The Taliban has received training from the group known as the Islamic Army of Iraq and have brought the CD back to their bases both in Afghanistan and in the tribal areas between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The video is not for propaganda purposes but strictly for training. Many of the leaders of the Islamic Army of Iraq are believed to be former officials of the Iraqi army under the regime of Saddam Hussein including those from Saddam's elite Republican Guards which may explain why the video shows sophisticated attacks. The Islamic Army in Iraq is a militant group notorious for carrying out abductions in Iraq and was responsible for the kidnapping and death of Italian journalist Enzo Baldoni in 2004. There are ten separate film clips in the video manual. Each segment shows a particular aspect of the training required to carry out deadly attacks. The methods have been employed by Iraqi insurgents against the US-led forces in Iraq and the same strategies are being taught to the Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. The video is divided according to the principles identified to successfully carry out such attacks; developing a complete structure of intelligence, a complete infiltration of the rank and file of the opposing forces, a comprehensive knowledge of the target, precise identification of the material used in carrying out the attacks on specific targets, as well as recruiting dedicated foot soldiers for this type of mission. Based on such a structure, the video shows how the militants monitor the surroundings of an area where a US armoured vehicle is expected to pass. While one team monitors the operation near the target, a car laden with explosives rams into the vehicle and destroys it. The monitoring team, sitting in a small truck nearby, then flees the area. In another clip, the fighters take their positions near an area where a helicopter carrying US soldiers is expected to begin a flight. As soon as the helicopter takes off, the militants hit it with a missile and it comes crashing down. The video then shows many of the passengers burnt alive while one US serviceman manages to escape. The militants on the ground then hunt him down and capture him. The video then shows the US soldier begging for his life, in English, before the militants silently riddle him with bullets. In a third video clip, an explosive is planted at a US base in Talafar in northern Iraq. A blast occurs and the building then collapses. The video shows US soldiers pointing at the site of the blast and in a matter of seconds these soldiers themselves are blown up in a similar explosion. The video aims to show the capacity of insurgents to infiltrate areas where US and coalition forces are operating Iraq. The entire video is accompanied by audio of Koranic verses are being recited and Jihadi songs whose lyrics include: "We will defend our land with full vigour". |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #3 WRT Abu Graib (pants on head etc yawn) So why hasn't the press shown how these islamist vermin treat prisoners? It's because they are on the other side. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2006-03-15 13:21 |
| #2 Wouldn't they be far more dangerous and diabolical if they acquired razors and other personal hygeine products? *shudder* Our troops might invite them in for coffee or something. |
| Posted by: Glert Thetch2165 2006-03-15 07:43 |
| #1 "...elite Republican Guards which may explain why the video shows sophisticated attacks...' Given the stellar performance of these elite RG against Iran, against the GWI coalition, and against the current coalition, perhaps their techniques for 'sophisticated' attacks should be spread more widely. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2006-03-15 07:32 |