You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Afghanistan
Rooters: Taleban find new weapon to attack Nato troops
2006-12-05
KANDAHAR - First came a deafening crash as the suicide bomber drove his vehicle headlong into a Nato convoy.

It was followed almost instantly by a stomach-churning blast that roared through the crowded streets of Kandahar. Then the flames began to erupt. It was followed immediately by prolonged gunfire, screeching of tyres, and the screams of people as we ran for shelter a hundred yards away.

As the sirens began and helicopter-gunships began to circle overhead, there was nothing much left of the suicide bomber amid the smouldering pile of blackened twisted metal which had been his car.

A British Land Rover with its machine guns jaggedly sticking up in the air had been catapulted on to the central reservation. Two other vehicles had lurched to stops and lay abandoned amid pools of blood, pockmarked with bullet holes.

Sunday's attack was aimed at a British Royal Marines convoy returning to Helmand. Three civilians were killed, 18 others were injured as were three of the marines. It took place on the main route to the airport, nicknamed the Baghdad Highway by the locals, in Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taleban, and where their resurgence has led to months of ferocious fighting.
Posted by:.com

#10  TW I've seen the aftermath of the Dizengoff Center attack in 1996 pools of blood is right.
Posted by: gromgoru   2006-12-05 23:40  

#9  Pakland needs to be crushed and left in total ruin. It couldn't be reborn any worse than it is now.

While I agree with you, there's this ticklish little problem with Pakistan's nuclear weapons. I'd like to think that we have the capability of confiscating or securing their arsenal, but do we? Pakistan reborn with those nukes in radical Muslim hands would be a lot worse than it currently is.
Posted by: Zenster   2006-12-05 13:55  

#8  I'm sure Chuck's experiences are the best to draw on here for "pools of blood". The only combat I saw was mostly at "long range" - I.E., at least 50 feet. Most of the time we didn't even see our enemies fall, and only knew of our "success" after we mopped up the battlefield. Hurricanes and tornados, both of which I've had experience with, tend to leave bodies either broken but unpunctured, or simply not there.

My take of this article is that the Taliban are losing, and it scares the bejesus out of Rooters. Can't have the West win! I think the "winter offensive" will be VERY offensive to the taliban, and a Godsend to the US, Brits and Canadians. We need to begin slapping the Pashtuns in the NWFP around a bit harder, and completely flatten Quetta, where all the taliban wounded go for rest and recovery. Screw pakiwakiland. They've proved to be disingenuous, and supportive of the taliban against us. The friends of my enemies are my enemies. Pakland needs to be crushed and left in total ruin. It couldn't be reborn any worse than it is now. Best bet is to give it to India and Afghanistan, and let it disappear from the earth. Screw "sanctity of nations". They're only sacrosanct if they behave themselves. Pakland has NEVER "behaved" itself, and needs to be wiped away.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2006-12-05 13:43  

#7   The "weird Westphalian thing" comes out of the religious wars of the 1500's and 1600's, where about 1/3 of the population of what is now Germany was killed in the fighting and looting. The killing as different factions tried to remake nations along religious lines really made an impression on the European psyche, hence the "sanctity" of national sovereignty, whatever it is, the way it is. The only worse trauma to affect the Euros was the Great War (1914-1945) which seems to have led them to contemplate collective, passive suicide as an alternative to having a future of their active choice.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418   2006-12-05 10:41  

#6  Wife: The adult human has about 5-6 liters of blood in it. As with most liquids, a little looks like a lot. Take a cup of water and spill it onto a mop-friendly surface and look at what you get. Most people will tend to overestimate blood loss because of this.

As for "pools", I guess it's how you define a pool versus a puddle. Puddles of blood do not sound quite so gory.
Posted by: Chuck Simmins   2006-12-05 09:35  

#5  phil_b: Splitting Afghanistan makes sense. The main obstacle is the UN and it's territorial integrity tranzi nonsense.

I am baffled by this weird Westphalian thing where a state's borders are treated as sacrosanct no matter what tinpot dictator is running the place or what European quack drew the line on the map in the first place (regrettably including Churchill as junior quack for his creation of Iraq).
Posted by: Excalibur   2006-12-05 09:06  

#4  Fortune cookie: When you stop identifying the Taliban as your terrorist enemy, don't be surprised when deals you took for granted crumble all around you.
Posted by: Jules   2006-12-05 07:56  

#3  "pools of blood"? Granted, I've never been so much as in a traffic accident with injuries (we just aren't going to discuss fender benders, 'k? I was meant to have a chauffeur, it isn't my fault life has not seen fit to comply!), but pools of blood sounds a bit exaggerated under the circumstances. "Deafening crash" sounds a bit much, as well. I've never heard one of those, although in my experience the moment at which the fender is bent is always heart wrenching.

Perhaps those of you who have actually experienced such things, or police or paramedics, could enlighten me in my ignorance? Just in general terms, if you don't mind -- I'm not at all good with gory details, except in real life emergencies.
Posted by: trailing wife   2006-12-05 07:39  

#2  posing pulitzer pud puller: It was followed almost instantly by a stomach-churning blast that roared through the crowded streets of Kandahar. Then the flames began to erupt. It was followed immediately by prolonged gunfire, screeching of tyres, and the screams of people as we ran for shelter a hundred yards away.


stomach-churning, yep decribes my gut reaction to just about all "journalism".
Posted by: RD   2006-12-05 04:38  

#1  Splitting Afghanistan makes sense. The main obstacle is the UN and it's territorial integrity tranzi nonsense. If the Uzbeks and Tadjiks and the rest can get along then cut the Pashtuns loose. It will stop the nonsense of the Germans and Italians patrolling the North where is no real problem.
Posted by: phil_b   2006-12-05 03:51  

00:00