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Afghanistan
Withdrawal from Musa Qala: Taliban reject talks offer
2007-02-10
Taliban rebels who captured a southern Afghan town a week ago were fortifying their positions after rejecting talks, a tribal chief said on Friday as officials played down the situation.
Does that mean we can kill them now?
A tribal elder involved in talks to persuade the insurgents to leave, after warnings they could face more ISAF action, said they had “suddenly” refused further negotiations. They had said that “our leaders have told us to resist,” said the elder who spoke by phone from Musa Qala.
The elderly man said there were around 300 Taliban fighters in the town and they had started digging trenches and laying mines to respond to any potential military action by coalition forces.
“At the beginning the Taliban had accepted to talk to authorities through tribal elders,” the chief said. “But suddenly they said they don’t want to talk any more.”

The elderly man said there were around 300 Taliban fighters in the town and they had started digging trenches and laying mines to respond to any potential military action by coalition forces. Authorities would not confirm the elder’s information. “At this point, things are the same as they were,” said Nabi Jan Mullahkhail, police chief for Helmand province in which Musa Qala sits. “The government has got its own programmes and we’re working on it.” He would not give details. ISAF would not comment.

A resident said civilians were still leaving, fearing government attacks. ISAF said around 200 people had left but a Helmand refugee official said up to 1,500 families had gone. “Many people have left. There are people still leaving the town,” the resident said.
Posted by:Fred

#8  I'd feel better if we built a church and synagogue, and exported a couple "Diversity/HR Experts™" to them (as bait)
Posted by: Frank G   2007-02-10 18:52  

#7  #6 OP: "We can do a complete rebuild of the town afterwards, with running water and a sewer system, electricity, and a new mosque arms depot."

There - fixed that for ya'. ;-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2007-02-10 18:11  

#6  An ARCLIGHT strike is an excellent idea. Give these idiots an idea of what the term "overwhelming firepower" means. Just make sure there's a blocking force between Musa Qala and the Pak border before you go in, and make sure they have very good ear protection and are at least 10 miles away from the town - in all directions. Hopefully the "civilians" have all left by now. Do it right - make it a 12-ship formation, in cells of three. Load them with everything, including the kitchen sink. Do the drop at 2AM, so the entire border is awakened by the sound. We can do a complete rebuild of the town afterwards, with running water and a sewer system, electricity, and a new mosque. What's not to like?
Posted by: Old Patriot   2007-02-10 17:35  

#5  those aren't socks - he has hairy feet
Posted by: Frank G   2007-02-10 10:50  

#4  They had said that “our leaders have told us to resist,” said the elder who spoke by phone from Musa Qala.

I take that to mean that the "leaders" are nowhere near Musa Qala. Probably at the Quetta Hilton watching the goat porn marathon...
Posted by: tu3031   2007-02-10 08:06  

#3  You can tell that guy at the front of the photo is the leader. HE is wearing socks!
Posted by: Free Radical   2007-02-10 03:58  

#2  The elderly man said there were around 300 Taliban fighters in the town and they had started digging trenches their own graves
Posted by: Frank G   2007-02-10 00:39  

#1  Why bother fighting 'em? Just Arclight the area and count left ears afterwards.
Posted by: PBMcL   2007-02-10 00:32  

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