Under Attack: Taliban Launches Rockets on U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan
- Posted on September 13, 2011 at 8:02am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Taliban insurgents launched a coordinated attack Tuesday on the U.S. Embassy and NATO headquarters in the heart of the Afghan capital on Tuesday, firing rocket-propelled grenades and assault rifles.
An embassy spokeswoman said no staff were reported wounded, but officials said at least one Afghan police officer and two insurgents had been killed as gunfire and explosions resounded across the city well into the afternoon.
The surge of violence was a stark reminder of the instability that continues to plague Afghanistan nearly a decade after the U.S. invasion that ousted the Taliban in the wake of the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the United States.
It was the third major attack in Kabul since late June, casting fresh doubts on the ability of Afghans to secure their own country as the U.S. and other foreign troops prepare to withdraw by the end of 2014.
Plumes of smoke rose from the area near the embassy and U.S. Army helicopters buzzed overhead.
The gunmen were firing from a tall office building that is under construction at Abdul Haq square, which is about 300 yards (meters) from the U.S. Embassy. Police said the attack began when about half a dozen insurgents took over the building and opened fire.
“The gunbattle is continuing,” Interior Ministry spokesman Sadiq Sadiqi said.
The American Embassy is on the edge of the Wazir Akbar Khan area, which is home to a number of other foreign missions.
U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Kerri Hannan said that staff had been ordered to take cover in hardened structures.
She later issued a statement confirming an attack by gunmen firing rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire.
“We can confirm there are no casualties at this time among embassy personnel,” she said.
At least one rocket landed on a building housing privately owned Tolo TV and another near a minivan carrying school children. Associated Press reporters at the scene saw at least four wounded Afghans near Abdul Haq square.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said a number of suicide bombers were attacking Afghan and foreign soldiers at Abdul Haq square. He claimed in a text message sent to reporters that suicide bombers using assault rifles also were attacking the offices of the Afghan intelligence service.
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Comments (35)
MUDFLAPS
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 6:11pmoh dont worry, they are just ovamits friends just having a little fun!!! come on now…
Report Post »Bernard
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 5:37pmTo quote the headlines: “Under Attack: Taliban Launches Rockets on U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan”. I wonder if President Obama would demand that the Taliban also follow the “seven rules of engagement” and the “zero collateral damage” after this act, without being laughed out of that meeting?
Report Post »This attack by the Taliban exemplifies the lop sided difference of warfare between our soldiers who are strapped by liberal laws in the midst of a war to that of the Taliban who thinks the Geneva conference was just a “tea party” and it’s rules are only meant for the infidels. The Taliban is fighting the way all wars are fought with the saying “There are NO RULES WHEN IT COMES TO LOVE OR WAR” Their insurgents will use any method to win the war while ours have to tip toe through laws formed by those who have never seen or been in a war.
That is why we are losing the war in Afghanistan. Not because the Taliban is stronger but because our military is forced into methods emanating from our Government, that are absurd and deadly in a battle field
kathleenlee
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 2:52pmObuma changed the rules of engagement…taliban think they can get away with anything…I tell you this, that if I was still in the Corps and stationed there my gun would be loaded at all times with real bullets, and I wouldn’t think twice about killing one of these basta–s…Obuma needs to be impeached…and generals need to run the war, not stinkin politicians who never served and actually hate America…like ovomit!!!
Report Post »zoro51
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 12:26pmand the MUSLUM loving SOCIALIST wont do a thing.. why cause HE dont want to OFFEND his MUSLUM BROTHERS FUC& THAT SHI* they ALL muslums are in a CULT of HATE they KILL for NO reason save that they KILL.. thier prophet is FALSE thier god IS FALSE I say EXTERMINATE them ALL rid the world of this crap enough IS enough
Report Post »islandlady
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 12:15pmIf O comes out a hero somehow in all this I couldn’t help from feeling it was staged for political gain.
Report Post »YesNdeedie
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 11:57amHaven ‘t seen Ozero on the golf course lately, he must be practicing his bow.
Report Post »TH30PH1LUS
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 11:56amROSE-ELLEN,
quick, grab your “martyr-gear” – your friends have started another party without you!
Report Post »wampanoag
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 11:24amWhere is Dubaya when we need him. He would take the whole bunch out with one stroke. O Bush how we miss you)) lol [/sarcasm off]
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 11:23amAre they reaching for their own Tet offensive?
Report Post »Junter
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 11:14amGet Americans out of Afghanistan and stop doing business with the country.
Report Post »Gypsy123
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 10:54amAlright we need to either get all those people plus soldiers out of there or kick some serious rear end.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 10:59amIt would appear that after 10 years we are incapable of doing either. But certainly some defense contractors have done well and some still maintain we are actually doing something about terrorism.
Report Post »mikenleeds
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 10:53amdoes the Taliban really even matter anymore ?
they are so desperate to keep there selfs in the headlines
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 10:34amThis was obviously just another “lone wolf” attack – “islamics” are not terrorists…
Our President says so, so it must be true.
ALL EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY…
Report Post »No Free Beer
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 10:33amRon Paul is right!
Report Post »No Free Beer
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 10:32amAccording to Rick Santorum and other NeoCons, they are attacking us because you freedoms. Don’t you all see? Look what this article is saying, this just proves Ron Paul’s point that much more. We need to stop being the policemen of the world!!! This is what happens when you do!
Report Post »BigFoot
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 10:14amWe need to get out of there…..totally. Same with Iraq.
These fools have been throwing rocks at eachother for thousands of years and will continue to do so for another thousand. We have wasted thousands of US live and hundreds of billions of dollars on a bunch of spineless, hate filled pukes that would rather kill us than eat. They have been under tribal rule forever and will remain that way. The have no concept of Democracy. They don’t even have a word for it.
We don‘t have the political will to win and the citizens don’t have the will to stand up and fight for themselves. So we need to get out.
You can’t win a war by being PC. Been there. Done that. Have the scars from the bullet holes to prove it.
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 11:14amWe either fight them over there, or we fight them here! Take your pick–they are coming!
Report Post »Tickdog
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:59amNuke the whole site from orbit.. its the only way to be sure…
Report Post »American Soldier (Separated)
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 12:12pmI have to ask, are you a Christian?
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 1:41pmYeah, they can bill me!
Report Post »rangerp
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:40amRemember – Iraq was the wrong war at the wrong time, Afghanistan was the right war at the right time.
Spoken by a wet behind the ears junior senator with no foreign policy experience, a steady record of voting “present” no business experience, no military experience, his only experience was as a community organizer (that is defined as a socialist recruiter and rabble rouser to most of us), 20 years sitting in the congregation of an anti-American/ anti Isreal black liberation theologist, and he declared his run for the senate seat in the house of a known terrorist.
Sometimes, you get what you pay for. America wanted the get jiggy with it, rock the vote, get a MTV president. Now you get to reap what you sowed. A broken economy, higher gas prices, tripple A credit rating degraded, laughing stock around the world, a middle east that has turned (with Obama support) to the Muslim Brotherhood, soddomites about to start the destruction of our military, socialized medical system, Obama running General Motors, unions out of control, The federal government trying to smack down Arizona because is has taken on the job that Obama refuses to do……
Let us see if America wants to get jiggy again, rock the vote, feel some more white guilt again. I am sure MTV, lady Ga Ga, Madona, and the rest of the ilk from Hollywood will be proud of you.
Report Post »wampanoag
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:40amWe must spend another trilion dollars to liberate Afghanistan, and build another 1000 madrassas, and fifty hopitals there. Lets not forget that we should demand that another 1000 of our bravest men need to die there for their freedom and democracy. Bush said that it was a great war that we must fight, so Bush is always right. Yea team.
Report Post »thx1138v2
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:04amKeep in mind that an embassy of any nation is considered “soveriegn soil,” meaning that it is as much a part of that nation as any building within the country’s physical borders. So this attack must be considered an attack on any building within America, e.g the World Trade Center or your county courthouse or city hall.
It is my assertion that Clinton’s lack of response to the first bombing of the World Trade Center, the attacks on the embassies in Africa, and the attack on the USS Cole (warships are also considered sovereign soil) were a major cause of the 9/11/2001 attacks because the lack of response is seen by the Islamics as weakness which warants not only disdain, but a responsibilty on their part to destroy those showing weakness.
If not punished by swift retribution more attacks will surely follow.
Report Post »Thatsitivehadenough
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:18amBut, let’s not forget to be very, very careful and surgical about our response. We don‘t want to hurt any ’innocents’, now, do we?
Report Post »leftcoastslut
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:02ami know, let’s keep throwing our ideas and money at them and maybe the results will be different this time, NOT! i swear that i heard someone yelling, as they ran through the streets, “Hey, donkey, get your government off my freedoms”.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 8:59amMr Obama has announced the plan is to run away, very quick, with our tail between our legs as a nation and let the Taliban and the terrorists win; most likely so he can blame the armed forces for his failure and try to be made into a universal hero yet again.
Mr Obama the troops have performed a impossible mission, with distinction and honor; give them the complete tools they need to win or bring them all home rapidly.
Report Post »NJTMATO
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 8:22amNo news here…this was to be expected wasn’t it? Better step it up O … they don’t care if they die, waiting to become martyrs at our expense.
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 8:13amThe AFGs know that we are leaving and will turn, take off their uniforms and join the Taliban. It is the only way the know how to fight…they join the gang that is or will be the winning force. Human nature to protect one self first over there…and their Koran has no verses that I have read about laying down your life for another is the greatest sacrifice that one can do.
Report Post »MetalPatriot
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 8:27amNUKE ‘EM! They’d be happy martyrs, peace would fill the region, and I’d be happier without their threat to our nation. Maybe BHO could be there visiting too.
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 8:05amGee, wonder if any of those RPGs came from the firesale in Libya or Egypt?
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 8:08amOr if the assault rifles came from Fast and Furious.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 8:09amProbably, and they probably paid for them with our money.
Report Post »Gary Fishaholic
Posted on September 13, 2011 at 10:16amI think I still smell that Arab spring in the air nope just gun smoke.
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