Update: Taliban Kabul Strike Deadliest in Afghan Capital Since War Began
- Posted on October 29, 2011 at 5:59pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
- Print »
- Email »
KABUL, Afghanistan (The Blaze/AP) — Saturday’s Taliban attack on a NATO convoy in Kabul was the deadliest strike in the Afghan capital since the war began. A suicide bomber rammed a van full of explosives into a NATO van, killing a dozen American troops and four Afghans, including two children.
The blast occurred on the same day that a man wearing an Afghan army uniform killed three coalition troops, who were reportedly Australian, in the south.
A Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the bomber had used 1,540 pounds of explosives.
Heavy black smoke poured from the burning wreckage of an armored personnel carrier, known as a Rhino, in Kabul after the bomber struck. The bus had been sandwiched in the middle of a convoy of mine-resistant military vehicles when it was hit along a four-lane highway often used by foreign military trainers in the southwestern part of Kabul.
The landmark Darulaman Palace, the bombed-out seat of former Afghan kings, was the backdrop to the chaotic scene: Shrapnel, twisted pieces of metal and charred human remains littered the street.
U.S. soldiers wept as they pulled bodies from the debris, said Noor Ahmad, a witness at the scene. One coalition soldier was choking inside the burned bus, he said.
“The bottom half of his body was burned,” Ahmad said.
NATO said five of its service members and eight civilian contractors working for the coalition died in the attack.
Forces at the site of the suicide attack in Kabul. (Reuters)
NATO said five of its service members and eight civilian contractors working for the coalition died in the attack.
A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to release the information before a formal announcement, said all 13 were Americans. However, Lt. Col. Christian Lemay, a Canadian defense spokesman, told The Associated Press that one Canadian soldier was among the troops killed. The discrepancy could not immediately be reconciled.
It was the deadliest single attack against the U.S.-led coalition across the country since the Taliban shot down a NATO helicopter on Aug. 6 in an eastern Afghan province, killing 30 U.S. troops, most elite Navy SEALs, and eight Afghans.
A soldier examines a crater in the road caused by the explosion. (Reuters)
The Afghan Ministry of Interior said four Afghans, including two children, also died in Saturday’s attack. Eight other Afghans, including two children, were wounded, said Kabir Amiri, head of Kabul hospitals.
In all, there were three attacks Saturday against NATO and Afghan forces across the country.
A teenage girl also blew herself up as she tried to attack an Afghan intelligence office in the capital of Kunar province, a hotbed of militancy in northeast Afghanistan along the Pakistan border, the coalition said. Abdul Sabor Allayar, deputy provincial police chief, said the guards outside the government’s intelligence office in Asad Abad became suspicious and started shooting, at which point the bomber detonated her explosives, killing herself and wounding several intelligence employees.
Troops carry a casualty away from the explosion site. (Reuters)
Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman Mohammad Zahir Azimi said officials were investigating whether the man who opened fire on a joint NATO-Afghan base in the restive southern Uruzgan province was an actual soldier or a militant in disguise. NATO did not give the nationality of the three service members killed, but the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported that they were Australian.
“It’s a huge loss,” said U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker. “Our deepest sympathies go out to their comrades and families, but it will not deter us from our mission. It’s a shock, but we will not let these guys win.”
U.S. soldiers at the site of a suicide bombing. (AP)
Just a day earlier, the Pentagon issued a progress report saying that the number of enemy-initiated attacks in Afghanistan was trending downward. Since May of this year, the monthly number of these attacks has been lower than the same month in 2010, something not seen since 2007, it said.
However, the Pentagon also noted that the insurgency’s safe havens in Pakistan and the limited capacity of the Afghan government could jeopardize efforts to turn security gains on the battlefield, primarily in the south, into long-term stability in Afghanistan.
Saturday’s attack broke a relative lull in the Afghan capital, which has experienced a number of attacks in recent years that are often blamed on the Haqqani network, an al-Qaida and Taliban-linked movement that operates out of Pakistan.
The most recent attack in Kabul was the Sept. 20 assassination of former Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani by an insurgent who detonated a bomb hidden in his turban. The attacker was posing as a peace emissary coming to meet Rabbani, who was leading a government effort to broker peace with the Taliban.
That occurred about a week after teams of insurgents firing rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons struck at the U.S. Embassy, NATO headquarters and other buildings in the heart of Afghanistan’s capital, leaving seven Afghans dead.
A wounded U.S. soldier is carried away. (Reuters)
On Saturday, NATO and Afghan forces sealed off the blast area as fire trucks and ambulances, sirens blaring, rushed in. Coalition troops carried a badly burned body on a stretcher and several black body bags to two NATO helicopters that landed nearby to airlift casualties from the scene.
The Taliban identified the bomber as Abdul Rahman and said he was driving a Toyota Land Cruiser SUV containing 1,540 pounds (700 kilograms) of explosives and targeting foreigners providing training for Afghan police. The Taliban, who frequently exaggerate casualty claims, said that 25 people were killed by the blast.
A similar attack occurred on the same road in May 2010 when a suicide bomber struck a NATO convoy, killing 18 people. Among the dead were five U.S. soldiers and a Canadian colonel.
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 590 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 415 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 414 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 379 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 375 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 415 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 414 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 379 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 151 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know 100 Comments- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 303 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 415 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (46)
CleanUpAisle2013
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 1:00amBrilliant strategy, Barack!! But if you are determined to pull them all out and abandon Iraq … then pull them all out and then carpet bomb Pakistan and Iran.
Report Post »libertytreas
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 12:10ambrb this **** needs to take a screen shot, i have to pretend like i am working, i’ll be back in a few
Report Post »Logic77
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 11:18pmObamas’ engagement policies are getting our troops killed, blame Obama.
Report Post »Susie
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 9:43pmMy deepest sympathy for the loss of every American life in this horrendous attack.
Just a reminder that we are with you and grieve our losses too. I received this today:
Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada on the death of Master Corporal Byron Garth Greff
October 29, 2011
Ottawa, Ontario
Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued the following statement today on the death of Master Corporal Byron Garth Greff:
“On behalf of Canadians and of the Government of Canada, I would like to offer my most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Byron Garth Greff, who died while serving in Afghanistan.
“Master Corporal Greff paid the ultimate price serving his country. His life and death serves as an example of the bravery and outstanding dedication of Canadian Armed Forces members on this mission.
“Canada and its allies in this UN-sanctioned, NATO-led mission are helping the people of Afghanistan rebuild and redevelop their country after decades of war and turmoil.
“The Government of Canada is particularly proud of the incredible work being performed by our Canadian Armed Forces members in Afghanistan. We are committed to supporting them as they forge ahead towards the international goal of creating a lawful, democratic and self-sufficient Afghanistan.”
Why are we trying to bring self determination to a people who choose to enslave themselves to tyrannical leaders over any chance of freedom.
Report Post »dinadp
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 9:41pmThe Canadian soldier who died was Master Corporal Byron Greff of the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.
Since 2002, 158 Canadian soldiers have died in the war on terror. While this number is nowhere near has high as US troops killed, Canada’s population is 1/10 that of the US, so 158 is a lot for us.
Report Post »phillipwgirard
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 10:23pm1 is too many for all of us
Report Post »RockinChuck
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 9:08pmthis will continue to happen until we stop enforcing a police act and start fighting an unconditional war. Example: World War II
Report Post »TDOM
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 9:04pmIts time for American‘s to realize that these people hate us not just afgany’s but all muslims the moderate muslims wont stand uo to the extremist so they are part of the problem – this politically correct crap isnt working – tthese people want us dead all of us moderate or extremist it doesnt matter we need to realize that we are going to be fighting terror until a miracle happens and its time to start fighting to win , scare , to kick ass – maybe if we stated acting like we have balls maybe they might stop laughing at us – Dont even start me on the Fruit Loops in Iran – We are soft when it comes to defending our selves and when chivalry was a virtue you might be OK – But if we dont poop-can the P.C. b.s. and put our foot on the krazies throat for real and keep it their until they cry uncle and then say did i say uncle i meant auntie ( LOL) seriously the Krazies arent afraid of liberal ideology – If they even comprehend it they laugh – GOD BLESS AMERICA
Report Post »ares338
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 8:52pmIt’s just like Viet Nam, there is no winning this thing. Get the hell out or smoke that place to a burning cinder! We have the best soldiers in the world but when you are up against sub human beings who don’t care if they or their fellow countrymen die, fighting a conventional war doesn’t make sense.
Report Post »rangerp
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 9:05pmKind of funny how when Obama got elected, Code Pink hushed their mouths. Also interesting that the MSM stopped with giving the numbers of US soldiers killed.
Also interesting that wet behind the ears, no military experience, no leadership experience, anti Iraq war, candidate Obama spouted that Iraq was the wrong war at the wrong time, and that Afghanistan was the right war at the right time. No one in the MSM wanted to remind him that Empires have collapsed from fighting in Afghanistan. Alexander the Great, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union all took a swing and failed. You will also notice that the surge Obama put into Afghanistan was not aimed at getting OBL, it was geard toward nation building. You can not make chicken salad from chicken crap.
there are plenty of NATO troops in Afghanistan, and most are a wast of time and space, and provide little to nothing. The Brits and Canadians were the only NATO troops that were of much use when I was there last year. I believe it was the Italians and Spanish that were paying off the taliban not to hit them, in return for them no actually doing anything other than building fancy FOBs to live on.
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 12:09amThey have No Honor.
Report Post »okdavidson
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 9:45amamen
Report Post »sissykatz
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 8:09pmI wish Allah would strike the suicide bombers DEAD, long before they could
Report Post »complete a mission. How can sane people FIGHT insanity? They can’t. Come
home and bomb the place. I know there will be innocent’s killed but they are
being killed by their own now or made into “suicide bombers” and hate filled
killers. I don’t think we are accomplishing anything. Either let them be or Bomb
the place, there is no in between.
paleoman
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 7:46pmIts time to get our brave men out of these hell holes, they don’t like us never will, just look at the history. We have DRONES now, & what a weapon it is, take them out from the air, keep taking the fight to them but use DRONES now thats a killing maching. GOD BLESS AMERICA & TO HELL WITH ISLAM
Report Post »Ross
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 7:38pmLet them fight or pull them out.
Report Post »welovetheUSA
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 7:16pmIts only going to get worse, if we had a president none of this would be happening.
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 7:27pmWhy are we doing this? Why?
After all, now that we’ve given up our rights to the 4th Amendment to “be secure in our persons…” we obviously don’t have to “chase” after the “bad guys” anymore in the Middle East…Our Homeland Security has identified “US, the American Citizens” as the terrorists…THEIR mission has been VERY SUCCESSFUL…Congratulations America…our stupidity never ceases to amaze me! NOW, Bring Our Boys Home! You are wasting their precious lives on a bunch of 7th Century throw backs who don’t appreciate it anyway!
Report Post »Lucy Larue
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 7:55pmWELOVETHEUSA,
Report Post »You said it succinctly and you said it best.
There are few members of President Dunham’s administration that do not have the BLOOD of American Soldiers on their hands.
They do not care.
Our Military knows it.
Our Military is weary. Their spouses are weary. Their children are weary.
Everyone here that appreciates our soldiers should let them know.
Thanksgiving and Christmas are the worst times for the deployed and their families.
Please do some little thing.
They know that their Commander In Chief does NOT have their back.
They need to know that their Fellow Americans appreciate them despite what President Dunham and his Administration have wreaked upon them.
Eblaze44
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 8:38pmNo, this is just the continuation of the stupid wars we got involved in in the middle east to start with. Osama Bin Laden could have been killed ages ago and the we could get the hell out – if that one province of Pakistan is where the trouble comes from – blow it up and anything that moves in it – if Pakistan doesn‘t like it and won’t clean out their own house – clean out Pakistan – India and Kashmir could then be independent of the terror of Islam
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 7:12pmI wish we had a REAL PRESIDENT who would bomb the ******* to hell and get it over with and bring our men and women home. Enough is enough, more than enough, actually.
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 7:12pmEnough waste of lives .
Report Post »Enough waste of $$$$$$$$$$$$
Bring them home .
spfoam1
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 7:11pmThe democrats always love it when they create a miserable humiliating political defeat, when it should have been a swift and brutal military victory. When will we learn that the democrats are not the allies of freedom, as every American shuold be, but are instead the propagandists for global communism.
Report Post »Eblaze44
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 8:41pmThis continued war is NOT the Democrats fault other than their failure to give the military the money and the weapons and the protection to go in and WIN the war. It is as much the Republicans fault as the Socialist Democrats.
Report Post »Lord_Frostwind
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 7:03pmNo vehicle should have been allowed to get this close to the convoy, were in the hell was their escort?
Report Post »Cat
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 6:50pmThe dope in the White House tells the world we’re leaving.
What else did anyone expect?
What should happen in war is every soldier be allowed to be the fighting machine they were trained to be.
Report Post »Infantry, artillery, drones and air strikes should have been non-stop since the beginning.
Our enemy sees weakness and a broke one at that.
YOUR NOT GETTING MY GUNS
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 6:50pmSorry to say this country will be just as bad if not worse than what it was before it was before we got there. If we‘re going to call this a war let’s start fighting like one. This will be another Vietnam, to many soldiers dyeing, to much money spent and the U.S. comeing home with our tails between our legs and our heads hanging low. We need to do what we set out to do “WIN” and let our troops come home with their heads held high.
Report Post »garyM
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 6:46pmRomney and all the GOP candidates better start rehearsing how is the best way to debate Hillary. I don’t think Hillary is one bit better than Barry is! I also don’t think Barry is running in 2012. I think Barry may has his eye on being head of the UN with all the world speeches he has made after he was elected. I thought several years ago that Bill Clinton had desires to be the Head of the UN but I see now how that job fits Barry much better! Barry and the democrats seem to be much more interested in International law than our US constitution. Some of the liberal Supreme Court Justices have gave descending comments using International Law so what does that tell us? I didn’t even know we had International Law until a few years ago other than wartime Geneva Convention rules! I guess that is part of the NEW WORLD ORDER! I’ve also heard resolution # 666 for the UN is reserved! Can anyone verify or debunk that?
Report Post »Vechorik
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 7:39pmACTA is another example of international law creeping in America (can stop generic drugs)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgD2wRXBOIU
This global government is going to be the downfall of America
Report Post »c0mm0nsense
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 6:45pmDoes anyone even know what the mission is or was?
Report Post »ashestoashes
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 7:07pm@COMMONSENSE From what I have been able to ascertain, when Bush did it..he wa setting up dictators that were friends to the US and were strongholds to keep the Arabs bloodthirst for Israel in check. Then the NWO /George Soros/Muslim Brotherhood placed the current President. From my understanding.once in office..he went rogue..He wishes to establish the Islamic goal..a world wide Caliphate…he sees himself as the chief caliphater. Look at his position of power. He and Hilary have helped the Muslim Brotherhood take down the strongholds…our firiends..to establish Sharia Law.That is what our military is being used for..to establish Sharia Law worldwide.ingenius isn’t it?
Report Post »LiveforFreedom
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 6:43pmGo easy Brother’s!!! If we leave now we will be back!! Just like Iraq we will be back!!!! God Bless and receive our Troops with open arms!!
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 6:24pmHillary Clinton reaching out to the Taliban-linked Haqqani has blood on her hands!
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on October 30, 2011 at 12:17amWhile calling for…demanding…the International Community (???) Accept the demands of terrorists and pay them off. That is her brilliant answer to how to be the great provider nation {pay off the warlords so all the tons and TONS of aid/food we send actually gets to the people who are starving. PAY THEIR BRIBES is her great answer. This wonderful fresh smelling Arab Spring our potus encouraged will come back on us threefold.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 6:18pmGet our troops home…NOW!!!
Report Post »garyM
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 6:09pmWhat we need is soldiers in Afghanistan who don’t have any rules or authority over them, just like Obama bypassing congress in order to do what he believes is best, we could get really things done then and clean up Afghanistan up quick! Get my drift?
Report Post »Eblaze44
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 6:11pmSorry, I’m not going with “no rules”, I’m perfectly willing to have “rules of engagement” as we have had in all wars. But the “hands tied behind our backs” rule is stupid.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 6:15pmReal War is… a suspension of Law and Rules… where the Mission is to Destroy and Kill those on the other side!
Report Post »The Muslims… understand this: the Americans are STUPID!
garyM
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 6:21pmEblaze44
Report Post »why should our military obey by the rules of engagement when the CIC don’t want to obey the rules that apply to him and bypasses the congresss and checks and balances put in place for the Prez?
Onlybev
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 6:26pmI absolutely get your drift. These men and women need to be able to fight with all they have, with no restrictions, or bring them home. No more nice guy. Just get it done and come home. Or forget it and come home. Too many restrictions. We shouldn’t be there anyway. If they get a nuclear bomb, then just send one of ours and don’t wait till they send thiers. I, for one, am sick that we “fight” nice, and they don’. Thanks
Report Post »LiveforFreedom
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 6:52pmI agree, we need to let our troops cross the border into Pakistan and kill Taliban and Al Qaeda with no limits on the rules of engagement! The War would have been ov er in 2005 if we could have killed all of the people we had to, but the rules of engagement wouldn’t let U.S. kill the people we had and have too!!
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 7:28pmIf we had a Genghis Khan style war the situation would have been under control years ago and a lot less deaths on our side.This trying to win hearts and minds never works,we tried it in Vietnam it doesn’t work.Kill the enemy as fast as possible to end it quickly.
Report Post »Eblaze44
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 6:07pmThe United States is not trying to win this war – they are doing another Vietnam – killing off our soldiers and Marines. This mayhem will continue until we withdraw – unless we begin to take this war seriously and pull out the stops as we did with Germany and Japan. Drop a bomb on Islamabad Pakistan and go from there. If we are not willing to win – we should get out – even the Soviet Union finally figured that out.
Report Post »YOUR NOT GETTING MY GUNS
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 6:39pmThe sad thing is after we leave that country it will be as bad probably worse off than what is was before we got there. If we‘re going to call this a war let’s start fighting like it is one. Sorry to say this is like Vietnam,to many soldiers dyeing, to much money spent and the U.S. comeing with our tails between our legs and our heads hanging low. Right now our troops can‘t come home with their heads held high because we didn’t do what we set out to do. WIN
Report Post »Eblaze44
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 8:50pmIf the Afghani’s want to live like they do – let them – only when they begin to come to the United States and terrorize me and mine – then – let’s return with real WAR and conquer. but this constant tit for tat gets us nowhere – just the blood of our military men and women and the money from our empty vaults.
Report Post »