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another_liberal

(8,821 posts)
Sat Jul 5, 2014, 09:51 AM Jul 2014

Fuel Tanker Trucks Burn Outside Afghan Capital.

Source: ABC News

Attackers set fire to hundreds of fuel tanker trucks in a parking lot on the outskirts of the Afghan capital, witnesses said Saturday, prompting angry drivers to block a major highway to demand reimbursement for their losses. Hundreds of other drivers stood by helplessly on Saturday morning, unable to salvage any property as flames and smoke rose from the area and several fire engines rushed to the site.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the militants were targeting fuel tankers belonging to NATO forces.

"We couldn't tell if the attackers were Taliban or other people," one of the drivers, 35-year-old Juma Gul said. "They were dressed in uniforms we couldn't understand what was happening. They were shooting toward the drivers and they were setting the tankers on fire. The gunmen were targeting any of the drivers who wanted to return to their trucks."

Kabul police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai said about 400 trucks caught fire late Friday and continued to burn through Saturday morning, but he did not confirm the cause or provide other details. The Interior Ministry said it has set up a team to investigate the incident. Truck drivers later blocked the main highway between Kabul and the southern city of Kandahar to protest what they said was a slow response by the government and to demand reimbursement for their losses.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/400-fuel-tankers-burn-kabul-24435571



Four hundred trucks loaded with very expensive gas and diesel fuel go up in smoke, and millions more of our scarce tax dollars are floating off into the skies of Central Asia. I'm quite sure Halliburton (or whomever) will be quick to send us the bill.
12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Fuel Tanker Trucks Burn Outside Afghan Capital. (Original Post) another_liberal Jul 2014 OP
The Achilles heel of modern military machines: fuel. nt bemildred Jul 2014 #1
Yes, it is indeed . . . another_liberal Jul 2014 #2
Which we here often pointed out back when Bush was invading Afghanistan. bemildred Jul 2014 #3
I only remember small numbers like 22 before jakeXT Jul 2014 #4
RT? obviously this didn't happen KG Jul 2014 #5
What are we to believe . . . another_liberal Jul 2014 #8
It's my understanding that the fuel supply seabeckind Jul 2014 #6
War is not only a "business" . . . another_liberal Jul 2014 #9
Poor Planning for such a tempting target kemah Jul 2014 #7
Good question . . . another_liberal Jul 2014 #10
Someone in the comments section on another site said truth2power Jul 2014 #11
Privatization of our military supply services . . . another_liberal Jul 2014 #12
 

another_liberal

(8,821 posts)
2. Yes, it is indeed . . .
Sat Jul 5, 2014, 10:03 AM
Jul 2014

And even more true when one is conducting a major, mechanized campaign at the end of a long and tenuous supply line. I wonder what we are actually paying to supply NATO forces in Kabul with a gallon of diesel fuel today?

bemildred

(90,061 posts)
3. Which we here often pointed out back when Bush was invading Afghanistan.
Sat Jul 5, 2014, 10:06 AM
Jul 2014

Shit, I posted an OP by Gen. Giap predicting this outcome. Maybe we can repeat Dien Bien Phu before this is done too.

 

another_liberal

(8,821 posts)
8. What are we to believe . . .
Reply to KG (Reply #5)
Sat Jul 5, 2014, 06:06 PM
Jul 2014

The calming excuses of our all-knowing masters, or the evidence seen by our own lying eyes?

seabeckind

(1,957 posts)
6. It's my understanding that the fuel supply
Sat Jul 5, 2014, 11:22 AM
Jul 2014

was totally privatized. Halliburton? KBR?

There was a news "expose" a while back that showed how our upstanding American patriotic corporations were making deals with the Taliban(?) to supply NATO with fuel.

It seems the independent truckers were targetted by the Taliban cause they weren't kicking back enough. In effect our tax dollars were supporting both sides in the conflict.

War is a business.

kemah

(276 posts)
7. Poor Planning for such a tempting target
Sat Jul 5, 2014, 12:44 PM
Jul 2014

It has happened before, where were the guards on such a tempting target?

 

another_liberal

(8,821 posts)
10. Good question . . .
Sat Jul 5, 2014, 06:12 PM
Jul 2014

One would have expected the Afghan forces to be all over a truck park packed with hundreds of highly volatile fuel carriers. As you noted, it isn't like this same kind of thing hasn't happened before.

truth2power

(8,219 posts)
11. Someone in the comments section on another site said
Sat Jul 5, 2014, 06:45 PM
Jul 2014

that going after the enemy's logistics is an effective tactic. I'm surprised no one has thought of it until now.

 

another_liberal

(8,821 posts)
12. Privatization of our military supply services . . .
Sat Jul 5, 2014, 06:52 PM
Jul 2014

Does tend to leave civilian "bean-counters" in charge of all that "logistics" bother. That way our generals can get on with more important matters, such as blowing stuff up with high tech drones and running "black opps" no Congressional committee will ever even hear about.

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