Al-Qaeda fighters swell Taliban ranks

[JCMach1]

Source: Al Jazeera

As the US commemorates the anniversary of the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington DC, Al Jazeera has gained exclusive access to a Taliban group in northern Afghanistan where foreign al-Qaeda fighters are bolstering their forces.

The US launched its war in Afghanistan just weeks after the 9/11 attacks, accusing the now-ousted Taliban government of harbouring Osama Bin Laden, al-Qaeda's leader.

But nine years later, Bin Laden remains at large and al-Qaeda and the Taliban continue to wage war against the US and its allies, their ranks swelled by an influx of foreign fighters...

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2010/09/201091183514798599.html

---

Please watch the video... Foreign fighters are streaming-in to bolster Taliban numbers... Sobering fuel for thought on the anniversary of 9/11. We have come full-circle with foreign al Quaeda now a force once again in Afghanistan.

[dipsydoodle]

1. Sobering fuel for thought

You pissed them off - what did you expect ?

[JCMach1]

2. Well not personally, but Bush and Obama, yes

Afghanistan is completely Obama's war now. God help us.

[Turborama]

3. You mean this?

Obama says planned Koran burning is boosting Qaeda

Reuters Sept 9:

President Barack Obama warned on Thursday that a Florida pastor's plan to burn copies of the Koran is being used as an al Qaeda recruitment tool and he urged the minister to reconsider the decision.

"This is a recruitment bonanza for al Qaeda," Obama said in an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America" program. "You could have serious violence in places like Pakistan or Afghanistan. This could increase the recruitment of individuals who would be willing to blow themselves up in American cities or European cities."

=snip=

"He says he's someone who is motivated by his faith ... I hope he listens to those better angels and understands that this is a destructive act that he's engaging in," Obama said.

The U.S. leader said the situation was frustrating but there was little that could be done according to the law to confront the minister, other than citing him under local measures against public burning. "My understanding is that he can be cited for public burning," Obama said. "But that's the extent of the laws that we have available to us."

Full article: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68820G20100909

[JCMach1]

6. I think Al Jazeera is implying this is an ongoing process...

not just Koran-related... although it doesn't help I am sure.

[Turborama]

11. Yes, I agree, on both points.

I made that comment before watching the video.

Thanks for posting the OP, btw. Sobering, indeed.

[Adsos Letter]

25. Similar to the Second Phase of the Chechen War, I suppose. n/t

[dipsydoodle]

7. Amongst other things

He'd have been arrested in the UK for inciting hatred but usually when I mention that subject here someone starts harping on about freedom of speech whatever.

:hi:

[JCMach1]

9. Hey DD I was kind of doubly affected by the Dufus as Gainesville

is a stone's throw from my home in FL. And, of course, I work here in the UAE.

I seriously wanted to kick this guy's arse.

[Turborama]

15. Like captain hook was

I saw the Jeremy Paxman interview with him and wasn't surprised when he was arrested not long after.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Hamza_al-Masri#Extradition_to_US

:hi:

[amandabeech]

27. Freedom of speech and religion is incredible important to our culture.

Our founders had bad experiences with how the British managed things in those two departments at home and when the British controlled a large part of what is now the U.S.

We take a lot from you, but this one is ours and very countries have anything like it.

[No Elephants]

17. Yes, I'm sure the Koran burning bothers them more than being bombed, occupied displaced, etc.

Losing a parent, a home, a minor or adult child, your nation's independence etc. just can't compare with a goony looking cult leader of 50 people fixin' to burn a few of the millions of eminently replaceable Qurans.

I'm sure their reaction to our government's policies toward and in Afghanistan, not to mention the Middle Eastern Muslim nations, has nothing to do with anything going on in Afghanistan today.

:sarcasm:

[Turborama]

20. You obviously need to watch the video that was recommended in the OP

And read through this thread for context.

[Kolesar]

4. How many is a "swell"? Five??

the article does not say

[Turborama]

5. The video has more details

It's at the link in the OP.

I've also just posted it in the videos forum: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x503680

[JCMach1]

8. Thanks for posting the vid... This is really important as most do not get Al Jazeera in the States

It isn't hype.

[Turborama]

13. No probs, I'm a big fan of the channel. Al Jazeera English is available live 24/7 free online

Here: http://www.livestation.com/channels

Programs Schedule: http://www.livestation.com/channels/3-al-jazeera-english-english

Example of the Programs: http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/

There's no excuse for not watching it, really. ;-)

[Kolesar]

14. Al Qaida and *other* foreign "fighters"

A lot of stupid Chechans and Uzbeks who are ill informed and offering themselves to be killed for some vague "religious" cause.

Why would Al Qaida members leave their underground organization to become ordinary guerilla fighters with the Taliban? That tells me that either Al Qaida is a mess, or the story is hype.

[Turborama]

16. Al-Qaeda has evolved from a single group to an amorphous movement n/t

[JCMach1]

21. and the Taliban to a Narco-Islamist insurgency...

[No Elephants]

18. Maybe Al Q'aeeda in Iraq had some time on its hands.

[ShamelessHussy]

26. probably the same reason they came to fight the russians

to drive the infidels out :shrug:

[saigon68]

10. Its Chapter 3 of the G.W. Bush Game 'WHACK A MOLE"

Kept up by the War Criminal Betrayus and the rest of the Nit wits at 1600 Penn Ave

[No Elephants]

19. I think it's a military game, enabled first by Bush and Congress, and now by Obama and Congress.

Similar to your post, but with a flip in the paradigm that, IMO, aligns more closely with facts.

[hack89]

12. More cannon fodder. nt

[bvar22]

22. Gee. Nobody could have forseen this.

Get OUT NOW!


Meet Hamid Karzai
or as Obama calls him, "The Government of Afghanistan".

He was appointed by Bush the Lesser to run Afghanistan.
He is one of the most despicable criminals in The World,
But NOW we like him so much
that our children fighting and dying in the deserts of Afghanistan to keep him in power.

[JCMach1]

23. Just wonder how expensive his house in Dubai is? Maybe he will be neighbors with Eric Prince?

[L0oniX]

24. Doesn't matter.

[Prometheus Bound]

28. Let's see. A year ago, the US said there were 100 Alqaeda left in Afghanistan and 300 in Pakistan.

Since then we must have killed at least 500, which would leave minus 100 Al-qaeda in the Afghan-Pakistan area.

So yeah, they would be in serious need of imports. It's unclear how Sue Turton determined they were Al-qaeda.

The numbers she gave were a tiny percentage of overall fighters.