Taliban attack major NATO base in Afghanistan

[Ichingcarpenter]

Source: AFP

KABUL — Gunmen set off a car bomb and fired rocket propelled grenades at one of the biggest NATO bases in Afghanistan on Wednesday in an attack claimed by the hardline Islamist Taliban.
Several of the attackers were killed in the strike on the Jalalabad base in eastern Afghanistan, but there were no casualties among NATO or civilian staff, said a spokesman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force.

"Jalalabad airfield is under attack," said Lieutenant-Commander Iain Baxter. "It is still going on."
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed claimed the attack in a telephone call to AFP.
Baxter said however that the attackers were unable to penetrate the base.
"The attackers used a car bomb, RPG and small arms fire. They detonated the car bomb but it did not reach the perimeter," he said.

Jalalabad is one of NATO's largest bases in Afghanistan, after Kandahar in the south and Bagram in the suburbs of Kabul,

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g3h7GNeq9qnaIr3GvS2Sa5ezbYsg

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The BBC reported here that the fight is still going on.

[RC]

1. But..., but..., but... I read last week that there were only 50 Taliban left in the whole country.

They must have recruited another #2.

[USArmyParatrooper]

2. Where did you read that?

[Robb]

4. An article in Uninformed Observers Monthly

...Conflating Taliban and Al Qaeda is as popular on DU as conflating Afghanistan and Iraq, as long as it fits the narrative. :eyes:

[EFerrari]

9. DU didn't conflate the Taliban with al Qaida. That was Bush. n/t

[Robb]

10. Both happen here quite a bit.

[alcibiades_mystery]

6. You don't know how to read, then

[Robb]

3. Afghan Militants Fail in Attack on NATO Air Base

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/01/world/asia/01afghan.html">Afghan Militants Fail in Attack on NATO Air Base

Source: New York Times

KABUL, Afghanistan — Eight Taliban insurgents were killed on Wednesday after they attacked the NATO air base in Jalalabad using a suicide car bomb and rocket-propelled grenades in an attempt to breach the gate.

The attack, which was similar to one carried out at Bagram Air Base in May, began at 7:30 a.m. when a suicide bomber driving a car detonated his explosives at the eastern gate of the base. The explosion, which was heard by people in the area, was followed by militants launching grenades and firing other weapons. The attack appeared to be designed to generate publicity and remind people of the Taliban presence in the area.

Although the insurgents did not enter the main air base, which is set back substantially from the main road, the firefight disrupted traffic for several hours on the road, the main route to the Pakistan border crossing at Torkham.

The Taliban took credit for the attack in a telephone interview. Two NATO soldiers suffered minor injuries, according to a NATO spokeswoman.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/01/world/asia/01afghan.html

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Pathetic. They sacrificed eight of their own to "disrupt traffic" for a few hours.

[Robb]

5. And just for grins:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/06/30/afghanistan.wrap/?hpt=Sbin

... In a text message to CNN, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said six men wearing suicide vests entered the airfield, killing 32 foreigners. CNN could not independently confirm those claims....

:rofl:

[Old Vet]

7. This is gonna get interesting since...............

They are reviewing the rules of engagement. It might get pretty nasty if (The US) start changing tactics to be more aggressive.

[Robb]

8. I think that review's more for show

...Mostly for troop morale. I can't imagine even Petraeus being able to get away with loosening them in this administration. And I'm glad of that.