Helicopter rumors refuse to die

[bemildred]

MAZAR-E-SHARIF - Persistent accounts of Western forces in Afghanistan using their helicopters to ferry Taliban fighters, strongly denied by the military, is feeding mistrust of the forces that are supposed to be bringing order to the country.

One such tale came from a soldier from the 209th Shahin Corps of the Afghan National Army, fighting against the growing insurgency in Kunduz province in northern Afghanistan. Over several months, he had taken part in several pitched battles against the armed opposition.

"Just when the police and army managed to surround the Taliban in a village of Qala-e-Zaal district, we saw helicopters land with support teams," he said. "They managed to rescue their friends from our encirclement, and even to inflict defeat on the Afghan National Army."

This story, in one form or another, is being repeated throughout northern Afghanistan. Dozens of people claim to have seen Taliban fighters disembark from foreign helicopters in several provinces. The local talk is of the insurgency being consciously moved north, with international troops ferrying fighters in from the volatile south, to create mayhem in a new location.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/KJ29Df01.html

[tiny elvis]

1. thanks. here is more

Afghan president: Unknown helicopters transfer rebels to N Afghanistan
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-10/12/content_12216259.htm

The president said "even today we received reports that the furtive process is still ongoing."
According to the newspaper, Karzai did not share the evidence with journalists but said, "A compressive investigation was underway to determine which country the helicopters belonged to; why armed men were being infiltrated into the region; and whether increasing insecurity in the north was linked to it."

Afghanistan: Taliban uses helicopters to get to the borders of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan
http://enews.ferghana.ru/news.php?id=1412&mode=snews

On October 12, giving a speech before the journalists in Kabul, Hamid Karzai, the President of Afghanistan, announced that he has confirmation that Taliban militants use unidentified helicopters to get to the north of the country

UK army 'providing' Taliban with air transport
http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=108923§ionid=351020403

The British army has been relocating Taliban insurgents from southern Afghanistan to the north by providing transportation means, diplomats say.
The diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said insurgents are being airlifted from the southern province of Helmand to the north amid increasing violence in the northern parts of the country.
The aircraft used for the transfer have been identified as British Chinook helicopters.

[bemildred]

2. Very strange stuff, reeks of butt-covering and propaganda, I would not swallow it whole. nt

[The Magistrate]

3. The 'PressTV' Report, Sir, Can Be Dismissed Out Of Hand

It is obviously nothing but Islamic Republic propaganda, undiluted by the slightest trace of even intent to be accurate.

The other two above could relate to insertion of special forces teams, if they reflect any real observation at all.

[bemildred]

5. Well Sir, I don't believe blaming foreigners for this and that is at all a new idea.

So I think it quite possible that some of this is just made up for the sake of expediency, deflection, distraction, etc.

One can smell divorce in the air WRT our marriage of convenience with Karzai, unpleasant things are being said.

That being so, it would not be a good sign that we have become the convenient scapegoat in local politics.

But I must say that I am skeptical that the NATO forces in Afghanistan would be deliberately making their own position worse.

However, that is not to say that various entrepreneurial types might not be up to doing most anything that would pay well, or that every member of the NATO team is obedient and loyal.

We do seem to be having a problem managing our public image in Pakistan too.

[The Magistrate]

7. Not At All, Sir: That Is Pretty Much the Norm, And Imagination is Not One Of The Region's Lacks

You may recall there were similar reports out of the late stages of the Tora Bora fighting. Certainly nothing actually flies in that air without U.S. Air Force knowledge and leave.

Divorce does seem to be in the wind regarding Mr. Karzai; the old English play-book would have dictated replacing him long since.

The endeavor is, in my view, botched beyond repair by this point. The diversion to Iraq cannot at this late date be made up. Nothing can make it 2002 again....

[yurbud]

4. I like the butt-covering theory. Another one might be that they are close to reaching a deal with

the Taliban and give Karzai the heave-ho.

As long as the energy companies can get their pipeline routes, DC will find a way to call it a success, much like our rehabilitation of Khaddafi.

[bemildred]

6. I am wondering whose butt is being covered, and for what.

One of the interesting aspects is that it's in the north, and seems to be playing to internal divisions in Afghanistan, and yet there are signs of the uniting against the foreign invader too. Hmmm.

See post #5 for my speculations on the subject.