Taliban Is 'Eviscerated,' Pentagon Declares - October 17, 2001

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.iht.com/articles/2001/10/17/attack_ed3__8.php

The U.S. military introduced one of its deadliest aircraft amid fierce aerial raids Tuesday on Afghanistan, and the White House expressed new determination to force the Taliban rulers to hand over militants of the Qaida network headed by Osama bin Laden.

For the first time since U.S.-led forces launched an assault on the Taliban and suspected terrorist targets Oct. 7, a U.S. Air Force AC-130 gunship joined the campaign, using high-power cannon and heavy machine guns to attack a Taliban stronghold near Kandahar, military officials said.

"The combat power of the Taliban has been eviscerated," said Lieutenant General Gregory Newbold of the Marine Corps, in one of the strongest Pentagon assessments of the effectiveness of 10 days of air strikes.

[Solly Mack]

1. famous last words and all that

[Zywiec]

2. That was almost six years ago

It seems logical they would resume some strength during this time. I don't think they're nearly as powerful as they were in 2001.

[Igel]

3. So we've proven that they're sea cucumbers. n/t