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Afghanistan
Rockets Fired at Afghan Peacekeeper Bases
2003-09-12
Assailants fired rockets at two bases housing international peacekeepers in the Afghan capital, slightly injuring a Canadian worker.
Hek’s boys are as good with rockets as they are with grenades.
No one claimed responsibility for Thursday’s attacks, which came amid tightened security because of the second anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. On Thursday, insurgents attacked a U.S. patrol in Zabul. The attackers retreated after coalition soldiers called in air support, dropping two precision-guided bombs and firing 630 rounds of 30mm ammunition. There were no casualties. An Afghan intelligence official said the attacks on the peacekeepers were likely the work of Taliban insurgents and al-Qaida, but offered no proof.
"Proof? It’s all around!"
Now, now. There's no proof. It coulda been Samoans or Lapplanders, even Veps — why pick on the poor, put-upon Talibs?
The first attack occurred at about 10 p.m. Thursday in the eastern part of the city at the main base housing German and Canadian soldiers of the International Security and Assistance Force, or ISAF. A small rocket smashed through two metal shipping containers and hit the ground next to a tent where about seven Canadian civilian workers were sleeping, U.S. Maj. Kevin Arata said. One worker was slightly injured in the back by a piece of shrapnel. He was treated on the base and quickly released, Arata said. The man from Vancouver, who wasn’t identified, was helping install kitchens at the camp.
Trying to plunge the plumber, were they?
German soldiers guarding the gate perimeter and Kabul Police Chief Gen. Basir Salangi said that two other rockets also were fired Thursday evening, in what appeared to be separate attacks. Arata said a rocket landed more than a half mile from a different Canadian base on the western edge of the city about an hour later.
"Mahmoud, these rockets are the bomb! I can put one within a half-mile of our target!"
Salangi said a third came down west of the city’s airport, which is also used by the peacekeeping force, about 3 1/2 miles from the main base. Arata was unable to confirm that attack.
"West" of the airport? Airport’s mighty big. How’d they miss?
A police intelligence official sent to investigate the blast at the main base, Nehmatullah "Legume" Jalali, said it appeared likely to have been carried out by Taliban insurgents and al-Qaida. He offered no evidence to back up the claim.
"Evidence? It’s all around!"
Arata said patrols sent out after the attacks had made no arrests and failed to identify the launch site, and that the international force had no information on who was responsible.
"We think it was a group of radical Esquimeaux."
Posted by:Steve White

#5  comments); ?>werwer
Posted by: tu3031   2003-9-12 5:23:23 PM  

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Posted by: Super Hose   2003-9-12 12:54:07 PM  

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Posted by: buwaya   2003-9-12 12:10:00 PM  

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Posted by: JFM   2003-9-12 11:04:30 AM  

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Posted by: Old Patriot   2003-9-12 10:34:56 AM  

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