US, Afghan forces attack al-Qaida compound

[laststeamtrain]

Source: AP

KABUL – American and Afghan forces stormed a mountainside compound in eastern Afghanistan before dawn Sunday that had been used by an al-Qaida commander, killing more than a dozen militants in a gunbattle, the U.S. military said.

<snip>

The fighting in eastern Kunar province started overnight when the troops pushed into targeted compound in the hopes of capturing those inside, said U.S. military spokeswoman Capt. Elizabeth Mathias. They quickly came under fire, sparking a clash in which more than 12 insurgents died, she said.

There were no casualties among the allied troops or civilians, Mathias added.

<snip>

Some militants were detained, Mathias said. She did not have information on whether any al-Qaida operatives were among those captured or killed, nor did she give the name of the terrorist commander believed to have used the compound.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091011/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan_153
By RAHIM FAIEZ and HEIDI VOGT, Associated Press Writers 20 mins ago

KABUL – American and Afghan forces stormed a mountainside compound in eastern Afghanistan before dawn Sunday th

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I posted this earlier but somehow the link was incorrect so the thread was locked.

I hope we find out who we murdered. It's good to know.

[EFerrari]

1. What terrible reporting. The location is called al Qaida

and in the story, the admission that who was attacked is unknown.

[laststeamtrain]

2. That's what struck me.

[EFerrari]

3. On Washington Journal this morning, a caller noted that our soldiers are again

stuck out in the middle of nowhere on hills that are only designated by numbers. He was a Democrat and a Viet Nam vet.

[laststeamtrain]

4. This incident sounds like a home invasion gone wrong & the good Capt. Spokesperson

...is giving the official story, so far.

[rosesaylavee]

5. the info about Japan was interesting further down in the story at the link

"... Japan has committed to paying all Afghan police salaries for six months and is funding a number of infrastructure, agriculture and education projects.

Okada's visit comes as Japan's new Democratic-led leadership is reassessing its role in the region after handily defeating the Liberal Democratic Party in parliamentary elections this summer.

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has said his government plans to discontinue Tokyo's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean in support of U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan by January, but has suggested it is looking for other ways to contribute to the effort.

In a speech last week to foreign journalists in Tokyo, Okada emphasized the need to understand why some people are drawn to the Taliban. He said Japan wanted to address economic motivations by providing income support and vocational training programs.

"Sending troops is not necessarily the only way you can provide support," Okada said."

[postulater]

6. Maybe we got Number 2 again!