Deadliest attack in Afghanistan since 2001

[Rob]

This is of particular interest to me, since the presence of Canadian troops in Afghanistan has become a particularly hot topic in Canadian politics as of late. I don't know how it looks from outside Canada, but as our newsmedia reports it, our troops are pulling most of the weight in the Kandahar region where the Taliban is making its comeback.

Hence why I thought today's news was rather interesting, I wonder how long it'll take before someone hijacks this for political ends on Parliament Hill...

'Deadliest' attack in Afghanistan

At least 80 people have been killed in a suicide bombing outside the Afghan city of Kandahar - in what appears to be the deadliest attack since 2001.
The massive blast hit a crowd of people watching a dog-fighting contest.

"This suicide attack was the work of the Taleban," said Governor Assadullah Khalid, adding the death toll may rise.

Southern Afghanistan is a Taleban stronghold and last week the Kandahar governor himself was the target of an attempt on his life.

The Taleban have not claimed responsibility for the blast, but it bears all their hallmarks, says the BBC's Jon Brain in the Afghan capital.

Among those killed was Abdul Hakim, a local police chief fiercely opposed to the Taleban who is thought to have been the target of the attack.

Body parts

Excitement was mounting among the 500-strong, male-only crowd when the huge blast struck.

Dog-fighting competitions, which were banned under the Taleban regime, are a popular pastime in Afghanistan.

"Fighting had just started between two dogs," said one spectator, Abdul Karim.

"Suddenly I heard a huge explosion next to a police vehicle. Then I saw lots of people dead and wounded.

"I counted over 40 people on the ground dead," Mr Karim, 53, told the AFP news agency.

Twisted car and bicycle parts littered the ground as shawls and shoes lay scattered among the bodies of the dead and wounded.

Injured spectators staggered through the carnage searching for relatives.

Scores of wounded were packed into civilian cars and rushed to hospitals in the city centre, some 15km (nine miles) away.

Taleban influence

Aside from Abdul Hakim, several other policemen were reported to be among the victims of Sunday's blast.

The Taleban claim to have influence across most of the country and have extended their area of control from their traditional heartland in the south.

They have a significant presence around Kandahar from where they carry out suicide attacks and roadside bomb blasts.

The militants are even able to operate freely in Wardak province, neighbouring the capital Kabul.

Last year, violence in Afghanistan reached its highest levels since the Taleban were forced from power in 2001, analysts say.

edit; Linky

[Ginger Lord]

I don't know how it looks from outside Canada, but as our newsmedia reports it, our troops are pulling most of the weight in the Kandahar region where the Taliban is making its comeback.

Well as our media reports our troops are pulling most of the weight in the Sangin region where the Taliban is making its comeback.

:|

[Cheeto]

Maybe I'm just mean and heartless and don't understand the different culture but...I can't find it within me to be broken up by a bunch of people fighting dogs for fun/profit getting hurt. Although I'm sure there were quite a few people there who were injured who had nothing to do with it.

[Penguin]

This is of particular interest to me, since the presence of Canadian troops in Afghanistan has become a particularly hot topic in Canadian politics as of late. I don't know how it looks from outside Canada, but as our newsmedia reports it, our troops are pulling most of the weight in the Kandahar region where the Taliban is making its comeback.

Well as our media reports our troops are pulling most of the weight in the Sangin region where the Taliban is making its comeback.

:|

Our media doesn't tell us about Afghanistan anymore.

But seriously, from what I've heard it's basically the US, UK and Canada are collectively pulling all the weight while the Taliban has been supposedly making a comeback since 2002, and other NATO allies like Germany stay bottled up in base.

[Invig]

Who ever is on the Paki border is the one thats gonna be pulling the most weight. I know the U.S. is there but dont know about anyone else

[TylerDurden]

of course the tali ban is making a "come back". Anyone who lives in that country might as well be called tali ban, because no one wants America, Canada, or any damn part of the UK there, and anyone who opposes or detests an army will be looked as a terrorist. Tali Ban my ass please. How can people be so stupid and not realize that we are forcing these people to choose to either live in a society formed by people NOT of that country, OR Die and have your name be associated with the Tali Ban, and Terrorist organizations, JUST BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T WANT THE POSSIBILITY'S OF THINGS LIKE MC DONALD'S, AND RADIO SHACK IN YOUR VILLAGE.

im sure the only reason Canada is over there is because they are on the same Military high as America. The country of America, Canada, and others, make money by deploying troops, and using ammo. Whats Canada's little saying for their "Army" type units ? 3 Canadian soldiers equal one marine ? Fuck Your Media !

[Rob]

Actually, contrary to the Iraq situation, most of the reports coming out of Afghanistan seem to indicate that they're appreciative of the presence of NATO soldiers. The government sucks and is more than a little powerless, but I gather those people rather disliked the Taliban government.

But GW had to run off half-cocked into Iraq and leave Afghanistan unfinished, so the Taliban and other dissident groups are aligning to resist the occupation.

Incidentally, I find this particularly offensive:

im sure the only reason Canada is over there is because they are on the same Military high as America. The country of America, Canada, and others, make money by deploying troops, and using ammo

War is not a moneymaker, it's an expense. We went along out of a sense of duty, obligation, and it simply being the right thing to do--not some cowboy adventure. And there's certainly no "military high," our presence over there is increasingly unpopular domestically, and our troops will be fully withdrawn by 2011.

[TylerDurden]

Lies stacked on top of lies.

Whens the last time you were in Iraq ? HOW THE HELL DO YOU KNOW THEY ARE HAPPY ABOUT SOLDIERS RUNNING UP IN THEIR HOUSES LIKE AMERICAN COPS !

WAR does make money, im sorry but you don't even know about things like grenada, do you ? I BET you have no idea about HALF of the things America has and does do, since the 60's. How FUCKED UP we are and will always be. With this in mind, how can ANYONE take presidential elections seriously ?

As for taking offense ? im offended that you don't even know about America going into 3rd world country's, training poor ass village people how to KILL, and then setting them loose to wipe out VOTING villages. Yeah, VOTE....ING.... DEAD... ALL so U.S backed leaders can step into office.

You don't know about America and how we lend money to other country's, then FUCK THEM UP when they don't pay on time.

im sure you have NO idea how America was founded either. Im sure you have no idea what the federal reserve has to do with America, or even what pirates have to do with the development of the united states.

speaking for people like John Lennon, im offended by what you don't know, when it comes to this country I live in.

[Rob]

I was talking about my country, but I happen to know a whole hell of a lot more about yours than most people living in it do. That's not speaking to the staggering ignorance of a great many people, that would be because I chose to devote my education to my most keen interest: history.

[TylerDurden]

Thats awesome, because America likes to erase History. Change it too.