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Taliban leader killed in NATO airstrike
Yahoo/AP ^ | 2-4-07

Posted on 02/04/2007 1:29:42 AM PST by STARWISE

1 hour, 45 minutes ago

NATO-led troops killed a senior Taliban leader with a precision airstrike near a southern Afghan town overrun by militants, a spokesman for the alliance said Sunday. ADVERTISEMENT click here

Col. Tom Collins said the airstrike near Musa Qala on Sunday morning killed a senior Taliban leader riding in a car.

Musa Qala on Thursday was overrun by an estimated 200 Taliban fighters who disarmed local police, ransacked the district center and hoisted their trademark white flag.

The town had been subject to a peace deal brokered last October between village elders and the Helmand provincial government that prevented NATO, Afghan and Taliban fighters from coming within 3 miles of the town center.

Collins said the Taliban leader was killed within that 3-mile zone with the approval of the Afghan government. He said no NATO or Afghan forces were on the ground in Musa Qala.

Collins didn't immediately name the person killed in the strike, but Mohammad Wali, a Musa Qala resident, said the airstrike killed a Taliban leader named Mullah Abdul Gafoor and some of his associates while they were riding in a truck through a small village just outside Musa Qala.

(snip)

British forces withdrew from Musa Qala in October after the truce, which turned over security to local leaders and prevented NATO forces from entering the town.

Gen. David Richards, who was replaced Sunday as NATO's commander, told the AP on Saturday that "very surgical and deliberate" force would be used to evict the fighters from Musa Qala, where he said the alliance's strategy of avoiding military action has driven a wedge between residents and Taliban insurgents.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; airstrike; gafoor; ghafour; globaljihad; goodriddance; jihad; mullahgafoor; mullahghafour; takingoutthetrash; taleban; taliban; talibanleader

1 posted on 02/04/2007 1:29:44 AM PST by STARWISE
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To: STARWISE
The town had been subject to a peace deal brokered last October between village elders and the Helmand provincial government that prevented NATO, Afghan and Taliban fighters from coming within 3 miles of the town center.

Let's do some math. 3 miles equals roughly 15,500 feet. I'm pretty sure our targeting systems can work with that.

Just back off to about 4 miles and let 'er rip.

L

2 posted on 02/04/2007 1:32:29 AM PST by Lurker (Europeans killed 6 million Jews. As a reward they got 40 million Moslems. Karma's a bitch.)
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To: SandRat; FairOpinion; 91B; HiJinx; Spiff; MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; clintonh8r; TEXOKIE; ...

One more down PING! God bless our incredible troops and allies.


3 posted on 02/04/2007 1:38:16 AM PST by STARWISE (They (Rats) think of this WOT as Bush's war, not America's war-RichardMiniter, respected OBL author)
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To: STARWISE

So, we make deals with Taliban warlords. Not good.


4 posted on 02/04/2007 2:30:37 AM PST by jim35 ("...when the lion and the lamb lie down together, ...we'd better damn sure be the lion")
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To: STARWISE

"Musa Qala on Thursday was overrun by an estimated 200 Taliban fighters who disarmed local police, ransacked the district center and hoisted their trademark white flag. "


Obviously the white flag has a different symbolic content in this strange culture....


5 posted on 02/04/2007 2:35:52 AM PST by Blue_Ridge_Mtn_Geek
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To: STARWISE
I want mullah omar dead. Glad to hear of this killing. Bravo.
6 posted on 02/04/2007 2:39:58 AM PST by Pro-Bush (hater)
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To: STARWISE
You mean our guys actually win a few battles and kill a few terrorists over there?

Someone tip off the MSM, please.

7 posted on 02/04/2007 2:48:28 AM PST by daler (The best things in life...aren't "things.")
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To: Cindy; Pepper777; nwctwx

PING~!


8 posted on 02/04/2007 2:58:10 AM PST by STARWISE (They (Rats) think of this WOT as Bush's war, not America's war-RichardMiniter, respected OBL author)
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To: jim35
The town had been subject to a peace deal brokered last October between village elders and the Helmand provincial government that prevented NATO, Afghan and Taliban fighters from coming within 3 miles of the town center.

bush is losing his mind

9 posted on 02/04/2007 3:05:40 AM PST by Enduring Freedom (President Bush - Your Public Relations Team Sucks!)
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To: Lurker

Another one bites the dust....


10 posted on 02/04/2007 3:15:36 AM PST by Wings-n-Wind (The answers remain available; Wisdom is obtained by asking all the right questions!)
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To: STARWISE

Great news. When they have a funeral for him, take out a few hundred more.


11 posted on 02/04/2007 3:42:24 AM PST by moonman
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To: STARWISE

Col. Tom Collins: "drinks are on me, chaps!"


12 posted on 02/04/2007 3:46:59 AM PST by ryan71 (You can hear it on the coconut telegraph...)
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To: STARWISE
"...and hoisted their trademark white flag"

Must be French Taliban?
13 posted on 02/04/2007 3:48:47 AM PST by ryan71 (You can hear it on the coconut telegraph...)
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To: STARWISE
Musa Qala on Thursday was overrun by an estimated 200 Taliban fighters who disarmed local police, ransacked the district center and hoisted their trademark white flag.
Sacrebleu!

They've stolen the French Trademark!

14 posted on 02/04/2007 5:05:16 AM PST by samtheman
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To: samtheman

rothf... :-)


15 posted on 02/04/2007 7:40:02 PM PST by FreeAtlanta (Search for Folding Project - Join FR Team 36120)
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To: STARWISE

I love happy uplifting news.


16 posted on 08/07/2009 11:03:32 AM PDT by RoshYisrael
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