Posted on 09/14/2001 6:02:27 AM PDT by Sockdolager
Osama bin Laden appointed commander-in-chief of Taliban armed forces
Thursday, 30 August 2001 9:58 (ET)
Taliban slammed over bin Laden appointment
MOSCOW, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Russia's Foreign Ministry on Thursday condemned the appointment of Saudi terrorism suspect Osama bin Laden as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Afghanistan's ruling Taliban regime, the official RIA Novosti news agency reported.
Bin Laden's appointment confirmed that a center of international terrorism is being set up in Taliban-controlled territory, the ministry said in a statement.
"Pseudo-religious values are being used as a cover to prepare a bridgehead for expansion of militant extremism and separatism far beyond the region's borders," added the statement.
This month, Russian media quoted Pakistan's Nation daily as saying that the Taliban had named bin Laden commander of their troops. Afghanistan's civil war concerns the Kremlin as hundreds of Russian border guards monitor the Afghan-Tajik border and a potential spill of violence could plunge the whole region into chaos.
Moreover, the Taliban's aim to build an orthodox Islamic state has given rise to many Islamic extremist movements in the former Soviet republics in Central Asia. In recent years, Islamic insurgents from Afghanistan launched raids on Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
The Taliban's ongoing clashes with the Northern Alliance movement backing ousted President Burhanuddin Rabbani -- the leader of the government general recognized by international organizations -- have alerted Russia and its partners as arms smuggling, drug trafficking, kidnapping and other crimes have flourished along the Afghan-Tajik border.
On Thursday, Moscow also condemned the appointment of Juma Namangani as bin Laden's deputy. Namangani, an ethnic Uzbek, was liked to a number of raids on Kyrgyzstan's Batken district over the last three years. Namangani advocates creation of an Islamic state run by a regime similar to the Taliban's and spreading over Central Asia.
"Incorporation of the international terrorists' leaders into the ruling structures of the Taliban shows the need to take decisive measures to collectively counter global challenges that are put forward from the Taliban-controlled territory," said the statement.
It may be that Bin Laden is more of a puppet, a symbol, and a funding source who is being used as a front for state directed terrorism.
It may be that Bin Laden is providing some financing and the Afghans are providing him shelter, but I think Islamic fundamentalists in Egypt, Yemen, and UAE may be providing both the brains and the human resources necessary to prosecute this terrorist war on the United States.
And although I could give a whit what happens to the Taliban and Bin Laden, I think we will only be successful if we can identify and take down the terrorists on the ground in the Arabian Penisula as well as in Egypt.
The acts of war perpetrated against us did not emanate from a buffoon in a cave nor from a primitive and fanatical country.
Look to where the suicide bombers were grown if we want to prosecute an effective war against terrorism.
Sounds like a target-rich environment to me.
No one is without fault in this matter but the "dragon" has two heads and we need to deal with both.
From From Pravda(Yeah, I know).
Citing high-ranking Afghan sources, the Pakistani newspaper, Nation, has reported that the Taliban have appointed two international terrorists, Osama bin Laden and Juma Namangani, to lead military operations against the Northern Alliance.
According to the paper's information, the Taliban leadership has de facto appointed terrorist no.1, bin Laden, as defence minister. He is currently organising offensives from his secret hide-out.
Another terrorist, the Uzbek Juma Namangani, has become bin Laden's assistant, carrying out his orders on the northern front.
In the paper's opinion, the new appointments will increase the role of Arab, Pakistani and other foreign mercenaries fighting for the Taliban and could lead to new groups of religious fanatics entering Afghanistan. According to Nation's information, up to 60,000
Regards
And I wonder why all those whining about not knowing GW's location on Tuesday don't say anything about bin Laden being in HIDING for the last five years?
I have heard this phrase many times. I always like hearing it.
I am reluctant to change anything when posting - but I agree this needed more attention.
!-)
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