(Suicide) Bomber misses Afghan warlord (pro-US Gen. Dostum)

The Guardian ^ | Jan. 21, 2005 | Declan Walsh

[FairOpinion]

One of Afghanistan's most notorious warlords, General Abdul Rashid Dostam, was almost killed yesterday when a suicide bomber came within metres of him at a religious celebration. He had finished prayers in Sheberghan, his stronghold in northern Afghanistan where he still holds Taliban prisoners, when a man detonated explosives strapped to his body after failing to push through his target's bodyguards.

Gen Dostam escaped unhurt but his brother, the Afghan ambassador to Kazakhstan Qadir Dostam, was among the 25 bystanders caught in the blast, suffering minor face injuries. Three people were critically injured.

A Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the assassination attempt, citing war crime accusations stretching back to the Taliban's fall in 2001.

"Thousands of Taliban had surrendered, but Dostam and his men killed them," said Mullah Abdul Hakim Latifi, speaking to AP by satellite telephone. "We will attack any Afghans who are allies of the Americans or the present government."

[FairOpinion]

Well, Dostum wanted to keep those poor Taliban from being put into US prisons, where they might get "abused".

Dostum knows how to deal with the enemy: no prisoners.

[FairOpinion]

BTW -- Dostum IS the correct spelling. I think the Guardian misspelled it. Everywhere else his name is spelled as Dostum.

Even the LA Times had an article about this.

Warloard Apparent Tarket in Afghan Bombing
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-012005afghans_lat,0,2621785.story?coll=la-home-headlines

General Dostum and I had just bent down to put our shoes on after the prayer, when we heard a deafening sound just a few feet away. Had we been standing up, I think we would have been injured too," said Rooz Mohammed Noor, governor of Jowzjan province, where the bombing occurred

In the early 1990s, Dostum was a key player in the civil wars that destroyed Kabul and later committed himself to fighting the Taliban. He allied himself with the U.S. military in late 2001 to topple the Taliban regime.

[endthematrix]

I think a turn for the worse could have happened if Dostum decided to go against the US after the Taliban was unseated. He could have (and still could) rallied the people to oust the US and sided with Hekmatyar. I think he knows Uncle Sam is in play and it is best to remain a fat cat. It is his good actions that saved us blood in this campaign.

[Reaganesque]

Sounds like he had as much luck as this guy...(caution: this is a parody commercial for those of you in Rio Linda) Check this out...

[neb52]

Gen. Dostum Pro-U.S.?

More like Pro-Gen. Dostum! He has his own agenda and sides with whoever he benefits from the most. Right now thats us and probably still gets some support from the Russians. If we really hope for Democracy to flourish there, then the warlords like Dostum have to transition to peace terms or be squashed.

[endthematrix]

There's no doubt enormous strides have been made in arms reduction and peace building between waring factions there. I think fighting for so damn long has taken its toll. With US boots on the ground and controlling everything. There is real meaning to, "either your with us or..." The US gave him a comfortable position of power and Dostum is no fool and wouldn't knock it.

Now if was was a fool and failed to walk with the US, a way different scenario would have played out after the Northern Alliance drive to Kabul

[neb52]

"There's no doubt enormous strides have been made in arms reduction and peace building between waring factions there. I think fighting for so damn long has taken its toll. With US boots on the ground and controlling everything. There is real meaning to, "either your with us or..." The US gave him a comfortable position of power and Dostum is no fool and wouldn't knock it.

Now if was was a fool and failed to walk with the US, a way different scenario would have played out after the Northern Alliance drive to Kabul."

Well put, but will he be able to let go of the regional power he wields? Can he make a transition to the rich powerful businessman/tycoon type? Like I said he goes along to play along. I know from several interviews he is very interested in seeing Afghan succeed. He obviously gets it. If Afghan succeeds than so does he. Put I think a very prideful man and somebody who demands/expects respect, gets the feeling that he is being turned on and we are not their to keep the waring parties a part. Then what? The Russians obviously like him. they would rearm him in a minute if it gave them more influence in Afghan.

[highlander_UW]

Dostum knows how to deal with the enemy: no prisoners.

No kidding. This is the sort of "friend" one would want to keep at arms length and as an "enemy" even farther.

[endthematrix]

He has played the National Election route, so I presume he has capability to transition. He has supporters and money backers across the globe. He did receive 10% (third) of the vote and I think that was because of his ethnicity.