Posted on 07/11/2005 2:50:32 PM PDT by MadIvan
FOUR prisoners described as dangerous enemy combatants escaped from the main American military base in Afghanistan yesterday, the latest embarrassment for commanders there who were already struggling with their worst military losses in four years.
A huge manhunt, using helicopters and American ground forces, was under way after the four men were discovered missing from the heavily fortified prison at the Bagram air base, north of Kabul.
American military officials would not comment on the identities of the men but an Afghan official said that they were all from Arab countries and suspected al-Qaeda members. Kabir Ahmed, the district chief of Bagram, identified the men as Abdullah Hashimi, from Syria, Mehmood Ahmed Mohammed, from Kuwait, Mehmood Alfathani, from Saudi Arabia, and Mohammed Hassan, from Libya.
The escape comes less than two weeks after 19 soldiers died in a botched mission in the restive east of the country, 16 of them in a helicopter shot down by Taleban fighters. It was the single biggest combat loss for the Americans since the invasion in 2001.
Dozens of American troops could be seen stopping and searching vehicles yesterday around the sprawling air base and in neighbouring villages while helicopters flew overhead checking for signs of the prisoners.
Lieutenant-Colonel Jerry OHara, the military spokesman at Bagram, said: We consider this very serious business. These guys are dangerous not only to Afghanistan but to the world in general. The men were discovered to be missing at 5am local time. Officials said that they could not rule out that they may still be on the sprawling base.
I cant give specifics on how they escaped, Colonel OHara said. The circumstances surrounding the escape are under investigation as we speak.
Bagram, a former Soviet air base, is guarded by hundreds of troops and has high concrete walls, razor-wire fences and searchlights. There are two main gates, one manned by Afghan guards, the other by American forces.
Access to the prison facility is strictly limited. The spokesman confirmed that it was the first time that anyone had escaped. The prison has housed hundreds of suspected militants since the war to oust the Taleban began in late 2001.
Senior al-Qaeda suspects arrested in neighbouring Pakistan and elsewhere have also been held at the base, where there have been reports of abuse and deaths in custody after torture and beating. About 450 suspects are being held at Bagram. On Saturday 76 Afghan prisoners were released as part of a continuing effort to promote national reconciliation.
Ping!
Has Guantanamo Bay ever lost a prisoner?
Take one week to get all the info you can, then "make room" for another detainee.
Senior al-Qaeda suspects arrested in neighbouring Pakistan and elsewhere have also been held at the base, where there have been reports of abuse and deaths in custody after torture and beating.
I hate the media.
You should have posted a "BARF ALERT" regarding this Times article.
Besides this escape, this article seemed eager to mention the loss of 19 US soldiers. (How is that related?)
And of course charges of torture are tossed into the mix.
My apologies...I was posting in haste as I am concerned about Al Qaeda bastards escaping.
Regards, Ivan
I believe the phrase "shoot-to-kill" comes into play here.
Regards, Ivan
I agree.
One does not "torture, then kill", for it is a hallmark of a gentleman "C" torturer. One tortures in such a way that the fully conscious subject naturally expires under torture, at more or less predetermined time. Coming term you will have to re-take the class.
This has came so close to happening in Iraq . Big bummer...
We SHOULD have been practicing this procedure since 9/11/01 and let the liberals, the apologists, and do gooders be damned. IMHO, these scum only respect force and terror, and I say, let's give it to them.
My only negative comment is" whoever was the idiot who took the camera into Abu Ghraib was a complete doofus.. I can't believe that someone was so damned stupid as to take pictures..... there used to be an "internal" penalty for crap like that. The whatever or whoever is providing the "leaks" is at Gitmo, well, sharks have to eat.... it's just too damn bad they went swimming.....
That is all I will say on that subject...
Keep the Faith for Freedom,
#15 Don't miss this, political correctness kills!
Immigration checks on London tube passengers were banned six months ago: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/londonnews/articles/16617210?source=Evening%20Standard
I disagree.
These dogs need to be put to sleep, not imprisoned forever.
Yeah. It would have to be an inside job.
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