Posted on 05/19/2006 9:50:37 AM PDT by Squawk 8888
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) - Coalition forces captured a rebel fighter with only one leg in a battle this week in southern Afghanistan, and it was possible the insurgent could be a top Taliban leader, an Afghan general said Friday.
The militant was captured in a joint operation by Canadian and Afghan forces in Kandahar province on Wednesday, said Gen. Rehmatullah Raufi, head of the Afghan military's southern region.
Mullah Dadullah, who lost a leg fighting for the Taliban during its rise to power in the mid-1990s, is one of the hardline militia's top commanders, responsible for operations in eastern and southeastern Afghanistan.
Neither the coalition nor the Afghan government in Kabul said they could immediately confirm that Dadullah had been captured.
"We currently do not have any information but are looking into the claim," said Lieut. Tamara Lawrence, a U.S. military spokeswoman. "Right now we don't have any information that would support it."
Raufi said coalition troops captured the insurgent during a battle in the Panjwayi district of Kandahar province on Wednesday, fighting that led to the deaths of 18 militants and a female Canadian soldier, Capt. Nichola Goddard. About 35 rebels were reported captured in the battle.
Raufi said the captive with the missing leg was seriously wounded and unconscious in a military hospital. There was a "good chance" the fighter was Dadullah but Raufi said he didn't know for sure.
Both Dadullah and Taliban leader Mullah Omar are Pashtun, and Dadullah is one of the most trusted followers of Omar.
In a satellite phone interview with The Associated Press in December, Dadullah said more than 200 rebel fighters were willing to become suicide attackers against U.S. forces and their allies. Since then, there have been repeated suicide bombings, particularly in the south of the country.
Dadullah ruled out reconciliation and talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai's government, saying it "owed its existence" to non-Muslims, and to do so would amount to "joining Christianity and working for Christians."
The 18 rebels killed in Kandahar province on Wednesday during the joint Afghan-Canadian mission were part of a 24-hour storm of violence Wednesday and Thursday in which 100 people were reported killed, including about 90 insurgents, 18 Afghan police officers, an American civilian and the Canadian soldier.
"Coalition forces captured a rebel fighter with only one leg..."
Wow--I thought they would have used guns and explosives.
Omar?
It was a chicken leg. It's been hard times for the Taliban lately.
Mullah Dedullah: you can't make this stuff up!
Is he that same guy who is always show wearing an eye patch?
If so, my only comment is
"Wood-eye, wood-eye, peg-leg, peg-leg."
Anyone who has ever heard that joke will get the humor.
10Q.
Hop in!
The version told around my parts uses "harelip, harelip"
WKRP. More music, and Les Nesman!
I've heard that one too.
He probably does have a hairlip as well.
"...or capture his one legged sister, Ilean....."
I think she worked at IHOP for awhile.
like roaches you can only catch them when they come out but these cowards dont come out
Does this mean that Yale has an extra scholarship opening up for next semester?
What do you think of this?
http://www.combatreform.com/popguns.htm
Fa-na-na Fa-na Fo dullah
Me-my-Modullah
MULLAH!
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