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Routed Taliban 'collapsing like dominos'
IndependentUK.com via Drudge | Nov 12,2001 | By Justin Huggler in Khojabahuddin and Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor

Posted on 11/12/2001 5:48:58 AM PST by NC Conservative

Routed Taliban 'collapsing like dominos'

Northern Alliance claims string of victories but Bush orders it to keep out of Kabul

By Justin Huggler in Khojabahuddin and Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor

12 November 2001

Afghanistan's opposition forces have closed in on Kabul, claiming to have recaptured large swathes of territory from the retreating Taliban in a triumphant sweep across the north.

The opposition foreign minister, Abdullah Abdullah, described a sudden collapse of Taliban forces that he said put Northern Alliance troops on the outskirts of Herat, the main city in western Afghanistan, and approaching the capital after overrunning Bamiyan.

Geoff Hoon, the Secretary of State for Defence, confirmed for the first time that British military personnel, believed to be members of the SAS, are active on the ground in Afghanistan.

"I can confirm that there are members of Britain's armed forces on the ground in northern Afghanistan, liaising with the Northern Alliance providing advice and assistance," he told BBC Radio 4's The World this Weekend programme.

Taliban forces were said to be withdrawing towards Kabul, two days after the dramatic fall of Mazar-i-Sharif, in what appears to be a sensational success for the American strategy of bombing in support of the Northern Alliance.

But many of the reported advances were unconfirmed. Most of them appeared to be the result not of pitched battles, but of the defection of local Taliban commanders – and the sincerity of those defections is not yet certain.

Mr Abdullah expressed surprise at the speed of the reported Taliban collapse. "I knew the cracks could produce a sort of domino effect and this could get out of their [the Taliban's] control," he said.

It was reported that a planned Northern Alliance offensive on Kabul had been "postponed" after US President George Bush warned the Alliance to hold back from the capital until a provisional government could be formed. But Mr Abdullah refused to rule out a march on Kabul in the coming days.

The alliance claimed its forces were about to enter Taloqan, yesterday, after Taliban commanders in the northern city defected along with 5,000 of their men. But the claim was impossible to verify, and the Taliban denied that the city had fallen.

If the fall of Taloqan is confirmed, all that would stand between the Northern Alliance and control of the north as far west as Mazar is the heavily fortified city and province of Kunduz. If Kunduz were to fall, forces in the north-east could join those who captured Mazar to create a continuous swathe of Northern Alliance territory.

Elsewhere, the Alliance claimed it had made major gains in the provinces of Bamiyan and Baghlan, and captured the towns of Eskamesh, Nahran, Chal, and the strategic road junction at Pul-i-Khumri, which commands the main road into Kabul itself.

But the alliance suffered setbacks as well. In heavy fighting overnight, Taliban forces pushed back an alliance advance in fighting on the Dasht-i-qaleh front line north of Taloqan, one of the approaches to Kunduz. There were rumours that a member of an American special forces team guiding bombers over the city had been wounded.

North of Kabul, alliance commanders appeared to be chafing at the bit as they heard of the successes to their west. But the US fears its strategy could unravel if they were to capture Kabul, where they are unpopular. It is thought the Pashtuns of the south will not stomach the minority-dominated alliance in the capital.

Mr Hoon told a newspaper that he would be "quite happy to see the Northern Alliance steam across northern Afghanistan and take Kabul" but after the Americans made their views clear, he amended his comments. "We want them [the alliance] to march towards Kabul, to take ground, to deny the Taliban regime and Osama bin Laden space in Afghanistan," he told BBC's Breakfast with Frost. Downing Street also said that it merely wanted the alliance to "march towards" Kabul but not yet enter the city.

Mr bin Laden warned the US-led coalition that he would never allow himself to be captured alive. "America can't get me alive," he told a Pakistani interviewer.


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: talibanlist
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FYI
1 posted on 11/12/2001 5:48:58 AM PST by NC Conservative
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To: NC Conservative
I believe the President said "Dead or Alive" Guess Mr Bin Ladin is going for the first option. That works for me.
2 posted on 11/12/2001 6:19:28 AM PST by lexington minuteman 1775
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To: NC Conservative
alliance commanders appeared to be chafing at the bit

Is it my imagination, or are metaphors being mixed here? A mixed metaphor always sticks in my claw.

3 posted on 11/12/2001 6:33:06 AM PST by LJLucido
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To: NC Conservative
Mr bin Laden warned the US-led coalition that he would never allow himself to be captured alive. "America can't get me alive," he told a Pakistani interviewer.

I'm supposed to be upset?

4 posted on 11/12/2001 6:35:15 AM PST by skeeter
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To: skeeter
"America can't get me alive," he told a Pakistani interviewer.

Where did he get the ridiculous idea that we wanted him alive?

5 posted on 11/12/2001 6:42:08 AM PST by Elenya
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To: NC Conservative
They'll never take me alive, see....!

Kalashnikov toting bin Laden is sounding more like a '40's B Movie gangster all the time.

6 posted on 11/12/2001 6:48:17 AM PST by Post Toasties
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To: lexington minuteman 1775
Good! That will keep the lawyers out of it.
7 posted on 11/12/2001 6:49:47 AM PST by OrioleFan
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To: LJLucido
I agree with you. Trite cliches are not my cup of tea.
8 posted on 11/12/2001 6:50:53 AM PST by Mr. Lucky
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To: NC Conservative
Mr bin Laden warned the US-led coalition that he would never allow himself to be captured alive. "America can't get me alive," he told a Pakistani interviewer.

Go Ahead, Punk! - Make My Day! !
(I don't have the Clint Eastwood pic here at work to go with this) ;-(
9 posted on 11/12/2001 6:51:58 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
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To: LJLucido
Is it my imagination, or are metaphors being mixed here? A mixed metaphor always sticks in my claw.
LMAO! !

10 posted on 11/12/2001 6:55:21 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
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To: MeeknMing

11 posted on 11/12/2001 6:59:19 AM PST by Walkin Man
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To: Mr. Lucky
Yogi Berra was good for mixed metaphors and malapropisms. As he might advise the retreating Taliban, "If you come to a fork in the road, take it."
12 posted on 11/12/2001 7:01:27 AM PST by LJLucido
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To: LJLucido
alliance commanders appeared to be chafing at the bit
Is it my imagination, or are metaphors being mixed here? A mixed metaphor always sticks in my claw.

You're absolutely right. Puts a burr in my bonnet, too.

13 posted on 11/12/2001 7:01:33 AM PST by Migraine
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To: OrioleFan
Well, let's not be so hasty here.If Clinton's lawyers got involved they would argue over what dead, "IS".BWAHAHAHA
14 posted on 11/12/2001 7:02:21 AM PST by lexington minuteman 1775
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To: MeeknMing
I wondered who might catch that! One woman I knew was always asking "What in carnation is going on around here?" I never bothered to suggest the correct expression - I figured she just liked flowers.
15 posted on 11/12/2001 7:03:39 AM PST by LJLucido
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To: LJLucido
"Is it my imagination, or are metaphors being mixed here? "

There's more than one way to skin a couple of birds in the bush.
~:)

16 posted on 11/12/2001 7:07:20 AM PST by ez2muz
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To: Walkin Man
WalkinMan, Great shot (pun intended) of Dirty Harry. I was going to say Clint (Eastwood) but didn't want to associate Eastwood with Clint-on.

Any more pics of Dirty Harry?

17 posted on 11/12/2001 7:07:40 AM PST by Cobra64
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To: NC Conservative
a friend of mine is in dasht-i-qaleh, this is not a hoax, please pray for him, he works for Shelter for Life in the Taloquan province and this is his city. I will find the video for all to see.
18 posted on 11/12/2001 7:08:04 AM PST by russdawg
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To: NC Conservative
These folks are ruthless, they show no mercy to anyone, either side. They sure don't need a place to confine each other when caputured, just kill them and its all over. I was hoping that the southern tribes would join up and walk into Kubal. A year from now they will be fighting each other, that is the hatred they have within.
19 posted on 11/12/2001 7:08:05 AM PST by gulfcoast6
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To: NC Conservative
but Mr. Bush tell them [NA] not to [invade Kabul]"

i understand that bush is trying to pacify certain moslem countries. i also understand that franks is bombing along the road to kabul. fortunately, bush does not have authority over the NA, so they should do as they deem appropriate.

most times that a football team plays prevent defense it gets scored upon. NA -- onward to kabul!
20 posted on 11/12/2001 7:08:21 AM PST by mlocher
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