[VA Advogado]

Amazing story. Our guys are the best.

[VA Advogado]

Spann asked the prisoners who they were and why they joined the Taliban. They massed around him. "Why are you here?" Spann asked one. "To kill you," came the reply as the man lunged at Spann's neck. Spann drew his pistol and shot the man dead. Dave shot another, then grabbed an AK-47 from an Alliance guard and opened fire. According to eyewitness accounts given to the German team, the Taliban launched themselves at Spann, scrabbling at his flesh with their hands, kicking and beating him. Spann killed two more with his pistol before he disappeared under the crush.

This is an amazing exchange. Spann died a hero.

[breakem]

excellent post

[Benrand]

So what the HELL was Seymour Hersh talking about 4 weeks ago??? He caused quite a dustup.

At least now we know he's a liar when he, and CNN in particular, said this mission was turning into, what was that word? Oh yeah...

QUAGMIRE

[Chesterbelloc]

Thanks for posting this... Great read!

[CatoRenasci]

One of the 86 told Alliance fighters he was an American. The 20-year old, who had been wounded in the leg, said he was from Washington DC. He would not give his name, but said that he was a convert to Islam who had come to Afghanistan — after a spell at a madrassa in Pakistan — to help the Taliban build a perfect Islamic government.

Treason by levying war against the United States is the charge, death is the penalty. Him, we take back to the US and give a civilian trial in the Southern District of New York.

[Gritty]

BTTT

[COL. FLAGG]

American Commander: "If they can hit that, then that would kill a whole lot of these motherf___ers"

Good Line.

That is one of the more memorable comments of this conflict. Up there with "Let's roll!" However, it will probably not be used by W in any speech in the near future. Although I could see Rummy using it.

[Cicero]

They should put Mary Robinson in charge of the next batch of prisoners.

[jwfiv]

Action-heroes bump.

[blam]

Good post, thanks. Let's Roll!

[Arleigh]

great read! bump!

[BunnySlippers]

Wow. I'm bookmarking this one.

[razorback-bert]

bump

[Mr.Clark]

Excellant post. Spann died a true hero and our Special Ops boys, Brits included, are the best. Kudos to the Northern Alliance boys who pulled our troops out of the rubble and who killed those damn Chechens.

[Enlightiator]

This is hands down the best piece of war reporting coming out of Afghanistan to date, just an excellent report by Alex Perry!

[Mr.Clark]

Bump for a great article.

[Dan Day]

On Saturday, the basements were flooded; Northern Alliance observers expected perhaps five or six surviving Taliban to come out. In fact, at 11:00 a.m. no less than 86 filthy and hungry prisoners emerged; they were given bananas, apples and pomegranates, clothing and shoes.

Big mistake. They should have been killed.

[mrsmith]

"War: a way to reason with idiots."

We have the some fine men protecting this country.

[CJinVA]

Bump for a great report.

[Incorrigible]

Wow!