Taliban attacks Afghan capital, U.S. Embassy

CBS News ^ | September 13, 2011

[xjcsa]

A complicated attack involving multiple gunmen and apparent suicide bombers was underway in the heart of the Afghan capital Tuesday morning, and it appeared to be focused near the U.S. Embassy.

CBS News staff in Kabul reported hearing heavy gunfire and at least seven explosions, some of them large. The situation was described as "chaotic", and it remained unclear how many people were wounded.

A Taliban spokesman claimed there were several militants inside at least one building near the embassy district in Kabul, and that the targets of the attack were Afghan government ministries and the intelligence services.

The Taliban's primary website ran a statement Tuesday morning saying "Operation Martyrdom" was underway in the Afghan capital.

[ohioWfan]

Amen!

Even when our son was deployed to Baghdad in 2008, we didn't have Skype, so we love it now. We did talk on the phone at least every couple of weeks, so it wasn't so bad.

I think a lot about families who had loved ones in the Pacific theatre in WWII and would go months without hearing from them, or even knowing where they were.

Technology helps out with the anxiety a lot. However, it also lets you know faster when there's danger, and that's not always a good thing. Sigh.....

[littleharbour]

You’re correct about the Japanese. The same applies to the Germans, who were one of the best educated and cultered nations in Europe before they fell under the spell of the Naxis. And read a bit of history on how the English treated their opponents prior to the 20th century if you want a bit of perspective on how supposedly civilized people can devolve into brutality.

[littleharbour]

Once Obama reduces American troop strength in Iraq to 3000, the Bagdad embassy will be a sitting duck.

[trillabodilla]

Please pray for my nephew Michael, who is in the Army National Guard, and is in Afghanistan as we speak.

[Eleutheria5]

It is just another Muslim political movement, which is why one must be leery.

[rbmillerjr]

How long until the brain dead media uses the term,

“Afghan Tet”

I’d bet on it, very soon.

[panthermom]

My son told me just today that the locals where he is are furious with the Taliban right now, and he is in Taliban country! They are angry because the Taliban caused a lot of civilian casualties during Ramadan. Like my son says, they’ll get over it, just a minor spat.

[panthermom]

My son is in the Stan right now too. He does not have internet at his COP. I have Skyped with him once over the past 4 months while he was visiting a FOB. I am jealous ;)

He does have a Haji phone that works while standing on top of the outside wall of the COP or standing in the middle of the Latrine, when the stars align, there is just the right wind, etc....needless to say, they take their chances on the wall. A few times he has taken fire while talking to me, I can hear the shots. Needless to say, my nerve threshold is at off the chart!

You and your husband will be in my prayers!

[chargers fan]

I think a lot about families who had loved ones in the Pacific theatre in WWII and would go months without hearing from them, or even knowing where they were. Technology helps out with the anxiety a lot. However, it also lets you know faster when there's danger, and that's not always a good thing. Sigh.....

It's good and bad. Good that you can keep in contact with loved ones. Bad in the sense that it keeps soldiers always thinking about problems back home and is a daily reminder to those back home about what they miss. Also, there are plenty of "helicopter" parents,spouses,girlfriends that now freak out if they don't talk to their soldier daily on skype/Facebook/the phone.

[Mrs.O'Strategery]

I feel so badly for you. I know how spoiled I am with the contact I have been blessed to receive with my husband. This is our first deployment and I had no clue what to expect and I was expecting the worst. We have a blended family. We have six kids together and this has been a huge test on our strength. I’m so happy that our kids have the chance to be able to talk to dad when they need too… and I know there are many times I feel at my wits end and I feel so much better after I get to Skype with him. It has been so fun to watch our 13 month old interact with daddy on Skype. She knows the Skype ring and she gets so excited and happy when she hears it.

I do agree with the above also though that the technology is a blessing and a curse at the same time.

God bless you and your son! I’ll keep him in my prayers.

[Mrs.O'Strategery]

I totally agree with you about how the constant contact can be a distraction to the soldiers. But, then I’ve also read from military literature that you should be keeping your soldier informed of what’s going on and keep them involved in decisions and what not.

It’s such a tight rope to figure out what should be shared and what shouldn’t be shared. I’ve tried to have a policy of that I’ll keep him informed of what’s going on— but only if I have worked out a solution for the problem. I’ll tell him about it, tell him what I did about it and then say, “Do you think I approached that the right way?” This keeps him involved with the kids and their discipline and it keeps the heat of me. I can tell the kids, “I talked to dad and he agreed with your punishment.” I don’t know.. I’m far from being an expert on any of this. I feel like I am stumbling blind.

[panthermom]

Thank God for technology!!! I do keep FB open all day just in case he gets to a FOB, at least we can chat! Hey, they just got satellite TV this past weekend so they now have football, I am still keep hope for the internet!!!

I can’t even imagine doing this with 6 kids! You are an strong woman! God Bless you and your family!

[DTA]

>>>>> If we had really enforced a secular government and given those forces a chance to get stronger, things would be different. <<<<<<

Send thanks to this idiot

His idea ("beartrap") was to destroy secular regime in Afghanistan and install Islamofascists.

911 was an advance payment. Full payback is in progress. U.S. resources are spread thin from Libya to Pakistan, with the hell in between (Egypt/Turkey/Iran) and the trouble outside (Taiwan Strait, Korean peninsula) Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred... Afghanistan is not a country, never was and probably never will be. But it is a lasting marker of geopolitical foolishness of those who want to rule the world but can not rule their own purse. British. Soviets. A dire lesson for America.