Taliban check in to Afghanistan International Hotel

by YankeeJim | June 29, 2011 at 02:41 am

155 views | 3 Recommendations | 12 comments

Underscoring the Taliban-led lawlessness is in command, the T-ban attack a popular hotel in the “secure” area of Kabul. Eight lunatics and explosives are a walking time bomb.

The only way ahead is Taliban extermination, not negotiation.

“Landmark Kabul hotel attacked by Taliban suicide bombers

By Pamela Constable, Published: June 28 | Updated: Wednesday, June 29, 4:55 AM

KABUL — A squad of up to eight Taliban suicide bombers and gunmen laid siege to a landmark hotel overlooking the Afghan capital late Tuesday, sparking an hours-long firefight that ended only when NATO helicopters shot dead several insurgents who had commandeered the building’s roof.

The audacious and heavily armed assault, for which a Taliban spokesman quickly asserted responsibility, shattered any sense of security in the sprawling capital. The attack, which left at least 11 dead and 14 wounded among civilians and security forces, comes as Afghanistan prepares to begin a transition from international to full domestic control of defense, security and civilian governance.

The insurgents targeted one of Kabul’s best-known and best-protected buildings, the historic Intercontinental Hotel, on a hilltop in the city’s west. It was unclear exactly how they managed to reach the site, but at least one police official said early Wednesday that the assailants had been wearing police uniforms.

Police officials said the attackers exploded a vehicle at the site’s entrance, then sent a team of bombers and gunmen inside the hotel, where a wedding was underway and a meeting of the nation’s provincial governors was being prepared.

The Taliban spokesman, in a chilling statement early Wednesday, said the attackers had called during the siege to report killing at least 50 “foreign and local enemies” inside the hotel. The statement, sent to various news outlets, said some attackers had reached all five floors and had gone door to door, pulling guests out of their rooms and shooting them.”

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

The 1

at 03:29 on June 29th, 2011

America's answers just don't seem to work well when applied to the middle east. Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Yeman, Pakistan, Bahrain, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Palestine can't conform to our system of governing and laws. We just can't make the rest of the world in our image. America's nation building does not specifically work well there.

YankeeJim

at 05:20 on June 29th, 2011

And if we think we have an advantage with our system, why spread it around creating more competition?

The 1

at 09:26 on June 29th, 2011

Right, this global economy kind of bit us in the ass. It may have been great for the super rich to get richer, but in that process destroyed America's middle class and overall high standard of living. As the rest of the world gets richer and more competitive now_America gets poorer.

"thirty-aught-six" (not verified)

at 08:37 on June 29th, 2011

It wasn't the global economy that has made America poorer. It was the American progressive liberalism that demanded we give up our ability to produce/manufacture so we wouldn't have the guilt of our prosperity. Well now we got no bananas and we ain't getting them back as we race to the bottom to be equal to the have not's. Don't blame the rich. And don't blame the rich for finding a way to work with in that idealism. Just like Al Gore. He'll sell you your green ideology right back to you, carbon trade with the world and laugh all the way to the bank doing it. And the government is going to carbon tax you on top of it. But the good news is Obama is giving 500 million to a company to make green light bulbs. We're safe and so is our future. LOL.

YankeeJim

at 08:53 on June 29th, 2011

Do you define "American progressive liberalism" as Social Security, Medicare, affordable healthcare for all Americans?

Obama's green light bulb program is something I don't like either. He should stick to fixing bridges and highways. There are a lot pot holes still out there.

I blame the rich because they are in charge.

"thirty-aught-six" (not verified)

at 10:14 on June 29th, 2011

What I said was, "It was the American progressive liberalism that demanded we give up our ability to produce/manufacture so we wouldn't have the guilt of our prosperity." That has nothing to do with government run services except for....um, how do we pay for and keep up the social services in the absence of any viable production/manufacturing sector? Green lights bulbs? Tax the rich for giving to the demand? Good luck with that. It was our ability to produce/manufacture that created the environment that allowed for the introduction of government services as part of that prosperity. Don't get your shoes on the wrong feet believing that it was idealism that created the prosperity. The rich are in charge. Nice cop out. The rich will sell you the first dumb idea you hold as inviolate. Don't blame the rich because most favor idealism over pragmatism. You's gets whatcha ask fer. WE be responsible.

YankeeJim

at 13:11 on June 29th, 2011

Yes, Bill Clinton et al did that.

The 1

at 15:01 on June 29th, 2011

"It was the American progressive liberalism that demanded we give up our ability to produce/manufacture so we wouldn't have the guilt of our prosperity." .30-06

I believe the way that all actually came about was approx thirty or so years ago when the idea of a global economy was beginning to take shape. The then rich and powerful could actually begin taking advantage of dirt cheap labor, resources and other financial opportunities being presented by third world countries. The Republican Administrations of the eighties actually encouraging businesses to go overseas; using those opportunities to drastically reduce America's high paid labor cost and American jobs; directly benefited the rich and powerful in America business.

It had, as far as I know, nothing to do with any American progressive liberalism in creating those early global business expansion tactics of the eighties. It was actually the beginning of NWO ideas and business practicies by the filthy rich and powerful including secret societies and powerful financial groups.

"thirty-aught-six" (not verified)

at 16:14 on June 29th, 2011

Trouble with you partisan types is you allocate ideals as "Party" then start casting blame. Don't use the "Party blame game". For one, all policy is passed by a vote in the House and Senate and both Party's share in that responsibility. Secondly, there is an equal share of Democrats in business plying the foreign markets for cheap labor. Oprah and Ellen come to mind. I talk of the ideology behind WE Americans, that we owe it to the rest of the world to bring them up to our standard of living and abolish poverty and whatever else we have lumped in there. If you create jobs in another country, where yours already has that production, you do so at the cost of your own people. There is no net gain across the board so the idea is no pragmatic solution to what was supporting the basis of the ideology. Just one more case of ideology before reality. Or theory before practice. Choose your poison. The end result is the West is in a race to the bottom and can never recoup those manufacturing jobs. Ever. Not possible. WE collectively have made ourselves poorer in the name of ideology. End game. You can now go back to blaming the Republicans. Because I know you don't believe all those "progressive Liberals" attending the Bilderberg Group meetings are part of the NWO. Oh no, just the Republicans. LOL. Man -the NWO is a progressive liberal ideal.

YankeeJim

at 17:26 on June 29th, 2011

Well, I digress to the story at hand. now, rpeorts are saying that al Qaeda would like credit for blowing themselves up instead of the Taliban. Whomever.