Taliban Commander: God Favors Us

By: Sean Alfano
Topics: Afghanistan

(AP Photo/Abdul Khaleq)

A Taliban commander Mullah Abdu Ghfar Aknond in Marjah told CBS News' Sami Yousafzai Monday in a telephone interview that "God turned his favor on the Taliban" by sending heavy rain ahead of the expected offensive in southern Afganistan, making it far easier for the militants to dig holes for IEDs and landmines.

Aknond claimed between 1,000 and 1,500 Taliban fighters were laying wait in Marjah for the onslaught.

The commander said the U.S. and its allies were "welcome to the mine fields" of Marjah, but that victory there would not defeat the radical Islamic movement. "There are dozens of districts like Marjah," he told CBS News.

Special Report: Afghanistan

American troops have already taken up positions surrounding the town and are well aware of the dangers that await. CBS News correspondent Mandy Clark, embedded with U.S. Marines about five miles from Marjah, reports that the American Special Forces are already entering the town at night in advance of the operation.

The biggest fear, and one which is well founded based on what Taliban sources tell CBS News, is improvised explosive devices, or IEDs - the militant's weapon of choice.

U.S. commanders tell Clark they will enter Marjah using a staged approach to try and minimized casualties from the IEDs, which they believe the area to be "seeded" with.

"Assault Breacher Vehicles" - hulking tank-like, blast resistant machines with digging equipment on the front, will be first to enter Marjah, trying to clear as many IEDs as possible. They'll be followed by progressively larger groups of troops.

Marjah is the last town in the restive Helmand River Valley — once firm Taliban territory — to remain under control of the militants in the wake of a massive coalition offensive in December

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by Leaderless February 8, 2010 11:12 PM EST: Taliban commander is right but his a$$ will be history after 2012, when obama is done.; Reply to this comment


by worldcitizen1 February 8, 2010 8:49 PM EST: Humans, and their "gods" are the lowest forms of life on the planet!; Reply to this comment


by pnut134 February 8, 2010 5:02 PM EST: Maybe the gods should duke it out.; Reply to this comment

by iirishamerican February 8, 2010 3:15 PM EST

Now is there any reason at all why we shouldn't waterboard or torture the living crap out of these terrorists when they are captured alive? I can't think of any. Put it up on payperview, I'll rent it. Why not? they do.

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by finkfurst February 8, 2010 3:45 PM EST: Because you claim to be a civilised country perhaps? Or maybe you don't!


by worldcitizen1 February 8, 2010 8:40 PM EST: You are a sick individual!


by Empire-George- February 8, 2010 2:51 PM EST: by cowardlyimbecile February 8, 2010 12:42 PM EST

Hey, we're gonna go bury some teenagers who were talking to boys. Wanna come-with?
______________

Yeah, after that we could behead some non-believers for no reason, other then not believing.....A la la la la la la la !!!!; Reply to this comment

by babooph February 8, 2010 11:36 AM EST

Same delusion as the zionists & whaco Christians suffer from....

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by cowardlyimbecile February 8, 2010 12:41 PM EST: They thought you were real?


by cowardlyimbecile February 8, 2010 12:42 PM EST: Hey, we're gonna go bury some teenagers who were talking to boys. Wanna come-with?


by CoastalExchange February 8, 2010 11:34 AM EST: Further proof there is no God. The fact "he" would let any of this go on is rubbish in of itself. The very idea of a micromanaging megalomaniac God is ludicrous. Theists beware.; Reply to this comment

by cowardlyimbecile February 8, 2010 11:14 AM EST

Secular republics: private property, multiparty system, limited government, consent of the majority, protection for the minority, separation of church and state. Eternal warfare against all else.

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by cowardlyimbecile February 8, 2010 1:42 PM EST: I chose it to represent our commonality. Of course the text of what I've so written might offend those who are its enemies.

by I_am_me1953 February 8, 2010 11:13 AM EST

"Taliban Commander: God Favors Us"

__________________

Really, then come out on the battlefield and play like real men instead of hiding behind women and children like the cowards you are. I am sure that if God does "favor" you, you will win.

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by worldcitizen1 February 8, 2010 3:06 PM EST: Like striking with predator drones flown from Nevada? There is no such thing as a fair fight!


by cowardlyimbecile February 8, 2010 5:20 PM EST: God has favored them with flying carpets. Let's see what happens.


by pensacola8-2009 February 8, 2010 10:58 AM EST: God gives everyone the tools to unite, but there are those who instead chose to use the tools that divide and drive themselves to kill.

We left our airports wide open and insecure and a few opportunists orchestrated an effective suicide attack. For that, we are one trillion dollars in debt and trying to make sense of the invasion of two countries who will never adapt to become like us. Insanity....vanity....useless.

When we finally accept blame for our own part in the 911 attack and discredit the legitimacy of the invasions, we will then be free again....until then, we are aimless madmen waundering lost in the chaos of hell by our own making.; Reply to this comment