Afghans Hit By 2nd Deadly Suicide Blast
At Least 35 Killed As Relatives Bury Victims Of Sunday Blast That Left 100 Dead
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Afghans carry the body of a victim who was killed by Sunday's suicide attack for a funeral service, in Kandahar province south of Kabul, Afghanistan on Monday, Feb. 18, 2008. A second blast in Kandahar province on Monday killed at least 35 people, according to police. (AP Photo/Allauddin Khan)
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Afghan police survey the debris from a massive suicide attack that killed at least 100 people and wounded dozens more outside of Kandahar, Afghanistan on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press)
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An Afghan police man stands guard near the damaged police vehicles at the site of a suicide attack on the western edge of Kandahar, south of Kabul, Afghanistan on Sunday, Feb. 17. 2008. (AP)
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Afghanistan
Learn about the people, economy and history.
At least 28 people were wounded in the market attack, apparently targeting a Canadian military convoy in Spin Boldak, a town in Kandahar province near the border with Pakistan, said Abdul Razeq, the Spin Boldak border police chief. Two Canadian soldiers were wounded, he said.
The death toll from the Sunday blast on the outskirts of Kandahar city rose to more than 100 on Monday, according to a provincial governor, who also said he had warned an anti-Taliban militia leader targeted in the attack that militants were trying to kill him.
Sunday's suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowd of men and boys watching a dog fighting competition in the southern city of Kandahar.
Kandahar Gov. Asadullah Khalid told The Associated Press the death toll from the Sunday blast had risen to more than 100, up from 80. Most victims were killed immediately, though some of the scores of Afghans critically wounded had died, Khalid said. He did not give a precise toll.
The bombing was the deadliest in Afghanistan since the Taliban's ouster from power in 2001 and follows a year of record violence and predictions the conflict could turn even deadlier in 2008.
Officials said the suicide attacker targeted a militia leader, Abdul Hakim Jan, who died in the attack, along with 35 of his men. Khalid told mourners at a mosque he had warned Jan about three weeks ago that militant suicide bombers were trying to target him.
Khalid blamed the bombing Sunday on the "enemy of Afghanistan" - terminology frequently used by officials to refer to the Taliban. A Taliban spokesman said he didn't immediately know if the militants were responsible. The Taliban often claim responsibility immediately after major attacks against police and army forces - often naming the bombers - but shy away from claiming attacks with high civilian casualties.
Kandahar - the Taliban's former stronghold and Afghanistan's second largest city - is one of the country's largest opium poppy producing areas. The province has been the scene of fierce battles between NATO forces, primarily from Canada and the United States, and Taliban fighters over the last two years.
Dog fighting competitions are a popular form of entertainment around Afghanistan. The fights can attract hundreds of spectators who cram into a tight circle around the spectacle. The sport was banned during the Taliban rule.
The blast crumpled several Afghan police trucks and left bloodstains around the barren dirt field. Afghan soldiers donated blood at Kandahar's main hospital after the attack, said Dr. Durani, who goes by only one name.
"There are too many patients here," he said. "Some of them are in very serious condition."
Wali Karzai, brother of President Hamid Karzai and the president of Kandahar's provincial council, said Monday that Jan was the target of the attack
Jan was the provincial police chief in Kandahar in the early 1990s and was the only commander in the province to stand up to the Taliban during its rule, said Khalid Pashtun, a parliamentarian who represents Kandahar.
There were so many people gathered and of course the Taliban and al Qaeda usually target this kind of important people.
Khalid Pashtun, Kandahar parliamentarianJan was most recently appointed the commander of an auxiliary police force - often shorthand for a local militia operating with government approval - to protect the Arghandab, a strategic area north of Kandahar. The area was overrun briefly by the Taliban late last year after the local leader, Mullah Naqibullah, died of heart attack.
A joint Afghan, NATO and U.S. force pushed the militants out of Arghandab. Shortly after, NATO's top commander in Afghanistan, U.S. Gen. Dan McNeill, visited Arghandab to reassure local leaders of the alliance's commitment to help President Hamid Karzai's government keep the area under their control.
Suicide attacks have been on the rise in Afghanistan, but rarely have they killed so many people. Militants carried out more than 140 suicide attacks in 2007, a record number.
Faizullah Qari Gar, a resident of Kandahar who was at the dog fight, said militant commanders' bodyguards opened fire on the crowd after the bombing.
"In my mind there were no Taliban to attack after the blast but the bodyguards were shooting anyway," he said.
The previous deadliest bomb attack came in November in the northern city of Baghlan, when a suicide bombing and subsequent gunfire from bodyguards killed about 70 people including six parliamentarians and 58 students and teachers. Investigators never determined how many of the deaths were caused by the blast and how many by the gunfire.
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.



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See all 55 CommentsBut hey, I know what you meant :)
At any rate, the surge is working. However, we cannot expect to cover every inch of both of those countries.
Posted by poopusbuttus at 07:21 AM''
You really need to read more news about what''s going on over there. The problem has nothing to do with not being able to cover every inch of the country militarily. The political situation in both countries is where the problem lies.
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Posted by ontheleft
The political situation is taking care of itself. Afghanistan and Iraq are growing stronger and more self-reliant by the day.
Time for you to jump aboard the train of success. Lay your hatred of Bush to your side. Be a leader, not a follower of a blind liberal ideology.
lol, the ''liberal'' media is owned by the corporations...there''s no such thing!
Posted by poopusbuttus,
I agree with this. However, with that being the case does anyone have an idea as to how long our troops will need to be in Afganistan and Iraq?
All you have to do is look the events in Vietnam and realize this is a similiar situation. We spent how much, lost how many and in the end after we left South Vietnam was overrun by the Viet Cong.
The second we withdraw our troops the people will overthrow the government we installed regardless of how long we are there.
Are we prepared to support a policy that will spend tens of trillions, costs tens of thousands of Americans to leave and watch an Islamic state form?
I do not believe we be wasting our resources on programs with no tangible return on them when you consider the problems these same resources could solve domestically.
Posted by singinrick
Looking to Christ and the Christian religion is not a solution. That''s only transferring from one delusion to another.
Posted by singinrick
The surge is working because the Mehdi Army is obligating a cease fire. Once our troops leave, they will resume the civil war. The success of the surge is only temporary.
We''ve spent a trillion dollars to watch them go into civil war to form their secular government.
Absolutely nothing! But we must just truck on while the Neocons attempt to get their pipeline and oil contracts.
Looks like the monsters are carrying on with their dirty war against the Afghan people....way to go NATO!
Keep that Opium flowing...keep those coffins heading for Dover and the medevacs in the air...no cost is too great to serve the interests of Big Oil and the Drug Lords.
Meanwhile in other news, the biggest terror leader in the Middle East, Olmert, has said everyone in Gaza is a target.
If all of the money we have wasted on the Stupid Peoples War had been put into solar energy millions of homes and businesses would no longer require hydrocarbons...
If GM had continued non-stop with its electric car instead of quashing it--literally--it is more than likely that they would NOT be in the red now....
If your leaders would support the officers working against drug importation instead of jailing Border Patrol agents who interdict protected drug dealers, supporting the creation of a narco-terrorist KLA and M13, and opium production in Afghanistan, we might actually win the drug war.
Keep voting Demopublican! There are still stupid, criminal and murderous deeds that need to be accomplished by vicious evil men and women...Stand behind them!...Vote Demopublican!...Your very soul depends on it!
Let your hatred of Republicans and your President go!
It''''s consuming your entire being!
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Posted by singinrick at 09:53 AM : Feb 18, 2008
Fighting Islamic extremists is the furthest thing from the Neocon regime.
I don''t hate anybody...but I''m not a blind sheep who will follow them into hell like you are.
Al Queda and Taliban do the Neocon bidding to create chaos. Once you realize that, and get your head out of the Bush behind, you may be able to see it.
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Posted by RowdyTexan2
You have proof of this?!! you need get the proof to the media....for the safety of the country!!
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Posted by bogusbones
they are?!!! oh my god!!! what are they doing to do?!!
CAN BE, TURNING HIMSELF INSIDE OUT BEGGING
TO LIKED.
A BITTTCH DOG IN HEAT ROLLING AROUND ON THE
GROUND.
The Soviet Union got out of Afghanistan after trying everything for 13 years.
What do the Americans have that makes you think we can beat those country loving people against invaders?
In Iraq, Americans are paying the local militants to stay quiet...this is unsubtainable once we leave sooner or later. In business, they cut their loses and move on with life.
After 100 years, the European learned that Colonization never works.
After about 50 years, the Americans learned that Imperialism in Latin America never works.
After 6 years, the Americans should have learned by now that Democratization of Iraq and Afghanistan will never work. Instead, why don''t we democratize the Saudi Arabia kingdom?
Democracy must come from forces within otherwise they will not listen to invaders.
After 100 years, the Europeans learned that Colonialism never works.
After 50 years, the Americans learned that Imperialism in Latin America never works.
After 6 years, the Americans should learn that Democratizing Iraq and Afghanistan will never work.
Democracy must come from within otherwise they will never listen to invaders (outsiders).
2 weeks after 9/11, Osama Bin Ladin released his first video where he told the world why he did what he did.
The 1st reason was a US military base 60 miles from the holist Mecca. The 2nd reason was the Israel-Palestinian conflict. I forgot the 3rd reason.
On May 15, 1948, the American President advocated the creation of the State of Israel. 2 years later, more than 4.5 million Palestinians were forced out of their homes and lands without compensation. Is this Terrorism?
Please do not listen to me and continue to spent your treasury and blood until you can just nolonger afford it.
The Soviet Union got out of Afghanistan after trying everything for 13 years.
What do the Americans have that makes you think we can beat those country loving people against invaders?
In Iraq, Americans are paying the local militants to stay quiet...this is unsubtainable once we leave sooner or later. In business, they cut their loses and move on with life.
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Posted by lovegetpeace at 12:31 PM : Feb 18, 2008
Exactly!
Folks,
2 weeks after 9/11, Osama Bin Ladin released his first video where he told the world why he did what he did.
The 1st reason was a US military base 60 miles from the holist Mecca. The 2nd reason was the Israel-Palestinian conflict. I forgot the 3rd reason.
On May 15, 1948, the American President advocated the creation of the State of Israel. 2 years later, more than 4.5 million Palestinians were forced out of their homes and lands without compensation. Is this Terrorism?
Posted by lovegetpeace at 12:57 PM : Feb 18, 2008
Hay Singinrick,
Please do not listen to me and continue to spent your treasury and blood until you can just nolonger afford it.
Posted by lovegetpeace at 01:13 PM : Feb 18, 2008
Well said. That has been Bin Laden''s stated goal long before and since 9/11. They want to grind America down in Iraq until we''re totally bankrupt and defeated. The price tag is estimated to be 2 trillion dollars and rising. These neocon''s obviously support Bin Laden''s goals as they want to stay the failed course indefinitely.
notblue
You find those WMD''s yet? How bout that yellow cake?
No?
Well, keep looking.
lol!
Your facts are off. These people decided because of propaganda and fear to leave their homes for refugee camps that still exist today. They were never forced by UN or Israeli forces to move. At this period in time, with the exception of Jewish and Muslim terrorist organizations, Jews and Muslims mostly lived in peaceful existence.
LOL, hardly believe you have a texas bone in your body. The Americans have the support ofthe Afghanistan people all who are tired of the fanatic ways and the murder and torture that follows the Taliban and al Qaeda. Did you know the taliban recently tortured then hung a boy with a string because they found an american dollar in his pocket?
notblue
LOL, hardly believe you have a texas bone in your body. The Americans have the support ofthe Afghanistan people all who are tired of the fanatic ways and the murder and torture that follows the Taliban and al Qaeda. Did you know the taliban recently tortured then hung a boy with a string because they found an american dollar in his pocket?
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Posted by sevenveils at 01:46 PM : Feb 18, 2008
Yes, I do...hard to believe that it was US money that supported Talibans and built them up, isn''t it?
Our friend is now our enemy...because of greed.
There''''s no rationalizing with the irrational (RowdyTexan2). She is bound and determined to blame every single issue in the world on Bush and America, regardless of the subject.
It happens to be the same rhetoric that OBL and Mahmoud Ahmadenijad preach all the time, as well, ironically (or not!)
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Posted by singinrick
Agreed. ROWDYDUMMY is a palestinian. Self admitted, mind you.
Hi Poopusbutthead! You big dummy...supported Kosovo did ya, not knowing they were all Muslims that you hate!
You big dummy!!! Hahahahaha!
You big dummy!!! Hahahahaha!
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Posted by RowdyTexan2
Oh, I dont hate all muslims ROWDYDUMMY. Just the ones that blow up innocent civilians.
Strange, isn''t it...that it''s the far religious right in America breeding hate...but there ya go!
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Posted by poopusbuttus at 02:29 PM : Feb 18, 2008
Well, you''re supporting these ones...the only reason that they want a separate country is to get away from the Christians in Serbia and practice their Sharia law.
Try looking in the mirror buddy.
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Posted by singinrick at 02:31 PM : Feb 18, 2008
You don''t see me promoting that it is right to go over and genocide another people to get their oil, like you do.
You promote hate, Singinrick...I don''t need to look in the mirror when I can see your posts.
You big dummy!!! Hahahahaha!
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Posted by RowdyTexan2
Not promoting hate? Yes, Jesus would not be proud of you, ROWDY
Why do you change the subject? Do you have any rebuttals in your intelligence?
Ironic to say the least.
One of the biggest liars and rumor mongers on these boards carries the moniker "truth be told".
Yes, 9/11 was caused/allowed in house! By Saudi hired mercenaries.
And yes, Middle Eastern countries care about their oil, and don''t want it stolen from them!
And yes, some don''t care about the oil...they just want to live in peace like we were doing when we brought Al Queda into Iraq.
Now you guys can live your lives afraid of the boogieman all you want to. But there are millions of Muslims living in this world in peace. And I refuse to live my life afraid of a few! The only ones I need to be afraid of are those who would kill for greed.
Why do you change the subject? Do you have any rebuttals in your intelligence?
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Posted by lovegetpeace at 04:23 PM : Feb 18, 2008
Because he''s the biggest hypocrit on the boards. He comes in here claiming to be a Christian who supports going to Iraq and genociding their people for oil!
A total far right nutcase!
- Posted by terrorislam9 at 02:50 PM : Feb 18, 2008
That author definitely wasn"t Mitt Romney, who once said:
"And I hear from time to time people say, hey, wait a second, we have civil liberties we have to worry about. ["Liberty with danger"] But don''t forget the most important civil liberty I expect from my government is my right to be kept alive ["peace with slavery"], and that"s what we"re going to have to do."
- Mitt Romney, Fox News, Republican Presidential Candidate Debate, Durham, NH, 9/5/07
- Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 06:15 PM : Feb 18, 2008
Not me.
I"m going to follow Barack Obama straight to Utopia.
Posted by TruthBeTold
you dont want truth or you wouldnt be on these boards
wow rick, check your words here. what is accomplished by calling someone a nutcase? regardless of floyd''s opinion (ideals only floyd may hold dear) consider that those words are up there for everyone to read. I wasn''t even a registered commenter until saw this conversation.
in regard to "Muslims that blow themselves up and kill innocent people every day ARE MANIACS" i would like to say that the ones doing the blowing up are a small faction of extremists. rhetoric is crucial here because it seems to me that you are calling some of my Muslim friends suicide bombers. may i remind you of the crusades when so called christ-folllowers made the most embarassing move of the millenia to rake thru the Muslim world destroying them in the name of jesus. the jesus i serve changes lives by the power of grace and mercy and unconditional love not by making crass generalizations and name calling.
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