KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 19, 2008
Suicide Bombers Try To Storm U.S. Base
6 Bombers Blow Themselves Up Outside Afghanistan Base, No U.S. Casualties Reported
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An Afghan policeman check a vehicle as an Afghan woman passes by at a check point in Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
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An Afghan National Army soldier stands near a damaged vehicle after an explosion in the outskirts of Kabul, Aug. 16, 2008. A bomb struck the convoy of Afghanistan's education minister, wounding one person after they were returning from distributing books to nomad children. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
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Fast Facts Afghanistan Learn about the people, economy and history.
Afghan officials said at least 13 militants died in the attack, including six suicide bombers. NATO offered a slightly different account, saying three suicide bombers detonated their vests and three more were shot dead. NATO said seven attackers in total were killed.
The militants failed to gain entry to Camp Salerno in Khost city after launching waves of attacks just before midnight on Monday, said Arsallah Jamal, the governor of Khost. The base is just a few miles away from Pakistan's border.
The attack came one day after a suicide bomber outside the same base killed 10 civilians and wounded 13 others.
Soldiers on the ground, fighter aircraft and helicopters were chasing the retreating militants. NATO said its forces identified the attackers about 1,000 yards outside of the base perimeter and launched helicopter gunships.
Gen. Mohammad Zahir Azimi, the Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman, said Afghan soldiers, aided by U.S. troops, chased and surrounded a group of insurgents, and six militants in suicide vests blew themselves up when cornered. Seven other militants died in those explosions and a rolling gun battle, he said.
"(The Afghan National Army) is saying that anytime we get close to them, they detonate themselves," Jamal said.
The Taliban appeared to confirm that account. Zabiullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, said the militants dispatched 15 militants for the attack on Salerno, and seven blew themselves up and eight returned to a Taliban safe-house.
Jamal said the bodies of at least two dead militants were outside the checkpoint leading to the base's airport, both of whom had suicide vests on. It wasn't clear if those militants were among the dead in Azimi's count.
Two Afghan civilians also died in the fighting, Jamal said.
Militants have long targeted U.S. bases with suicide bombers, but coordinated attacks on such a major base are rare.
In related developments:
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- Everyone should realize, shazam is practicing to be a virgin for Allah. When the martryrs arrive to receive their virgins, instead of 72 they will only have shazam to share among them. So he must practice hard to be the best *** he can in the name of Allah. They shouldn''t mind too much as long as they leave the paper bag over his head.
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- Posted by Nancy_Naive at 07:10 AM : Aug 20, 2008
+ report abuse
*******
so when your liberal ''brothers'' wanted the soldiers home..are doing it because they care or are they doing it because its ''hip'' at the moment..that is a lot of soldiers to spit at.. - Reply to this comment
- Let me roll up the cuffs, it`s too late to save the shoes.
Man, I have seen some bs`ers but you take the gold, Bubba.
Regards,
Posted by Nancy_Naive at 07:10 AM : Aug 20, 2008
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he did not realize that he is dealing with a true hard core card carrying ''flag burning'' terrorist loving liberal... - Reply to this comment
- All these suicide bombers do not seem to fear the Bush torture threat-has anyone tried to explain to him why?
Posted by babooph at 12:51 AM : Aug 20, 2008
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******
they are banking on obama is going to win the election.. - Reply to this comment
- All these suicide bombers do not seem to fear the Bush torture threat-has anyone tried to explain to him why?
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- Nanacy_Naive...Unfortunately for me and my family we were not aware of the 1 in 800,000 statistic that you so "smugly" threw at us...Unfortunately for me and my family we did lose my little brother that day. (he wanted to be so much like me)...We are 3 generations Marine Corps family...but....I do not care whether you believe me or not...it does not matter...All facts...but no...substance or confirmation...SHAME ON YOU...I can see that I really got your feathers ruffled though...Enjoy...REGARDS.
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- Nancy_Naive...All 241 of them were my brothers....As for me...2nd Battalion,5th Marines,1st Marine Division...1968-1972...Now...you have lost my respect...and...''credibility''...SEMPER FI.
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- Nancy_Naive...Sorry to hear that...I might not ''always'' agree with you...but I at least respect your opinions ''sometimes''...and I would never accuse you of ''total b.s.''...After all there are a lot of worse fish to fry on these posts than me...C''est la vie....
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- To Nancy Naive: If the terrorist knew that they had to spend eternity with you, I bet the suicide bombings would end right now.
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- Shazam115...Canada is not..as you put it "scared"...Canada is "sacred"...and while you''re at it why don''t you keep your greasy, perverted,foul mouth out of American politics...You are much too uneducated to know anything about it...and while you''re at it..stay out of Canadian politics as well.
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- Shazam115...My wife is Canadian.
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- Four French soldiers kidnapped and then murdered. Where is Amnesty International?
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- kill these dam*n terrorists
- Reply to this comment
- Nancy_Naive...How about the last 4 Canadian Prime Ministers. (people who live in glass houses shouldn''t throw stones.)
- Reply to this comment
- Nancy_Naive...My mother is from France. (Paris)...and you?..Francophile oui?...Quebec?...Quebecois?....GO HABS!
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Posted by guadalcanal3 at 07:00 PM : Aug 19, 2008
Now go Habs A ,frenchy ..... - Reply to this comment
- Nancy_Naive - well I do have to say that is an impressive list of war/battles the French armed forces were in.
I also noted that more than a few, probably about half were also attended by the US Marine Corps, in numbers that frankly dwarf the fact that the French even participated.
I also noted that a lot of the battles/wars were for independence from France. Some which were successful.
Very few battles/wars that the US MArines have been in had anything to do with retaining colonies. Many since 1940''s had to do with stopping the spread of communism, nazis, Japanese, assorted Dictators, and other not so petty war lords.
The US Marines. No worse enemy, no better friend. - Reply to this comment
- Nancy_Naive...My mother is from France. (Paris)...and you?..Francophile oui?...Quebec?...Quebecois?....GO HABS!
- Reply to this comment
- Hmmm...well at least we''re getting lot''s of history lessons today.
- Reply to this comment
- Too dumb and lame response goon ...stick your finger in your nose and followed by in the backdoor ...repeat back and fourth few time that will help you think of some intelligent postings...boo chicken....
Posted by shazam115 at 06:28 PM : Aug 19, 2008
I''m not the one posting homosexual fantasies about doing another guy. Or did you forget your own quote.
"I got 15 inches for your brown sticky Global positioning point ....it might end up saying hello to you entering from behind and showing up in your mouth yankee doodle...."
Yep! Your a Rump Ranger!! But it''s OK! Be true yourself! - Reply to this comment
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
