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Taliban: 500 Suicide Bombers Ready to Attack

September 18, 2006 4:00 PM

Taliban2_soldiersIn a rare interview, the Taliban's top military commander told ABC News he has 500 suicide bombers at his disposal and could launch them at any time.

Speaking by satellite telephone from an undisclosed location, Mulla Dadullah Akhund told ABC News the suicide bombers will target Kabul, the capital, because it is the headquarters for U.S. and NATO forces.

"They attacked us. We didn't go to the U.S. to fight them. We are fighting for our religion and homeland," he said.

Mulla Dadullah, who lost a leg in earlier fighting, said he also commanded 12,000 Taliban fighters, which he claimed were actively engaging U.S.-led forces in four southwestern Afghan provinces.

"We have no shortage of fighters," he said. "In fact, we have so many of them that it is difficult to accommodate and arm and equip them. Some of them have been waiting for a year or more for their turn to be sent to the battlefield," Mulla Dadullah contended.

According to Mulla Dadullah, the Taliban would be launching new and bigger attacks in Afghan cities in spring next year.

This weekend 13 suspected Taliban militants were killed and four wounded in a clash with police in a southern Afghan province, and just today three suicide bomb attacks killed at least 18 people and injured more than 60, many of them children, in one of the most violent days for Afghan civilians.

In the interview, he said he visited North Waziristan and South Waziristan in Pakistan's tribal areas about three months ago and advised the Pakistani Taliban not to fight their country's armed forces. "I told the Pakistani tribal militants that fighting in Waziristan was in the interest of America. My argument was that we should fight the U.S., U.K. and armies of other Western countries," he told ABC News.

The Pakistani government announced a "peace agreement" in the area earlier this month, based on promises Taliban fighters would not cross into Afghanistan to attack U.S., NATO and Afghan troops.

"As for President General Pervez Musharraf, we know he has been siding with President Bush against fellow Muslims. At the behest of the U.S., he waged war against the Pakistani Taliban in Waziristan and is now publicly proposing to Mr. Karzai to jointly fight the Taliban and Talibanization," he maintained, referring to the Afghanistan president.

Mulla Dadullah said the deployment of more NATO troops in southern Afghanistan would not make any difference to the Taliban. He said he was of the opinion that the U.S. had cleverly handed over dangerous provinces to the British, Canadian and Dutch troops and withdrawn their own troops from there.

He said only 14 Taliban fighters, and not 500 as claimed by NATO, were killed in the recent fighting in Panjwai district in Kandahar. "You know in an earlier battle the Afghan government announced my capture from Panjwai. They tell lies to raise the morale of their demoralized soldiers," he maintained.

Regarding the Taliban claim that they had acquired new weapons, Mulla Dadullah said it was true only in the case of anti-aircraft missile. He said the missiles were effective against low-flying U.S. and NATO aircraft.

September 18, 2006 | Permalink | User Comments (46)

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Religion is the "root" of all evil! Always has and always will.Religion will be the cause of mankind's destruction,so live it up!

Posted by: B.A. | Sep 18, 2006 8:21:37 PM

Why don't we get every person out of Afghanistan who is not Taliban - or support Taliban and then NUKE the rest and put an end to this craziness. After Afghanistan we can do the same to Iraq.

Posted by: madwoman | Sep 18, 2006 8:26:37 PM

We should let the Muslims know that if we are attacked on US soil that we will fly over Mecca and spray it with pigs blood!

Posted by: Wes Mitchell | Sep 18, 2006 9:02:58 PM

Life means absolutely nothing to these 7th century barbarians. I wonder what Jane Fonda, Rosie O'donnell, Susan Sarandin and the other liberals will think when akbar yabba dabba doo knocks (kicks there door in) on there door, hands them a burka and announces they are now another one of his wifes.

Posted by: big D | Sep 18, 2006 9:42:00 PM

Two things:
3 tours RVN
1 Kuwait
Please pass "Get Stuffed"
"Send us more Saudi students" so we don't have to go so damn far.
God bless America
Between the Democrats and Republicans there is more than enough stupidity to go around.
Waiting for someone to get serious.

Posted by: Robert | Sep 18, 2006 10:01:59 PM

Why this incessant Bush/Cheney bashing from Americans? At least Bush is doing something - even if he's making mistakes, at least give him credit for trying! Who else is gonna even try? The democrats and their hand-wringing pacifiers? European leaders? The Pope?! With the exception of Bush and Blair, everybody else is cowering in fear of that bunch of deranged, maniacal, satanic brood of neanderthals otherwise known as Muslim radicals! What do you want Bush to do, kiss them and let them come behead you while they rape your wives and daughters? You think you know so damn much better, let me see each of you throw your hat in the ring next November and wage this war with those demons any better than Bush has!

Posted by: Sandy | Sep 18, 2006 10:07:18 PM

If Islam religion is so peaceful why is it that Muhammed had to spread the faith by sword?

It is easy to see that taliban and Osama are just following in their prophet's footsteps.

Why us it that a peaceful religion would kill unbelievers?

If a person converts from Islam to another religion, then they will be killed.

Another peaceful instance.

Posted by: Jim | Sep 18, 2006 10:41:51 PM

Muslims are furious regarding the Popes comments on the ancient ways of their religeon. Spreading religeon by the sword. Now the ones protesting are saying those who don't convert in the end will have their heads cut off? A Nun has been shot to death... the Pope as been warned he faces doom... Am I missing something? I don't get it. God forbid a Quran fall on the ground but the Bible is open game. Is this holy war or holy crap. Political correctness is going to kill alot more people than 9/11.

Posted by: Jason | Sep 18, 2006 10:42:23 PM

When are Americans going to wise up and realize when it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, IT'S A DUCK! The rhetoric from these warped maniacs just keeps on coming. Is it going to take another 9/11 before we start fighting these fascists on their own terms? Have we not learned any lessons from history? The only rule we should have in pursuing these crazed, suicidal, brainwashed fanatics should be......THERE ARE NO RULES!

Posted by: eefletch | Sep 18, 2006 11:24:30 PM

To ABC NEWS:

Regarding: Taliban: 500 Suicide Bombers Ready to Attack
September 18, 2006 4:00 PM
Rahimullah Yusufzai Reports:

Because my brother is a soldier in Afghanistan, I follow the news from there closely. Your Afghanistan story quoted further below is INEXCUSABLE REPORTING in light of the following news. I am a liberal who in this case must agree with the right wing as I think all thoughtful Americans will when they see the terrible conflict in your reporter’s story with the other news of that day.

This is what needed to be reported about in American news and wasn't really covered:

Four NATO Soldiers Killed, 24 CHILDREN Hurt By Suicide Bomber
September 18, 2006

-- NATO officials say four soldiers from the
alliance were killed today in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar by a suicide bomber on a bicycle. Reports say 24 CHILDREN!!!! also were injured by the blast – at least four of them seriously. NATO did not identify the nationality of the soldiers who were killed. But Afghan officials say the attack took place as Canadian soldiers were distributing candy, notebooks and pens to a crowd of children near the district of Panjwayi. [Remember PANJWAYI!!]

(AP, AFP Reuters, RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan) Also reported elsewhere.

In the US you have to dig up that news ...

Instead, on the same day, in the same news cycle we get ABC news interviewing Mulla Dadullah of the Taliban in Afghanistan and just offhandedly mentioning: "just
today three suicide bomb attacks killed at least 18 people and injured
more than 60, many of them children, in one of the most violent days
for Afghan civilians."

Worse yet, according to ABC, Mullah Dadullah goes on to claim in
a "phone" interview from a "secret" location that he has 500 SUICIDE
BOMBERS AT HIS DISPOSAL and could launch them at any time.
WHAT!! 24 innocent children were injured by a suicide bomber and ABC
is giving a lot of propaganda space to the guy who claims to command
them and doesn't even mention that he kills innocent children.

It get even worse...
He said only 14 Taliban fighters, and not 500 as claimed by NATO,
were killed in the recent fighting in Panjwai district in Kandahar
[Remember PANJWAYI!!] WHAT!!! THAT IS WHERE HIS SUICIDE
BOMBER HURT 24 INNOCENT CHILDREN - HE MUST HAVE ORDERED IT).
continuing: "You know in an earlier battle the Afghan government announced my capture from Panjwai. ( [Remember PANJWAYI!!] THIS IS HIS DISTRICT. IT IS WHERE HE FIGHTS. HE ORDERED THE ATTACK THAT INJURED 24 INNOCENT CHILDREN ... WHY IS ABC LETTING THIS TERRORIST ON THE NEWS WITHOUT TELLING US THIS FACT!!

ABC just lets him spew his propaganda. Your report goes on to say, “Mulla Dadullah, who lost a leg in earlier fighting (Oh!! don't we all feel sympathy for this murderer of innocent children!!), also said he commanded 12,000 Taliban fighters, (really that many) which he claimed were actively engaging U.S. led forces in four southwestern Afghan provinces. He said he was of the opinion that the U.S. had cleverly handed over the dangerous provinces to the British, Canadian and Dutch troops and withdrawn their own troops from there. (divisive propaganda) "They tell lies to raise the morale of their demoralized soldiers," he maintained (THEY TELL LIES!!) "We have no shortage of fighters," he said. "In fact, we have so many of them that it is difficult to accommodate and arm and equip them. Some of them have been waiting for a year or more for their turn
to be sent to the battlefield," Mulla Dadullah contended. According to
Mulla Dadullah, the Taliban would be launching new and bigger attacks
in Afghan cities in spring next year. (MORE TALIBAN PROPAGANDA)

I WILL TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO E-MAIL ABC ON THIS ONE. I, A LEFTY, LIBERAL, AM INFURIATED BY THIS. WRITE ABC AND TELL THEM WHAT YOU THINK!!

Posted by: John Pickart | Sep 18, 2006 11:27:08 PM

Hehe...those suicide-bombers should remember that they'll get reborn as a skunk...i would think about it personally...

Posted by: willi | Sep 19, 2006 2:18:32 AM

Let them bring it on. It will eventually be up to the Afgan people to join the 21st century or chose to live in a 7th century Islamic paradise. It will be their loss, not the US's. You can lead a donkey to water, you can't make em drink!

Posted by: MAC 101 | Sep 19, 2006 3:55:50 AM

Hmmmmm;

500 more suicide bombers.....

that is what I call a target rich environment!!!!!!!!

Send in the clowns........

CPT Jim

Posted by: CPT Jim | Sep 19, 2006 6:50:53 AM

some of these comments are pointless, just like this one :)

Posted by: Holiday Spreadsheet | Sep 19, 2006 7:03:08 AM

I don't believe this

Posted by: Jolly Jalani | Sep 19, 2006 7:24:09 AM

I think I'd give one of MY legs to be able to believe this story. What's new about them having suicide bombers? They seem to reproduce like those "Sea Monkeys" that you'd take out of the packet, add water, and then watch 'em grow.
Way to go radical Muslims for affirming the Pope's statements that you took out of context. What's up with that Orange County reject who went al Qaeda? I wasn't popular in high school, either, but I dealt with it. Oh my goodness...is that Madonna using mimicking the crucifixioin? Can I go torch record stores now, since I am opposed to her action? McCain, Powell....take off the white gloves. If we want to interrogate terrorists and force them to watch "Glitter" 72 times (note the significance of that number), then let us! Politics or security? It's time we chose the right course.

Posted by: Melissa | Sep 19, 2006 8:16:42 AM

Top Taliban man says that the US "cleverly" handed over control in worst provinces. Now THAT's a way to fight a WAR ON TERRORISM...

We take control of Afghanistan, bumper crop of opium, now THAT's how to fight a WAR ON DRUGS...

People don't understand that we're not supposed to WIN, we're supposed to sustain. The governments of this world are using WAR to sustain their control, their money, and their power. Think about it...when was the last time we weren't in a "war"? The Depression.

Posted by: Andrew | Sep 19, 2006 10:14:34 AM

We like it or not thses terrorist activities is sometihng we and our future generations will be dealing.

Posted by: Bennie | Sep 19, 2006 11:10:26 AM

I bet the 500 Taliban he claims are exactly the same hundreds of fighters that NATO cleaned up recently.

Posted by: James Beam | Sep 19, 2006 11:58:02 AM

could this be the begining of the "badar offensive" the oppo wants to mount against the coalition around the time of ramadan(which starts sept.24th)that the reporter hamid mir warned about? QUO VADIS!

Posted by: todd ferguson | Sep 19, 2006 12:22:24 PM

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