October 10, 2007:
NATO commanders are convinced that Iran, in the form of the
Al Quds Force (a section of the Revolutionary Guards that supports foreign
Islamic radicals) is supplying the Taliban with weapons. Several shipments of
Iranian weapons have been captured over the Summer. Iran denies everything, as
they do for similar activities in Iraq and other Middle Eastern
countries.
October 9, 2007:
Just across the border in Pakistan, nearly a week of fighting between the army
and pro-Taliban tribes has left hundreds dead and over a thousand wounded. Some
of the tribes are incensed because the army has entered the tribal territories
over the last few years, seeking to shut down al Qaeda operations. The tribes
tolerate al Qaeda because there has always been a tradition of being "more
Moslem than thou." Tribal leaders seeking more power have long played the
religious card, and tried to gain more power with it. Same thing in
Afghanistan, which is where the Taliban came from. The problem is that most
Pushtun, on both sides of the border, do not want to live the strict lifestyle
the hard-core Taliban demand. That eventually leads to violence. Even drug gang
leaders can play the religion card, by insisting that their heroin is
"poisoning the infidel", and ignoring the thousands of Afghans who
get addicted, or caught up in the general lawlessness and debauchery that
accompanies the flood of drug money.
October 8, 2007:
Australia suffered its first combat fatality in Afghanistan, when a soldier was
killed by a roadside bomb. There are about a thousand Australian troops in
Afghanistan, where Australian forces have been active since 2001. But these
operations are not politically popular back in Australia, and the loss of a
soldier in combat is expected to lead to the withdrawal of Australian troops
from Afghanistan.
October 5, 2007:
Afghan forces retook a remote district headquarters that had been captured by
hundreds of Taliban two days earlier. The Taliban have done this several times
over the past few year. Basically, it's a publicity stunt. The Taliban hire
several hundred local tribesmen, usually including many who are on the
outs with whichever tribal faction is running the district. The town where the
district headquarters is located, will be looted, especially the two or three
government buildings. When the police approach, the tribesmen will flee back to
their villages with the loot. Afghans in general, but especially the rural
tribesmen, have a big thing about loot. Always have.