September 29, 2005

Report: Taliban MIGHT Have al Qaeda Links

At least twelve people were killed in Kabul today when a mass-murderer on a motorcycle exploded himself in Afghanistan's capital city. You might have heard this in the news already, but look how New Zealand's Mail and Guardian is spinning the story. Here is the headline:

Kabul attack raises fear of al-Qaeda link to Taliban

What? Is this a joke? Ok, so maybe the headline is misleading. You know, like a typo or something. Sometimes headlines don't do a story justice. The only people who have any doubt that the Taliban were simply the institutionalized political wing of the Salafist jihad in Afghanistan also wear tin foil and believe that 9/11 was an 'inside job'. Let's go on to the story:

Afghan officials believe al-Qaeda has renewed its ties with the Taliban.
Renewed its ties? Again, what idiot actually thinks those ties were ever severed? Seriously? But at least the story admits that there were ties, you know, at one time.

The facts of the story actually get at what is really going on. What is meant is that the Taliban are now copying tactics used by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's al Qaeda in Iraq, and that foreign jihadis with ties to al Qaeda are entering Afghanistan in larger numbers.

In an interview published this week, a Taliban commander boasted he had trained in Iraq for several months and was now bringing his expertise home.

"I want to copy in Afghanistan the tactics and spirit of the glorious Iraqi resistance," Muhammad Daud told Newsweek.

Hours before Wednesday's blast, the Afghan intelligence agency, the NDS, told security groups that al-Qaeda had formed a new group, named Fedayani Islam (Sacrifices for Islam), and sent suicide bombers into southern Afghanistan, seeking "targets of opportunity".

As someone who has a bit of knowledge about this subject, let me state categorically that there is not a bit of difference between al Qaeda and the Taliban. Different organizations, yes, but with the same goals and who are now, and have always been, tied together. Further, al Qaeda and the Taliban never left Afghanistan. Why the hell do you think we've had troops in that country for over 3 years now? To make such a claim reveals a depth of ignorance so great that it is almost unfathonable.

By Rusty Shackleford, Ph.D. at 08:27 AM | |