November 28, 2008
Former Taliban Spokesman Killed
You'd think I'd be excited about this, but I have mixed feelings: emphasis on former Taliban spokesman. There's some indication that "Dr. Mohamed Hanif" had some sort of falling out with the Taliban leadership after which he retreated to his family compound to lie low. If he did in fact turn on the Taliban and provided the good guys with usable intel, then it's too bad we lost him.
Then again, how much sympathy can you have for a guy who was the official spokesman for the Taliban? The same guy who the Taliban demanded be released from an Afghan prison, where he was briefly held in 2007 in exchange for Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo. When the Afghans didn't release Hanif they didn't carry out their threat, eventually releasing the Italian amidst rumors of a sizable ransom, but that's little consolation to his Afghan translator and driver, Ajmal Naqshbandi and an Afghan driver Sayed Agha, who they then beheaded.
So, crocodile tears.
When they finally get Qari Muhammad Yusuf, Zabiullah Mujahid, Mupti Abu Yasr, or Adil Watanmal then we'll have a party.
