More pointless destruction in a pointless war without purpose, goal or anything that would justify the wanton loss of American lives and the pouring out of American treasure that continues to this day and will continue on into the future until who knows when. “Taliban insurgents set oil tankers ablaze in Afghanistan,” Reuters, July 5, 2014:
KABUL (Reuters) – Taliban insurgents set fire on Saturday to about 200 oil tanker trucks supplying fuel for NATO forces in an attack just outside the Afghan capital Kabul, police said.
Television footage showed black smoke billowing above the site of the attack, with the charred wreckage of dozens of trucks scattered around a vast parking space.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the trucks carried fuel intended for U.S.-led NATO forces.
It was unclear how the fire was started. Some Afghan media reported that insurgents had fired rockets at the tankers late on Friday. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
“The number of tankers on fire is not yet clear, but based on preliminary reports from police around 200 tankers have been burnt,” the interior ministry said in a statement.
The attack happened as Afghanistan prepares to announce preliminary results of the final round of a presidential election on Monday in a tense atmosphere. Each of the two candidates vying to succeed President Hamid Karzai accuses the other of mass fraud.
The Taliban have vowed to disrupt the election process. On Thursday, militants fired rockets into Kabul’s international airport, destroying a helicopter.
BlueRaven says
There is only one country that is supplying weapons and funding to the Talibans, known to everyone except Oh-Bamba. Yeh, more pointless funding to Pakistanies and that continues to this day and will continue on into the future until who knows when.
Wellington says
The very worst endeavor an American President can engage in is to send American military personnel into harm’s way with no path to victory and without a clear understanding of why the fight has to be fought. This happened under LBJ, under Nixon, under Clinton, under Bush 43 and now Obama. It arguably happened as well under Truman, Kennedy, Reagan and Bush 41. Actually, the last true war to total victory was WWII. Here I have to compliment FDR, though even he screwed up big time at Yalta.
Christ, what is it going to take? A Teddy Roosevelt? Even he might not be good enough. My educated guess is a Lincoln, a Polk, a Jackson or a Washington and no less. None out there that I can see. Damn shame because the American military ALWAYS deserves a Lincoln type as Commander-in-Chief. The American military has forever done its job. Many Presidents have not.
jihad3tracker says
Hello again Wellington —
A couple of weeks ago more or less I said almost the same thing about presidents after FDR.
They have refused to take time and energy to study history / alliances / cultures — of the countries we committed troops to.
Both parties equally lazy, stupid or whatever other description best suits such disgusting waste of American lives and money.
Wellington says
Thanks for your response, pal. Ah, a lack of knowledge, especially historical knowledge, is a terrible thing, no?
As for the two chief American political parties, I call the Republicans “dumb” and the Democrats “dumber.” Not a good combo, I would argue, having the most powerful nation on earth led by dumb and dumber. And meanwhile, the decrepit Islamic world is licking its chops (beef I guess and not pork) looking at all this, aided ancillarily by Western European nations being directed by clueless folks like Cameron. Truly, the best are without resolve and the worst are emboldened.
Beagle says
Remember when Afghanistan seemed unusual as a safe harbor for jihadis like al Qaeda to recruit and train?
Good times. Iraq, Libya, Syria, to name three, have become all or in part jihadi failed states.
jewdog says
The way to defeat the Taliban is to defeat the Taliban. Nation building efforts meant to use material rewards to win hearts and minds won’t work because Muslims want to rule, not spend.