Counterterrorism Blog: DISTURBING NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN

DISTURBING NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN

By Larry Johnson

by
Larry C. Johnson

Taliban fighters linked to Al Qaeda shotdown a U.S. military helicopter on Tuesday reportedly with an RPG. According to FBIS reports, a Taliban spokesman claimed that US forces had inserted seven "spies" into the moutains west of Asadabad and that mujahedin had killed some and were pursuing others. About 12 hours after the chopper was downed and before the crash was announced by US officials, a spokesman for the Taliban movement, Abdul Latif Hakimi, said that the group�s fighters have shot down the aircraft in the village of Shorak. Hakimi said that the group had video of the crash and would post photographs on its Web site. So far nothing has been posted.

We now know from US sources that the helicopter's passengers included members of a Quick Reaction Force who were responding to calls for assistance by US troops on the ground who were fighting Islamic militants.

Beyond the tragedy of the deaths of 16 US military personnel, this incident raises some disturbing issues. The ability of the Taliban to communicate with the outside world about activities in a remote area of Afghanistan is equal to if not better than that of the United States. War is not simply engagements on the ground, it also involves information flow. The Taliban are showing a very sophisticated capability in this regard.

More troubling is the possibility that the Taliban forces knew in advance that US forces were coming into the area and were in a position to ambush our people. That is a counterintelligence problem pointing to possible penetrations of US operational plans. Finally it is clear that Islamic extremists along the Northwest Frontier of Pakistan are stepping up their infiltration of Afghanistan in an apparent bid to derail elections there. This is a war the United States cannot fight alone. Unfortunately it appears that our erstwhile Pakistani allies are not doing their part to stem the tide of Islamic militants entering Afghanistan and to locate and destroy the remnants of Bin Laden's forces that have, until this moment, enjoyed safehaven.

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» DISTURBING NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN from The Law and Terrorism Page-- Greg McNeal
"Taliban fighters linked to Al Qaeda shotdown a U.S. military helicopter on Tuesday reportedly with an RPG. According to FBIS reports, a Taliban spokesman claimed that US forces had inserted seven "spies" into the moutains west of Asadabad and that muj... [Read More]

» Intel Expert: "Disturbing News From Afghanistan" from Booman Tribune
Larry Johnson, a former CIA/State Dept. analyst, makes troubling observations at the Counterterrorism Blog about U.S. intelligence issues following the Taliban's downing of a Chinook helicopter in the mountains of Afghanistan: [Read More]

» Special Operations Soldier Rescued in the 'Stan from Starboard!!!
A member of the U.S Army Special Operations Command has been rescued after five days evading Taliban fighters: Special Ops Member Rescued in Afghanistan [Read More]

» Afghanistan Daze from The Jawa Report
By Demosophist Larry Johnson frets: Beyond the tragedy of the deaths of US 16 military personnel, this incident raises some disturbing issues. The ability of the Taliban to communicate with the outside world about activities in a remote area of... [Read More]

» Afghanistan Daze from Anticipatory Retaliation
Larry Johnson frets: Beyond the tragedy of the deaths of US 16 military personnel, this incident raises some disturbing issues. The ability of the Taliban to communicate with the outside world about activities in a remote area of Afghanistan is... [Read More]

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