And with declaring victory and going home...
Is that the enemy can take advantage of timetables.
Breaking: Massive Taliban attack on Kabul hotel
Allahpundit | HotAirIn progress as I write this. Sounds ... Mumbai-esque.
A group of suicide bombers attacked the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul Tuesday, and fighting was ongoing with Afghan security forces, Chief of Criminal Investigation Mohammed Zahir told CNN.
A spokesman for the Taliban, Zabiullah Mujahid, said a group of Taliban bombers was responsible for the 10 p.m. attack on the hotel, which is popular among international guests. There were no immediate details on casualties.
The hotel is located on a hill on the outskirts of Kabul and is typically protected by heavy security. A news conference was scheduled to take place Wednesday in the hotel to discuss the planned transition of security from international to Afghan forces.
The hotel's power has reportedly been cut, presumably by the bombers. Why they'd bother doing that if this is a simple suicide-bomb mission, I'm not sure. Alternate theory: Like Mumbai, this is not a simple suicide-bomb mission.
Associated Press reporters at the scene heard bursts of gunfire and saw shooting from the roof of the five-story Inter-Continental hotel that sits on a hill overlooking the city. Police ordered bystanders to lay on the ground for safety. There was no immediate word on casualties in the rare, nighttime attack in the Afghan capital.
A guest who was inside also said he heard gunfire echoing throughout the building. Streets leading to the hotel were blocked and the electricity was out...
Azizullah, an Afghan police officer who uses only one name, told an Associated Press reporter at the scene that at least one bomber entered the hotel and detonated a vest of explosives. Another police officer, who would not disclose his name, said there were at least two suicide bombers.
The Times says there could be as many as six suicide bombers on the scene, and reportedly at least three are carrying light and heavy weapons. According to a Taliban spokesman, who took credit for the attack on behalf of the group, the attackers "are breaking into each room and they are targeting the 300 Afghans and foreigners who are staying." Systematic murder, in other words, not indiscriminate explosions; presumably, they're wearing vests in case they're cornered by U.S. and Afghan troops and want to take a few with them at the moment of truth.
How unexpected.
UPDATE: The President's Claim that the "Aggressive Withdrawal" was presented to him by the Armed Forces is contra-factual according to sworn testimony before Congress.
In response to questioning from Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Allen testified that Obama's decision on the pace and size of Afghanistan withdrawals was "a more aggressive option than that which was presented."
Graham pressed him. "My question is: Was that a option?"
Allen: "It was not."
The President is certainly under no obligation to take the advice of his advisers nor of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Lying about their recommendations is a whole different matter.
Hat Tip: Ace at Ace of Spades
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Filed under:
Afghanistan, War On Terror
Tags: Afganistan, terrorism, withdrawal
Comments (14)
Don't worry, SuperGaffe wil... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Sep14 | June 28, 2011 5:09 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Don't worry, SuperGaffe will save the day!
1. Posted by Sep14 | June 28, 2011 5:09 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on June 28, 2011 17:09
2. Posted by Rodney Graves
| June 28, 2011 5:12 PM | Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
Sep14,
You'll pardon me if I don't hold my breath waiting for that...
2. Posted by Rodney Graves
| June 28, 2011 5:12 PM |
Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
Posted on June 28, 2011 17:12
3. Posted by Sep14 | June 28, 2011 5:27 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
On second thought, send Dennis Kookcinic instead. He is doing a stellar job in Syria and could probably get Barry a great deal on a golf getaway.
3. Posted by Sep14 | June 28, 2011 5:27 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on June 28, 2011 17:27
4. Posted by Rodney Graves
| June 28, 2011 5:37 PM | Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
Sep14,
Tempting...
4. Posted by Rodney Graves
| June 28, 2011 5:37 PM |
Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
Posted on June 28, 2011 17:37
5. Posted by irongrampa | June 28, 2011 6:08 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Now we get to see the alternate scenario to Iraq. Stay tuned while the game plan is executed, and remind yourself that THIS could have been Iraq with the Dems in charge.
Wonder what the time frame will be before al qaeda reconstitutes in safety?
5. Posted by irongrampa | June 28, 2011 6:08 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on June 28, 2011 18:08
6. Posted by Rodney Graves
| June 28, 2011 6:16 PM | Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
irongrampa @ 5,
I really, really, really wish I could honestly disagree with your comparison and prediction.
6. Posted by Rodney Graves
| June 28, 2011 6:16 PM |
Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
Posted on June 28, 2011 18:16
7. Posted by Sep14 | June 28, 2011 6:33 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
'I sense a Wart in the force'
7. Posted by Sep14 | June 28, 2011 6:33 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on June 28, 2011 18:33
8. Posted by Tsar Nicholas II | June 28, 2011 6:49 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
On the bright side Obama got yet another chance to hone his teleprompter skills, so there's that.
8. Posted by Tsar Nicholas II | June 28, 2011 6:49 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on June 28, 2011 18:49
9. Posted by GarandFan | June 28, 2011 8:25 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Smartest administration, evah!
Perhaps a 'reset' button would come in handy right about now?
9. Posted by GarandFan | June 28, 2011 8:25 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on June 28, 2011 20:25
10. Posted by Sep14 | June 28, 2011 9:08 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Unfortunately there are no 'reset' buttons or 'Mulligans' to compensate for this puppet show.
Just like diarrhea , affirmative action must run its nasty course.
10. Posted by Sep14 | June 28, 2011 9:08 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on June 28, 2011 21:08
11. Posted by Jim Addison | June 29, 2011 2:54 AM | Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Pretty much everything announced by the Obama Regime is "contra-factual." They started early with "jobs saved or created," and built momentum from there.
11. Posted by Jim Addison | June 29, 2011 2:54 AM |
Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on June 29, 2011 02:54
12. Posted by steve | June 29, 2011 7:24 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I'm not defending Obama but are you really suggesting the Taliban staged this attack because Obama announced he was pulling our troops out?
Isn't it more likely that this attack was already in the works, long before Obama gave his speech?
And if I were the Taliban, I wouldn't be ratcheting up attacks now. I've won, I'd keep a rather low profile and wait for the US troops to leave. The last thing they should do now is make things worse, giving Obama an excuse (not that he would) to delay the withdrawals. It would be better to hibernate, let Obama think everything is okay, then once the US troops are gone, return and go back to killing and terrorizing the locals.
12. Posted by steve | June 29, 2011 7:24 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on June 29, 2011 07:24
13. Posted by WildWillie | June 29, 2011 8:46 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Steve, Obama told the Taliban by withdrawing troops can be done because we have neutered the Taliban's effectiveness. The Taliban just showed Obama he was full of shit.
I want all the troops home. When you get a president that plays politics with their lives, like Johnson, the cost isn't worth it and we owe more respect to our troops. Bring them home. ww
13. Posted by WildWillie | June 29, 2011 8:46 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on June 29, 2011 08:46
14. Posted by steve | June 29, 2011 8:58 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
WW: The Taliban didn't need to do this to show that Obama is full... They knew it, the Afghans knew it, we knew it. I doubt that even Obama believes his lines.
14. Posted by steve | June 29, 2011 8:58 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on June 29, 2011 08:58