7 June 2012
“There’s been an increase in the attacks.”-Leon Panetta, U.S. Secretary of Defense
After threatening Pakistan, U.S. Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, arrived in Kabul to discuss the increased violence in Afghanistan (proving that recent reports that violence was down are wrong). If you’ve been following my posts, it’s obvious the violence has increased.
Panetta admitted, in a round-a-bout way, that the U.S. is clueless in Afghanistan, by saying his impromptu visit to Afghanistan was “…to get a sense of just exactly what are the Taliban doing.”
In classic U.S. trickery, Panetta said that while attacks were up, they were still down, compared to other years of occupation! Some regional news sources point out that the U.S. is also behind the increase in violence as more civilians have been killed by occupying forces.
Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, is condemning yet another U.S. led occupying force attack, that left at least 18 civilians dead. Karzai was on a trip to China, but cut the trip short to return to Afghanistan.
The airstrike, possibly by UAV, took place in Logar Province on the morning of 6 June 2012.
In Maidan Wardak Province, a member of the Afghan Parliament was attacked. Local reports say his convoy was ambushed as he headed to Kabul. At least four of his body guards were wounded.
6 June 2012
Idaho National Guard reporting that one of their citizen soldiers was wounded while riding in a Black Hawk helicopter. He was shot (on 3 June) by Mujahideen on the ground. Sergeant Albert Vieth was flown to Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State for further treatment.
Idaho Army National Guard’s 1-168 General Support Aviation Battalion was sent to Afghanistan on 19 May.
Another U.S. led occupying forces helicopter has gone down. International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) confirmed: “Two International Security Assistance Force service members died following a helicopter crash in eastern Afghanistan today.”
In Logar Province, a U.S. occupying forces airstrike killed at least 18 civilians. Afghan government officials, and occupying forces claim 25 Mujahideen killed, however, local security officials claim most of those killed were civilians. A house belonging to a tribal elder was blown up by the airstrike.
It was possibly a drone strike, as ISAF refers to it as a “precision airstrike”.
In Kandahar Province, a massive suicide bombing left as many as 23 people killed, and 50 wounded. The target of the bomber was the U.S. controlled Kandahar air port. Some regional reports say occupying troops make up some of the dead.
In Faryab Province, another suicide bombing left as many as eight people dead. It was reported by the Afghan government’s 303 Pamir Security Command.
In Kapisa Province, at least six cops were killed, and two wounded after Mujahideen attacked a checkpoint.
ISAF reports yet another “facilitator” captured, in Takhar Province. Another “leader” captured in Kandahar Province.
5 June 2012
In Ghazni Province, two civilians were wounded, one killed after they drove over a mine.
In Nuristan Province, Afghan border police claim to have killed 12 Mujahideen in an ambush.
ISAF claims two “leaders” killed by a “precision airstrike” (drone strike?), in Ghazni Province.
NATO signs exit deal with Central Asian countries. Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan have agreed to allow NATO forces to get the hell out of Afghanistan through their territory: “These agreements will give us a range of new options and the robust and flexible transport network we need.”
4 June 2012
In Ghor Province, the local development council chief was assassinated. No one knows who did it.
In Parwan Province, a U.S./NATO occupying fuel convoy was ambushed and burned.
British Ministry of Defence says one of their soldiers was shot and killed in Helmand Province. They say he was shot on 3 June, while on patrol. MoD also confirmed that another Red Coat was killed in the same area on 1 June.
Afghan Interior Ministry claims 20 Mujahideen killed, six wounded and 13 captured, in battles in Nangarhar, Helmand and Maidan Wardak provinces.
In Paktiya Province, ISAF claims three Mujahideen killed by airstrike. Also, two students were killed by a mine (roadside bomb).
Afghan Defense Ministry says one of their soldiers was killed and 14 wounded in battles in Maidan Wardak, Logar, Paktia and Zabul provinces.
Afghan National Directorate for Security claim they killed a prominent Mujahideen “leader”, along with 25 Mujahideen, in Helmand Province.