Suicide Bomber Kills 3 in an Attack on a US Base in Khost Province - Polidicks

[QUOTE](Reuters) - A suicide bomber killed three people in an attack on a U.S. base in Afghanistan on Wednesday, the same base that is believed to be used by the CIA and which a suicide bomber attacked three years ago killing seven CIA employees. The Afghan Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in the eastern town of Khost, saying they had sent a suicide bomber driving a van packed with explosives to the base. "The target was those who serve Americans at that base," said Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. Afghanistan's NATO-led force said the bomber did not get into the base nor breach its perimeter. Police said the three dead were Afghans who were outside the base, which is beside a military airport. The al Qaeda-linked Haqqani network, widely regarded as the most dangerous U.S. foe in Afghanistan, is active in Khost province, which is on the Pakistani border. After more than a decade of war, Taliban insurgents are still able to strike strategic military targets, and launch high-profile attacks in the capital, Kabul, and elsewhere. Three years ago, an al Qaeda-linked Jordanian double-agent killed seven CIA employees and a Jordanian intelligence officer in a suicide bombing at the same base in Khost, known as Forward Operating Base Chapman. It was the second deadliest attack in CIA history. Afghan police official General Abdul Qasim Baqizoy, the Khost police chief, said no CIA agents were hurt on Wednesday. Afghan authorities are scrambling to improve security across the country before the U.S. combat mission ends in 2014.[/QUOTE] Source: [url]http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/26/us-afghanistan-violence-idUSBRE8BP01320121226[/url] Now, this one was a pretty big bomb. I was eating breakfast at the time, and we all heard this gigantic ass explosion that sounded like it happened right outside. We thought we were under attack, so we rolled out to our fighting positions. Turns out it was just the large size of the bomb that made it seem so close. I saw them wheeling the bodies of the local nationals off of the blackhawks, as well as a few that were wounded in the attack. I wonder what the Taliban think that they are accomplishing by killing the population for their potential support.

[QUOTE=SKEEA;38977248]Source: [url]http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/26/us-afghanistan-violence-idUSBRE8BP01320121226[/url] I wonder what the Taliban think that they are accomplishing by killing the population for their potential support.[/QUOTE] From what I remember, mate, they want to play the fear card. "You don't join the Jihad willingly, then we'll scare and force you into it."

[QUOTE=Moustacheman;38977306]From what I remember, mate, they want to play the fear card. "You don't join the Jihad willingly, then we'll scare and force you into it."[/QUOTE] Yeah, they still do that. It really bothers me because all these people want is to live a normal life, but they get coerced into fighting us under duress, be it their family under threat of being killed, or other horrible things. These three guys didn't deserve this.

Why does everyone hate the US at the moment? 4 shootings in a month. Another suicide bomber in afghan.

[QUOTE=Tomthetechy;38977608]Why does everyone hate the US at the moment? 4 shootings in a month. Another suicide bomber in afghan.[/QUOTE] It is not that EVERYONE hates us, it is the Haqqani Network and the Taliban that really want us out. Khost is actually very favorable towards ISAF, bombings are very rare in comparison to other provinces, and ISAF does a great job at keeping the area safe while ANA and ANP forces are trained and built up. It is tragic that this happened, but it is far from regular. Our hope is that the local forces will be able to keep the area as safe as we have been.

[QUOTE=Tomthetechy;38977608]Why does everyone hate the US at the moment? 4 shootings in a month. Another suicide bomber in afghan.[/QUOTE] On a global level, this might provide some slight insight [URL="http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/12/201212108205749534.html"]The roots of global anti-Americanism[/URL] [editline]26th December 2012[/editline] Also this: [video=youtube;Ao461iG9UsA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao461iG9UsA[/video]

[QUOTE=C47;38978256]On a global level, this might provide some slight insight [URL="http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/12/201212108205749534.html"]The roots of global anti-Americanism[/URL] [editline]26th December 2012[/editline] Also this: [video=youtube;Ao461iG9UsA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao461iG9UsA[/video][/QUOTE] That was great till Ron Paul.

[QUOTE=Zambies!;38978638]That was great till Ron Paul.[/QUOTE] Rate me late but whats wrong with Ron Paul? This is actually the first time Im hearing about him. Watching the videos in youtube, he was one of the presidential candidates supposedly. Another video which I found interesting, about US foreign policy [video=youtube;V36MT5lAMrc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V36MT5lAMrc[/video] But I dont suppose its gonna make any difference as it seems there is a preconceived notion that he is a nutjob.

^Those are quite strong terms with no substantiated proof, regardless I dont intend to derail and make this a Ron paul thread, Ill check out MD or go googling. But its good to know that atleast someone (whose supported mostly by US veterans/soldiers - are these the cult members? heh) is aware of why people hate the US. Guess its better to give out that piece of video without mentioning ron paul anywhere.

[QUOTE=C47;38978256]On a global level, this might provide some slight insight [URL="http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/12/201212108205749534.html"]The roots of global anti-Americanism[/URL] [editline]26th December 2012[/editline] Also this: [video=youtube;Ao461iG9UsA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao461iG9UsA[/video][/QUOTE] Alright, usually I find aljazeehra to be a reputable source, but that article is slanted , over-exaggerated, and sensationalist as fuck. Its main points are true, but the way they say them are quite over-exaggerated.

[QUOTE=RichyZ;38981042]its in the opinion section[/QUOTE] Oh, that explains it. It's still a bit exaggerated, but I can't really fault them if it's an editorial.

[QUOTE=C47;38978256]On a global level, this might provide some slight insight [URL="http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/12/201212108205749534.html"]The roots of global anti-Americanism[/URL] [editline]26th December 2012[/editline] Also this: [video=youtube;Ao461iG9UsA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao461iG9UsA[/video][/QUOTE] Well, here we go. There's a difference from defending your homeland from invaders and from killing civilians in the name of defense against the invaders. AKA suicide bombers don't really deserve the "they're just fight back against the invaders" excuse that this video hints at.

[QUOTE=ScoutKing;38981835]Well, here we go. There's a difference from defending your homeland from invaders and from killing civilians in the name of defense against the invaders. AKA suicide bombers don't really deserve the "they're just fight back against the invaders" excuse that this video hints at.[/QUOTE] Especially when said suicide bombers blow up people from their own country and not the "invaders"

[QUOTE=ScoutKing;38981835]Well, here we go. There's a difference from defending your homeland from invaders and from killing civilians in the name of defense against the invaders. AKA suicide bombers don't really deserve the "they're just fight back against the invaders" excuse that this video hints at.[/QUOTE] I assumed the video covered that part when its mentioned that the defenders would be called "terrorists" by the occupiers. Assuming those defenders would use IED which could inadvertently (or unintentionally) cause civilian causalities and picked up by the occupying force propaganda piece "as the defenders deliberating targeting civilians". I mean in the OP, the intention of targeting those supporting the occupiers has been mentioned, if their intention was just to kill civilians (which is stupid to believe in the first place) why do it near an airbase, why not just go into the market and kill them there. (And those happen too btw in the occasional false flag operation whenever support for the occupiers is low).

[QUOTE=C47;38987247]I assumed the video covered that part when its mentioned that the defenders would be called "terrorists" by the occupiers. Assuming those defenders would use IED which could inadvertently (or unintentionally) cause civilian causalities and picked up by the occupying force propaganda piece "as the defenders deliberating targeting civilians". I mean in the OP, the intention of targeting those supporting the occupiers has been mentioned, if their intention was just to kill civilians (which is stupid to believe in the first place) why do it near an airbase, why not just go into the market and kill them there. (And those happen too btw in the occasional false flag operation whenever support for the occupiers is low).[/QUOTE] Man, your head must be really far up your ass if you believe that there are false flags, the detonation of IEDs near civilians, carried out by the US as a way to garner support.

[QUOTE=C47;38987247]And those happen too btw in the occasional false flag operation whenever support for the occupiers is low.[/QUOTE] What the fuck are you talking about?

[QUOTE=C47;38978256]On a global level, this might provide some slight insight [URL="http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/12/201212108205749534.html"]The roots of global anti-Americanism[/URL] [/QUOTE] ignoring ron paul stuff, this is actually true, japanese to this day aren't really fond of the american presence on japan(but they accept due to pragmatism, since they don't want their army to get on another power trip like before WW2), koreans aren't very happy with the US either(but again pragmatism trumps this due to north korea), the US is viewed VERY poorly in pretty much everywhere of latin america, most really aren't fond of the US, the US tends to be viewed on much of the third world as the lesser of the two evils at best, the actual root of the problem at worst. this is actually noted by the article itself, pragmatism is actually the main reason US is tolerated, the fact the americans tend to be viewed as arrogant on top of that doesn't help. al-jazeera: "Regardless, as evidence has shown even when such negative feelings are sublimated for the sake of pragmatism, they seldom truly cease to exist." this could have even worse repercussions, say 50+ years down the line if global warming gets even worse, and most people know both china and the US are responsible for most of it. the pentagon has even recognized as potential issue that could threaten United States national security

[QUOTE=ScoutKing;38987423]Man, your head must be really far up your ass if you believe that there are false flags, the detonation of IEDs near civilians, carried out by the US as a way to garner support.[/QUOTE] [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omnskeu-puE"]When a secretary of state believes that the killing of 500,000 innocent iraqi children by sanctions is justified[/URL], then false flag operations to shift something as like as important as public opinion (esp in afganistan where it could mean that families provide shelter to insurgents - ie a never ending hell hole of the occupiers because no matter what they do, go door to door abuse and harass, to find these insurgents or not, they will be loosing the battle of hearts and minds) is hardly something they would shudder to object to - as long as its done by their shady counterparts - most likely the mercenary thugs from PMCs or the more friendly name of "Civilian contractors". Especially considering that in those countries, american favoritism amongst the populace is just 9% (pakistan). How can you fight the (paki) insurgents in the villages when all of the villages support them (im talking about the early beginning of tribal area wars in pakistan)? Bomb innocent civilians and later claim the "terrorists" did it (bribe the local media to air such propaganda), while at the same time cripple the insurgents ability to communicate or say otherwise. So no, its not far fetched to throw such a claim esp when your country is a die-hard supporter of another terrorist nation who believes in the exact methods (false flag operations) to achieve their goals.

I can tell you that these are definitely attacks by the insurgent forces. They were trying to get to FOB Coleman, a stones throw away from my base. They couldn't get close enough, and when they can't complete their objective, their default action is to detonate their payload. Seriously, we don't do these "false flag" attacks that you are suggesting we do. That is just ignorant.

[QUOTE=SKEEA;38988260]Seriously, we don't do these "false flag" attacks that you are suggesting we do. That is just ignorant.[/QUOTE] Im not saying this was a false flag attack. (even if you werent implying, just for the others) [editline]27th December 2012[/editline] Where is FOB Coleman btw? Is it near FOB Salerno which is quite far from the population? Why would normal innocent civilians be treading along the walls of a US base? I dont even think thats allowed for security reasons.

[QUOTE=C47;38988289]Im not saying this was a false flag attack. (even if you werent implying, just for the others)[/QUOTE] What others? Please, do tell. This is hardly the first VBIED (vehicle borne improvised explosive device) attack that I have seen happen, and most of them were targeted at military personnel. There are some that have the express reason of taking out members of a certain ethnic or religious group. Implying that we do false flag attacks is simply inane. They are clearly executed by the insurgents. They take credit for everything they do, and proudly proclaim it, even exaggerating the statistics. Al-Jazeera is here, and while I do not like them, they serve a purpose. It is very obvious that these are insurgent attacks. [editline]27th December 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=C47;38988289] Where is FOB Coleman btw? Is it near FOB Salerno which is quite far from the population? Why would normal innocent civilians be treading along the walls of a US base? I dont even think thats allowed for security reasons.[/QUOTE] Coleman is right in the thick of Khost City. Also, I see local nationals around the walls all the time, I wave to them and whatnot. As long as they aren't shooting at us, it is cool. Also, Salerno really isn't far at all from the population. There is a football (soccer) field at the end of the flight line.