It may all be true; however, I simply do not trust my war-promoting paper anymore.
"Afghan civil servants targeted; Taliban step up attacks, threats" by Deb Riechmann and Amir Shah, Associated Press | August 4, 2010
KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban have issued a new code of conduct ordering fighters to protect civilians — as long as they don’t side with the Afghan government or NATO coalition. If they do, the punishment is death.
The 69-page directive, obtained yesterday by the Associated Press, follows an acceleration in Taliban attacks on Afghan officials — a campaign that threatens the NATO goal of bolstering local government to help turn back the insurgents.
Translation: It was given to them by a government agency.
“The Taliban must treat civilians according to Islamic norms and morality to win over the hearts and minds of the people,’’ says the code, which the insurgents began distributing about a week ago.
The population views them as protectors and defenders from the foreign invaders who are murdering their families.
On the other hand, the code makes clear that civilians who work with foreign troops or the Afghan government are fair game. “They are supporters of the infidels’’ and can be killed, the code says.
The code updates a similar directive released a year ago that limited the use of suicide bombers and mandated that prisoners cannot be harmed or ransomed without the approval of a Taliban regional commander. NATO and Afghan officials criticized last year’s code as propaganda and insisted it does not reflect how the Taliban really fight.
And CUI BONO, 'eh?
Analysts familiar with the Taliban said last year’s code was more of a political statement than a military textbook, meant to counter the international coalition’s own attempts at winning hearts and minds.
Yeah, I don't think the missiles and home raids worked.
The UN has reported that about 70 percent of the civilian casualties are due to the Taliban, mostly people being killed or wounded in suicide attacks and roadside bombs.
That's what the U.N. says!
They have about as much credibility as the newspapers.
The new code confirms what is becoming increasingly apparent: The ranks of Afghanistan’s civil servants are under siege.
Roadside bombs are planted on their routes. Ominous letters threaten their families. Taliban on motorbikes shoot them in the streets....
--more--"Also see:
The Boston Globe's Invisible Ink: Blackening Out Blackwater Assassins
The Boston Globe Bucks Up the CIA
"Al-CIA-Duh" Invades Afghanistan
CIA Assassins Lend a Helping Hand in Afghanistan
CIA Strike Teams Swoop Into Afghanistan
More Assassins Headed to Afghanistan
Who knew they were all Taliban, huh?
"In new guidance, Petraeus stresses troops’ self-defense; Order responds to complaints from the field" by Heidi Vogt and Amir Shah, Associated Press | August 5, 2010
KABUL, Afghanistan —The battle to win over the civilian population is being waged on both sides. The Taliban issued a directive last week that calls on their fighters to avoid killing civilians and forbids them from seizing weapons and money.
Now that I can believe!
However, the 69-page Taliban booklet also declares that people working for international forces or the Afghan government are “supporters of the infidels’’ and can be killed.
Always a however, but, still, yet, sigh.
--more--"
