Posted on 10/27/2003 10:48:36 AM PST by Coop
United States and Afghan forces killed 20 Al-Qaeda fighters near the Pakistani border at the weekend, a police chief said on Monday.
Battles erupted on Saturday after militants attacked US troops in Gomal district in the insurgency-hit southeast province of Paktika, provincial police chief Daulat Khan said.
"In Gomal district close to the Pakistani border a group of al-Qaeda attacked American forces," Khan told AFP by satellite telephone.
"In the subsequent fighting 20 Al-Qaeda members were killed, four were arrested and three Afghan soldiers working with Americans were also killed."
"According to our information, the Al-Qaeda attacked American forces first."
The fighting took place around the town of Khand opposite the Pakistani frontier town of Angoor Adda, where Pakistani troops have been flushing out suspected Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters since early October.
Khan said US warplanes and attack helicopters were brought in but he could not say whether they were used.
"There were planes, helicopters and jets flying in the sky but we have no reports of bombing by American planes," the police chief said.
Paktika is on the frontline of a stepped-up insurgency by regrouped Taliban fighters, who move with ease over the porous 2,450-km frontier between Afghanistan and Pakistan where they are believed to be regrouping.
Angoor Adda has been repeatedly identified as an escape route for Taliban and Al-Qaeda remnants fleeing after staging hit-and-run attacks on US troops.
This is what's known as a tactical error. Doesn't really sound like Al Qaeda, though. My guess is mostly Taliban, or AQ trainees/wannabes.
And this follows up the recent announcement of yet another capture of an Al Qaeda biggie and the arrest of 230 other AQ terrorists by Pakistan.
Broadcast: 27/10/2003 A-G orders probe after police raid Al Qaeda suspect The Attorney-General has ordered an investigation into why a suspected terrorist was in Australia for five months before French authorities passed on intelligence about his links to Al Qaeda. Willie Virgile Brigitte arrived in Australia in May on a tourist visa, under his own name. It is alleged the 35-year-old trained in Al Qaeda terrorist camps in Pakistan or Afghanistan.
Compere: Tony Jones
Reporter: Jonathan Harley
TONY JONES: The Attorney-General has ordered an investigation into why a suspected terrorist was in Australia for five months before French authorities passed on intelligence about his links to Al Qaeda.
Well, in a moment, we'll hear from Philip Ruddock, who says the case shows recently-introduced ASIO powers may need to be strengthened.
But first Jonathan Harley reports on Australia's latest possible Al Qaeda link.
JONATHAN HARLEY: Willie Virgile Brigitte arrived in Australia in May on a tourist visa, under his own name. It was not until five months later that French authorities alerted ASIO that he may be a terrorist. It's alleged the 35-year-old Brigitte trained in Al Qaeda terrorist camps in Pakistan or Afghanistan.
KEN MORONEY, NSW POLICE COMMISSIONER: Certainly our colleagues in ASIO and the AFP indicated to us that it was a matter of priority that Mr Brigitte be located.
JONATHAN HARLEY: Authorities were keeping the matter secret until French media reports of his arrest forced their hand, then police raided six homes in Sydney's south-west yesterday. Items were seized though no-one was arrested, but there are claims a terrorist attack has been prevented.
BOB CARR, NSW PREMIER: It's likely that they are breaking up now some cell that has existed in Sydney that provided some linkage, some association for a person of this character.
JONATHAN HARLEY: It's being reported in Paris that French authorities believe Willie Brigitte was asked to shelter an explosives expert in Australia... [end excerpt]
http://www.scotlandonsunday.com/international.cfm?id=1180242003
Iran ready for al-Qaeda Deal
Excerpt: According to European diplomats involved in talks with the Iranians about the country’s development of nuclear technology, its government sees the dozen senior members of al-Qaeda and 50 fighters living there as a way to win concessions from the US. Iran wants the Americans to accept it can build nuclear power stations and for the US to clamp down on a rebel movement, Mujahideen-e-Khalq, which is seeking to overthrow the Islamic republic.
BOB CARR, NSW PREMIER: It's likely that they are breaking up now some cell that has existed in Sydney that provided some linkage, some association for a person of this character.
JONATHAN HARLEY: It's being reported in Paris that French authorities believe Willie Brigitte was asked to shelter an explosives expert in Australia... [end excerpt]
Where is this explosives expert now.....did the Aussies get him?
This explosives expert being on the loose may explain that move now.
"In Gomal district close to the Pakistani border a group of al-Qaeda attacked American forces," Khan told AFP by satellite telephone.
"In the subsequent fighting 20 Al-Qaeda members were killed, four were arrested and three Afghan soldiers working with Americans were also killed."
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Good job, troops!
Pinging Coop's tagline.
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I think any attack on U.S. forces along this border (Where we think UBL might be hiding) should make us suspect that it might be a diversion which allows one ass riding another, to quietly escape into the ether once again.
My point exactly.
No "WE" don't.
They gotta be getting to the "Madeline Allbright" look alikes by now........
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