17 January 2013

In Herat Province, witnesses say U.S. personnel open fired on two women and two children, killing them.  U.S. officials claim the women and children were Mujahideen!

While on trial in the United States, a USMC Staff Sergent admitted to desecrating Afghan bodies (a violation of the UCMJ). He said the whole purpose was to take “trophy photographs”.  He pled guilty, but under a plea agreement he will likely be demoted in rank, only.

In Kandahar Province, a local cop shot and killed his boss. He did it after poisoning his fellow cops. He is on the loose.

In response to Afghan government officials releasing hundreds of prisoners (who’ve never been charged with anything by U.S./NATO forces) the United States has stopped handing over prisoners to Afghan counterparts.   It’s also in response to Afghan officials saying many of those prisoners showed signs of torture, and blamed U.S. personnel since they were in charge.

In Parwan Province, the roof of a building at the Bagram airbase collapsed, killing three people. International Security Assistant Force (ISAF) said they are investigating the cause.

In Balkh Province, a five story building used as a market place/bazar caught fire.  The main product sold there is wholesale clothing.  Witnesses say at least one person died after jumping from the building.  Two other similar markets, in Kabul city, caught fire at the end of December.

16 January 2013

In Uruzgan Province, two Afghan government security personnel were killed, two wounded, after their attempt to diffuse a bomb failed.

In Kabul Province, Kabul City, explosions and gunfire rocked the capital city.  A group of suicide attackers hit the National Directorate of Security compound.  Government officials and witnesses say at least 12 people killed and dozens wounded.

ISAF said: “An International Security Assistance Force service member died following an improvised explosive device attack in southern Afghanistan today.”

The British empire Red Coat Royal Army also reported that one of their troopers, who was blown up a few days earlier in Helmand Province, had finally died of his wounds.

In Daikundi Province, a 15 years old orphan girl was gang raped by six security guards.  Because of her age she was transferred from a children’s home to a shelter for women.  Officials suspect she was raped by the security guards at the shelter, all have been arrested (which resulted in the women’s shelter being closed). Local officials say the victim is in bad shape and probably needs to go to a hospital.  No info on why the security guards did it (if they did).

In Ghazni Province, local government officials say a vigilante group killed a man they say raped one of their own.  They also ‘honor killed’ the victim!  “A man was trying to rape a woman while her husband was away from home but the relatives of the woman kill her along with the man after they were informed of the incident.”-Deh-Yak Mohammad, District Attorney

Yet again the Afghan parliament has rejected the budget for Solar Hijri year 1392.  At issue is the use of most of the funds for military/police, and very little for anything else.  Also, there is a suspicious fund called the Caution Code, which would be allocated $580 million USD, yet gives no explanation for what the money will be spent on.  Taxpayers in other countries (like the United States) should take note; the majority of the funding for the Afghan budget is coming from you!

Your money flowing into Afghanistan is one reason why your country is struggling economically, and why Afghanistan is actually growing!  According to the World Bank, Afghanistan’s economy is blasting off despite other countries going down: “Economic growth in South Asia weakened considerably in 2012 to an estimated 5.4 percent, from 7.4 percent the previous year [still much, much better than the U.S.]. Delayed monsoon rains, electricity shortages, macroeconomic imbalances including large
fiscal deficits and high inflation, and policy and security uncertainties contributed to subdued economic activity in the region, which also faced negative impacts from the Euro Area debt crisis and a weak global economy. In contrast, Afghanistan’s economy grew robustly by about ….”

15 January 2013

In Farah Province, Afghan National Police (ANP), along with local cops,  ambushed an Italian NATO troop convoy, during the night.  Local government officials say the Italians were not hit.  However, Mujahideen say three Italians were killed, and ISAF has refused to comment.

In Kunar Province, Mujahideen say they’ve shot down, or blew up, a U.S./NATO helicopter on or over a U.S. base.  No other info was reported.

In Kandahar Province, four people were killed when they drove over a landmine.

In Helmand Province, local government officials say a program to replace opium crops with saffron is working (it’s another reason why the World Bank says Afghanistan’s economy is booming, see above). Anyone who uses saffron in their cooking knows how expensive it is, which is why it makes a good replacement for opium poppies. Helmand officials plan to expand the program this year.