A retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General criticized how the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan has been handled: “By my count right now, we’ve had 11 overall U.S. commanders in Afghanistan during 12 years of war.  No university and no business could survive that kind of turnover and remain successful.  We’re doing this in the middle of a war where the enemy is actively trying to make you fail.”-David Barno

 In Kandahar Province, Kandahar airbase, a suicide bomber attacked a U.S./NATO military convoy.  22 NATO and Afghan military personnel wounded, three civilians wounded.  The suicide bomber was wearing a bomb vest.

In Herat Province, Karkh District, local police say nine construction workers, who were working on a nearby bridge project, were killed while staying at a police checkpoint.  One cop was killed, another wounded during the Mujahideen attack.  Mujahideen say everyone at the checkpoint was armed and shooting, including those the police say were construction workers.  One Mujahid was killed.  Mujahideen say they also captured weapons.

Mujahideen reported many attacks on police checkpoints across Afghanistan.

In Kabul Province, Kabul city, a magnetic ‘sticky’ bomb was placed on a parked vehicle.  The explosion did not kill or wound anybody, according to local police.

In Helmand Province, Marjah District, a family of eight drove over a landmine.  Five killed, three wounded.  The Stars and Stripes reports another waste of taxpayer money in the contractor operated Helmand Regional Distribution Center.  It is literally a privately run FOB (Forward Operating Base).  It was built and is operated by controversial Swiss based Supreme Group.  That contractor has come under fire before, accused of ripping off taxpayers.  The U.S. Congress supposedly is investigating the $4.2 billion USD mega-FOB over billing disputes.

According to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) military contractors now outnumber actual military personnel by two to one.

In Balkh Province, Mazar-e-Sharif city, a fire destroyed at least 200 businesses.  No official reason for the fire, but some witnesses say there was an explosion before the fire.

In Farah Province, Farah Rod District, a NATO supply convoy was ambushed on the Herat HWY.  Ten fueler trucks were torched, eight security guards killed, five wounded.  Three Mujahideen wounded, two killed.    Also, in the same district, a religious leader in Takht Manzar area was kidnapped by U.S./Afghan National Army personnel during a helicopter raid.  And a local government military commander was assassinated, along with his bodyguards.  It was done by a suicide bomber wearing a bomb vest.  Locals say it was about time the A-hole commander died: “Auz Khan was notorious in the area for his brutally and utter loyalty to foreign invaders and was the one that also martyred a 60 year old…”

NATO member Poland announced they are pulling out, or are they?  Polish officials said in October about 600 troops will return home, but that still leaves 1-thousand Polish troops incountry.

Documentary filmmakers in New Zealand have revealed the truth about Kiwi military operations in Afghanistan.  Officially New Zealand Defence Forces were supposed to be involved in reconstruction projects, but the journalists found they spent most of their time on military patrols.  Also, the New Zealand Special Air Service was supposed to be conducting training of Afghan troops, instead there is evidence they were actually conducting Israeli style home invasions.

A U.S. Marine from Florida admitted to local news media that he loved killing people in Afghanistan: “I like the way people look up to us as Marines. That enforces the way we carry ourselves. I like being a warrior. Very few people can do it and I’m proud to be one who can.”-Charles Legido

Legido bragged about the 70 firefights he was in.  To give a clue where the U.S. might be attacking next, Legido’s next deployment is to Yemen.