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9000 kg of any sort of explosive is enough to rattle the windows for
sure.<br>
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Spring rebel offensive makes me think they were armed with Slinkys.<br>
<img src="cid:part1.04010505.08000005@pigs.ag" alt=""><br>
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On 9/11/2011 3:24 PM, C. G. Estabrook wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:4E6C6211.4000406@illinois.edu" type="cite">NATO
military base in central Afghanistan attacked with significant injuries
<br>
English.news.cn 2011-09-11 13:37:39
<br>
<br>
KABUL, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- A NATO-led International Security
Assistance Force (ISAF) military base came under attack in central
Afghanistan's Wardak province on Saturday, causing a significant number
of injuries, according to ISAF press release early Sunday.
<br>
<br>
"A Taliban suicide bomber detonated a large vehicle-borne improvised
explosive device at the entrance of Combat Outpost Sayed Abad, Wardak
province, yesterday," read the release.
<br>
<br>
American troops are believed to be based in Sayed Abad district, some
70 km southwest of Afghan capital Kabul.
<br>
<br>
A statement from the Taliban said the attack was launched by a Paktia
resident from east Afghanistan at about 5:00 p.m. local time on
Saturday (1230 GMT). The attacker "blew up his truck stuffed with some
9,000 kg explosives" targeting the U.S. base.
<br>
<br>
According to ISAF, the driver, whose truck was carrying firewood,
detonated his explosives at the outpost's Entry Control Point.
<br>
<br>
Most of the force of the explosion was absorbed by the protective
barrier at the outpost entrance and though there were a significant
number of injuries, "all are being treated and none is immediately life
threatening," the ISAF statement said.
<br>
<br>
The explosion damaged the compound entrance and was not followed up by
any subsequent attacks. "The impact to the compound is readily
repairable and operations are continuing," said ISAF.
<br>
<br>
However, the Taliban statement quoted witnesses as saying more than 50,
most of whom were Americans, were killed and several dozens were
seriously hurt and being evacuated by the helicopters shortly
afterwards. A witness saw the helicopters landing at the blast scene
and taking off more than 16 times airlifting corpses and casualties. He
added a number of the military vehicles were destroyed in the powerful
blast.
<br>
<br>
The Sayed Abad district was the scene of a deadly helicopter crash on
August 6 this year. A total of 30 U.S. soldiers, seven Afghan army
commandos and a local translator were killed when the Taliban
reportedly shot down the American CH-47 Chinook helicopter during an
operation against insurgents.
<br>
<br>
The Taliban stepped up their attacks on Afghan and NATO-led troops
since a spring rebel offensive was launched in May this year in the
war-ravaged country.
<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-09/11/c_131132643.htm">http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-09/11/c_131132643.htm</a>
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</blockquote>
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