Taliban Suicide Bomber Kills 13 American Military Troops in Kabul, Afghanistan

Sadly, 13 American military heroes have been killed in Kabul, Afghanistan.  According to NATO accounts, a Taliban terrorist suicide bomber rammed a van into a NATO bus killing 13 American military troops and four Afghans.  This was the deadliest single attack against the US led coalition since the Taliban shot down a NATO helicopter on August 6 in an eastern Afghan province, killing 30 U.S. troops. A Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, claimed responsibility, saying that a suicide bomber named Abdul Rahman Hazarbos

A Taliban suicide bomber rammed a van into an armored NATO bus Saturday in Kabul, killing 13 American troops and four Afghans, U.S. and Afghan officials said, in the deadliest attack on coalition forces in more than two months.

The explosion, which occurred as the convoy was passing the American University, sparked a fireball and littered the street with shrapnel. Heavy black smoke poured from burning wreckage at the site.

The armored personnel carrier, known as a Rhino was sandwiched between of a convoy of mine-resistant military vehicles traveling on a four-lane highway frequently used by NATO forces in a southwestern section of the city.

US Helicopter Shot Down in Afghanistan: 31 US Special Forces Killed – Taliban Takes Credit

Thirty one American special forces and troops and seven Afghan commandos were killed in Afghanistan after a military helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan.The Taliban has taken credit for the incident. ABC News reports that 25 US Navy Seals were on board. American officials stated that it is the deadliest single incident for American forces in Afghanistan since the decade long war began.

The Taliban claimed they downed the helicopter with rocket fire while it was taking part in a raid on a house where insurgents were gathered in the province of Wardak late Friday. It said wreckage of the craft was strewn at the scene.

NATO confirmed the overnight crash took place and that there “was enemy activity in the area.” But it said it was still investigating the cause and conducting a recovery operation at the site. It did not release details or casualty figures.

We say a prayer and thank the brave souls that died for keeping us free and battling terrorism. We also say a prayer and given our condolences to the families, loved ones and friends of those that have died, how difficult a time this must be for them. God bless and rest in peace.

The Jawa Report brings up an very interesting question that needs to be answered; however, we most likely already know who is responsible. The Taliban have taken credit for the downing of this chopper; however, where would the Taliban have obtained surface to air armaments?

Now the question is: who in the world would have an interest in supplying the Taliban with such good surface to air armaments?

If you think about it there is only one answer. Pakistani intelligence who were humiliated by the death of UBL have every motivation to prevent another similar operation.

Of course the Gateway Pundit reminds us that in June the White House confirmed that they were holding peace talks with the Taliban.

UPDATE I: Crash kills members of SEAL Team 6.

Although many of the Seals belonged to the same unit as the Seal team that took out Bin Laden, none of them are blieved to be ones that took part in the raid that took out Bin Laden.

U.S. officials tell The Associated Press that they believe that none of the Navy SEALs who died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan had participated in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, although they were from the same unit that carried out the bin Laden mission.

Ahmed Wali Karzai, the Half-Brother of Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai, Assassinated By His own Security – Taliban Takes Credit

Ahmed Wali Karzai,  the half brother of  Afghanistan’s president  Hamid Karzai, has been shot dead by one of his long time bodyguards. The Taliban has taken credit for the assassination. Ahmed Wali Karzai was shot twice by his long time head of security Sardar Mohammed, who was himself killed almost immediately. This should add some further instability to an already unstable situation in Afghanistan.

One of his bodyguards shot him on Tuesday at his house, a heavily-fortified compound in Kandahar city, Zalmay Ayoubi, spokesperson for the governor of Kandahar province said.

“A guard of Ahmed Wali Karzai named Sardar Mohammad opened fire and killed him. The other guards shot and killed Sardar Mohammad,” Mr Ayoubi said. The motive for the shooting was not immediately clear.

President Karzai held a press conference in Kabul:

President Karzai held a press conference in Kabul with French President Nicolas Sarkozy barely two hours after the shooting and, speaking in a steady voice, confirmed his brother’s death. “This is the life of Afghan people, this sorrow is in every Afghan home, everyone of us has this sorrow,” he said.

Taliban Suicide Bombers Attack Kabul’s Hotel Inter-Continent in Afghanistan

Kabul’s Hotel Inter-Continent in Afghanistan was attacked by Taliban gunmen and suicide bombers. I am guessing these were not moderate Taliban? As the Jawa Reports states, the hotel attack was a Mumbai style attack.

Six Taliban gunmen and suicide bombers attacked Kabul’s Hotel Inter-Continental in a brazen, carefully orchestrated operation that began Tuesday night and continued into Wednesday, ending with their deaths some six hours after it began.

“All six attackers have been killed, and the situation is secure,” Interior Minister Bismullah Khan said Wednesday morning. By then, the hotel was ablaze.

Two police were wounded in the attack; the number of civilian casualties was not clear, he said.

Chief of Criminal Investigation Mohammad Zahir told CNN that at least eight civilians were killed and six were injured.

Taliban gunman killed. With Taliban action like this, guess it’s time for a military pull out. Much, much more and updates at Hot Air.

Prince Harry Granted His Wish To Return To Afghanistan as an Apache Attack Helicopter…

Finally, a “Royal” who can be royally admired. According to the UK Telegraph, Prince Harry has been granted his wish to return to Afghanistan as an Apache attack helicopter pilot. Although he will not be returning to the front lines as he did in a previous tour, Prince Harry will be flying Apache attack helicopters. A “Royal” that all can truly be proud of.

The Prince, who was hastily withdrawn from a tour of Helmand in 2008 after his position was compromised by foreign media reports, has often expressed the desire to return to the front line.

Now he is set to be granted another tour when his squadron is deployed to Afghanistan next year, by which time he should have completed his Apache pilot training.

Clarence House said the Prince would complete his training next year and would then be available for deployment wherever Apaches were needed – including Afghanistan.