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News? I've got news for ya

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2001 4:20 am
by Gruntboy
Pathetic. Even Hitler's and Stalin's propaganda machines weren't *this* simple. They seem to be getting their cause & effect mixed up. :cool:

[url="http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/south_asia/newsid_1564000/1564166.stm"]BBC News - Afghans torch US embassy[/url]:

"Pro-Taleban demonstrators have set fire to cars and buildings in the vacant US embassy compound in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

'The United States wants to burn our country, so we burned their embassy' -Demonstrator Hafiz Ullah

The blaze was started during protests over possible American military action against Afghanistan, which is sheltering Saudi-born militant Osama Bin Laden - the man suspected by the US of masterminding the devastating attacks on New York and Washington.

Firefighters eventually brought the fire under control, but only after Taleban forces had pushed back the protesters.

The embassy has been vacant since 1989, although some Afghan staff have been retained for maintenance and other limited duties.

Kabul police chief Mullah Mohammad Yunus told the French news agency AFP that 12 of his officers had been injured trying to contain the riot.

"We did our best to avoid this but the number of demonstrators meant we could not," he said. "There were thousands of them."

Several protesters are said to have sustained minor injuries when they were trampled during the rush into the embassy compound.

'Signal to Washington'

One of the demonstrators, Hafiz Ullah, 38, said the protest had been intended to send a signal to Washington.

"We did a good job," Mr Ullah, a shopkeeper, told AFP. "The United States wants to burn our country, so we burned their embassy."

The US has threatened to strike back against the Taleban for harbouring Bin Laden.

Reports say the demonstration was the biggest show of anti-US feeling in Kabul since the current crisis started with the terror attacks earlier this month.

But the BBC Afghanistan correspondent, Kate Clark, says no demonstrations are held in the capital without the approval and support of the Taleban authorities.

Witnesses said most of the demonstrators were government officials and students."

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2001 4:54 am
by C Elegans
Tragic :(

The Talebans are surely trying to make it look as if they have support from a majority of the population in Afghanistan. The Talebans want the current conflict to look as a US/Christian world v Muslim/Arab world war.

The Talebans have had no problems whatsoever with mass executions of hundreds of people with views, religions or ethnic backgrounds that they haven't liked. So it's very unlikely they would not be able to control a demonstration. Especially since the Talebans control ALL media in the country - people would not even be able to plan a demonstration this big without the Talebans knowing.

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2001 5:41 am
by Gruntboy
This just in! Encyclopaedia entry for Afghanistan!

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a gold emblem centered on the three bands; the emblem features a temple-like structure with Islamic inscriptions above and below, encircled by a wreath on the left and right and by a bolder Islamic inscription above, all of which are encircled by two crossed scimitars.

note: the Taliban uses a plain white flag

How are we going to know when they surrender? :eek:

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2001 6:07 am
by C Elegans
Originally posted by Gruntboy:
<STRONG>note: the Taliban uses a plain white flag

How are we going to know when they surrender? :eek: </STRONG>
A plain white flag? You kidding?

Btw, is it "Taleban" or "Taliban"?

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2001 6:33 am
by Xandax
Originally posted by C Elegans:
<STRONG><snip>
Btw, is it "Taleban" or "Taliban"?</STRONG>
I always see it written as Taleban, but maybe that just is danish.

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2001 6:41 am
by C Elegans
Originally posted by Xandax:
<STRONG>I always see it written as Taleban, but maybe that just is danish.</STRONG>
In Swedish it's "Taliban", but in English, I've seen both spellings. :confused:

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2001 7:03 am
by Xandax
Well maybe there is no "official" way to spell it, and both are accepted.

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2001 7:04 am
by Yshania
They sound the same... :)

BTW @Xandax - a belated congrats on 4K :D

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2001 7:08 am
by Xandax
Originally posted by Yshania:
<STRONG>
BTW @Xandax - a belated congrats on 4K :D </STRONG>
Oh yeah - Thanx - and congrats on soon 2K :)

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2001 8:44 am
by Aegis
@Xan: Little early for that one, but soon... Also, bongrats Xan.

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2001 10:31 am
by Yshania
@Xan - thank you! :)

@Aegis - how long did you think it would take me? :D I know GB has been way slow, but not THAT slow :D

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2001 10:48 am
by Aegis
@Ysh: Say what?