Taliban trap civilians in Pakistani war zone

[Turborama]

Source: AP

MINGORA, Pakistan – Taliban militants blocked roads with rocks and trees, preventing terrified civilians from fleeing a Pakistani valley Thursday as the army stepped up a ground and air assault on the guerrillas that has been applauded by the U.S., witnesses said.

Destabilizing violence is flaring in Pakistan just as its embattled president is appealing in Washington for more help to reverse the extension of Taliban-held territory to within 60 miles (100 kilometers) of the capital. The U.S. is particularly concerned by the unrest because its troops are fighting an increasingly virulent insurgency in Afghanistan fed from militant havens in Pakistan's lawless border area.

Officials are bracing for a mass exodus from the Swat Valley, a former tourist destination where fighting has resumed after the breakdown of a controversial peace deal earlier this week. The military claimed to have killed more than 80 militants in the region on Wednesday. There has been no official word on civilian casualties.

More than 500,000 Pakistanis driven out by fighting in other regions of the northwest are already living in makeshift camps or with relatives, adding a growing humanitarian crisis to the country's daunting security, economic and political problems.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090507/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan_222

[ShortnFiery]

1. cough ... BULLSHIT!

Yeah, it's all the THEIR (Taliban's) fault that OUR BOMBS blew up many INNOCENTS to Kibbles n Bits.

This is no defense. This is just like the Israeli defense ... but what the hell, it's worked so well for them. :crazy:

[Blue State Bandit]

3. Wow... just f*ing wow.

Every time you conflate the I/P conflict with the Af/Pak conflict in such broad strokes, you make a mockery of yourself.

I may take a bit of heat here for saying this, but the Taliban's tactics would be "closer to your assumptions" of the IDF's tactics, not Hamas or the PLO.

Remember who helped facilitate that first big arms shipment to the Taliban back in the '80s. US, Israel, and Egypt.

[Odin2005]

5. SnF is all ideological hot air without any logic or reason.

No use reasoning with her.

[InfiniteThoughts]

2. the end is near

Pakistan military has no option but to exterminate it's illegitimate child - Taliban & the world will be a much better place without them ...

[Odin2005]

4. Taliban = Evil Scum.

Isn't this what the Tamil Tigers are doing in their "last stand" as well? :puke: