Afghanistan Bombing: Taliban's "Boldest & Most Ambitious Assault"

Juan Cole evaluates this morning's attack in Afghanistan, which reportedly killed 5 and injured 38 people:

The Taliban mounted their boldest and most ambitious assault on the capital of Kabul in recent years on Monday, with a series of well-coordinated bombings in the vicinity of the presidential palace and a platoon-sized expeditionary force wreaking havoc. The Afghan Voice Agency reports in Dari Persian that numerous bombs were set off near the presidential palace, shaking Kabul. The first was detonated at 9:45 am local time at the five-star Hotel Kabul Serena, 500 meters (yards) from the presidential palace, where many diplomats and journalists stay. The Serena was still on fire Monday night. As ambulances raced to the site to pick up the wounded, the attackers set off a second bomb at the Malik Asghar intersection in the capital. This blast was close to the central government ministries of foreign affairs, the economy, education, and Kabul municipality.

Afghanistan “Hearts and Minds” Special: Take a Photo, Win a Camera!

This tweet from Kabul says that there were lots of bombs going off.

Other news sources speak of machine gun fire echoing through Kabul all day, as streets were deserted.

The gunmen then engaged with Afghan National Army troops. Afghan government and NATO helicopters arrived to give air support against the attackers. Eyewitnesses report that the attackers killed and wounded dozens of people.

Then the shopping center caught or was set on fire, and the fire brigrades raced toward it and toward the Hotel Serena. A second shopping center, Gulbahar, was also bombed or set ablaze, according to AFP.

The News (Pakistan) reports that by mid-afternoon Afghanistan officials were saying that the situation was under control. At least ten persons were left dead, including four suicide bombers. AFP reported 13 injured. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that 20 guerrillas, some armed with suicide belts, had come into the city to target the presidential palace and government edifices.

The terrorist tactic here, of targeting nice hotels, shopping districts and government buildings, seems to me to be modeled on what Sunni extremists did twice in 2009 (August and November) to Baghdad, though this Kabul operation was not nearly as sophisticated or destructive. The choice to use a guerrilla platoon, some with vest bombs, limited its scope, as compared to what could have been achieved with car bombs (but perhaps NATO is better at searching trunks than are the Baghdad authorities.)

The attack seems likely to have aimed at making Karzai look weak and not in control on the eve of his attendance at the upcoming London international conference on Afghanistan. It may also have been a reply to Karzai's appointment of about half the ministers on the way to forming a new government.

At the same time the bombs were being set off, a platoon of armed insurgents holding a five-story downtown Kabul City Center shopping mall began firing at nearby government buildings and banks.

The gunmen then engaged with Afghan National Army troops. Afghan government and NATO helicopters arrived to give air support against the attackers. Eyewitnesses report that the attackers killed and wounded dozens of people.

Then the shopping center caught or was set on fire, and the fire brigrades raced toward it and toward the Hotel Serena. A second shopping center, Gulbahar, was also bombed or set ablaze, according to AFP.

The News (Pakistan) reports that by mid-afternoon Afghanistan officials were saying that the situation was under control. At least ten persons were left dead, including four suicide bombers. AFP reported 13 injured. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that 20 guerrillas, some armed with suicide belts, had come into the city to target the presidential palace and government edifices.

The terrorist tactic here, of targeting nice hotels, shopping districts and government buildings, seems to me to be modeled on what Sunni extremists did twice in 2009 (August and November) to Baghdad, though this Kabul operation was not nearly as sophisticated or destructive. The choice to use a guerrilla platoon, some with vest bombs, limited its scope, as compared to what could have been achieved with car bombs (but perhaps NATO is better at searching trunks than are the Baghdad authorities.)

The attack seems likely to have aimed at making Karzai look weak and not in control on the eve of his attendance at the upcoming London international conference on Afghanistan. It may also have been a reply to Karzai's appointment of about half the ministers on the way to forming a new government.

Iran Analysis: How "Mohareb" Death Sentences May Hurt Regime

Edward Yeranian of Voice of America reports:

Iran will put 16 opposition demonstrators on trial, Monday, and several are to be charged with "offending God and his prophet." Sixty journalists and intellectuals are expressing outrage over use of the charge of being "mohareb", which carries the death penalty.

The Iranian judiciary will put 16 opposition protesters on trial, Monday, in connection with demonstrations last month on the holy day of Ashoura. Press reports and recent statements by Iranian prosecutors indicate several will be charged with the offense of "mohareb" or "making war against God and his prophet." Conviction on such a charge carries the death penalty.

The Latest from Iran (18 January): Firewall

In an open letter to the Iranian judiciary, a group of 60 Iranian journalists and intellectuals, most of whom live abroad, are demanding a stop to using the religiously-based charge of "mohareb" against opposition protesters. They say in their letter, that "if protesting is making war against God, then we are all warriors."


Some pro-government supporters are also unhappy about the use of the charge against opposition protesters. In a recent interview with Iranian state TV, Javad Etaat, argues the government is contravening the principles of Islam by using an iron fist against protesters. He points out the first Imam of Shi'ite muslims, Imam Ali, said 'keep people that criticize you close to yourselves, because even if their words are bitter, you will benefit from them in the end."

Former Iranian president Abolhassan Bani Sadr, who now lives in exile in Paris, argues the use of the term "mohareb" by the Iranian government is excessive. He says the regime is not respecting its own laws, because the term "enemy of God" means someone who takes up arms against a just regime, and people did not take up arms against the regime, they were merely demonstrating to protest against dictatorship, a right which the law of the Islamic Republic gives them. Secondly, he argues, in the case of an unjust regime, the Koran says a muslim has not only the right, but the obligation to revolt against it. Thirdly, he adds, it was the government that fired on the people during Ashoura, when they were exercising their legitimate right to demonstrate.

Scott Lucas of the University of Birmingham in Britain, who is behind the popular Iran blog "Enduring America," says government tactics such as charging protesters with being "enemies of God" are starting to cause a rift within the government itself. "If you look at what Dr. Etaat said during that extraordinary (Iranian TV) interview this week, this is a very telling point, which he said: when you use the term "velvet revolution" and the terms "enemy of God," what you are pointing to is a revolution against an unjust system. You are highlighting how unjust the system is by using the terms. So, "mohareb," rather than unifying people behind the Islamic Republic just risks causing more splits and rifts, and rifts within the regime. There is some really serious opposition within the regime, which is saying "look, back off, stop doing this," and one reason is because they are using this term "mohareb," he says.

Lucas says the judiciary appears to be downplaying the latest trials, unlike the "show trials of opposition activists during the summer."

UPDATED Iran Video: CNN & Marandi on Detainee Abuses "Mortazavi to Blame" (17 January)

An interesting interview on CNN with Tehran University academic Seyed Mohammad Marandi over the Parliamentary report into detainee abuses, notably the violence and deaths at Kahrizak Prison. Below the analysis we have the video of CNN's report on Kahrizak and Mortazavi, accompanied by an extract of the Marandi interview.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXorJB-L-I8[/youtube]

Note how quickly Marandi invokes the name of Abdolhossein Ruholamini, the medical professor and advisor to Presidential candidate Mohsen Rezaei, to declare "satisfaction" with the report and investigations by the Government, including the role of Ayatollah Khamenei. It was the death of Ruholamini's son Mohsen in Kahrizak that spurred "conservative/principlist" pressure for the closure of the facility, which was ordered by the Supreme Leader this summer, and then for an enquiry.

All of this, then, is to convert the stigma of the abuses into "legitimacy" by showing the Government's readiness to investigate and correct the post-election mistakes. However, that also means there has to be an official who is prosecuted/punished/sacrificed for that legitimacy.

Thus Marandi's pointed comment, again in the name of Ruholamini: "The problem was...the response of the judge, Mr Mortazavi, was slow, and he blames Mr Mortazavi for [the death of the Kahrizak detainees]." Indeed, Marandi claimed that the Supreme Leader ordered the closure of the prison before the killing of the younger Ruholamini and the other prisoners.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JcGmoBCDq8[/youtube]

Haiti: Josh Shahryar's Humanitarian LiveBlog (17-18 January)

Latest updates....

0306 GMT

Songs for Haiti benefit Concert to be held in Portland, Oregon.

Thursday, January 21, 2010
7:30 pm – Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Avenue, Portland
$30 all tickets – available through Ticketmaster – tickets go on sale 10 am Tuesday!!

Appearing in performance will be pianist Thomas Lauderdale (of Pink Martini), Cool Nutz, Portland Cello Project, Grammy nominated pianist Janice Scroggins, Holcombe Waller. Oregon Symphony concertmaster Jun Iwasaki, with pianist Grace Fong, Broadway veteran, baritone Douglas Webster, Flash Choir, PHAME.  and the Grant High School Royal Blues … and Portland sensation Storm Large! Also additional musical guests from genres including classical, indie rock/pop and hip-hop.

Stephen Marc Beaudoin and Tom Sessa are event co-producers.

Haiti: Josh Shahryar’s News LiveBlog (17-18 January)

0300 GMT

Do you have American Express Membership points, feel generous and feel like helping Haiti? Well, the International Rescue Committe can help. IRC tweets:

For every 1,000 Membership Rewards points, AmericanExpress will donate $10 to IRC or your charity of choice in Haiti.

0205 GMT

Have you already donated or don’t have the money to donate? Do you feel a burning desire to help the poor people of Haiti get help? Are you good with copy-pasting material and clicking buttons online? Well, then, there’s just a thing for you now. All you have to do is go to this page: http://haiti.com/ and help locate areas that need help by checking Twitter updates that are already on the page. If you notice an emergency, just place it on the map and someone will hopefully get there after finding that information. It is quick and trust me, gratifying.

Earliest Updates....

2122 GMT

Water is in short supply in Haiti as I have updated before. Convoy of Hope released thisreport today:

Water is scarce in Port-au-Prince. So much so, that if relief groups advertised they had clean water to distribute they would, according to officials here, be overrun. So, one Convoy of Hope team worked behind the scenes on Saturday to provide clean water for the residents of Port-au-Prince by installing two modified bio-sand filters at an orphanage in the capital city.

Please give now to help provide water and other supplies for Haiti.

2100 GMT

US National Football League giants the San Diego Chargers are urging their fans again to donate money to help the humanitarian efforts. They released a statement on January 14 already which I’m reposting:

How to donate to relief efforts in Haiti

On January 12, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit the island of Haiti causing widespread death and destruction. Thousands are homeless and the death toll is rising. There is an immediate need for food, water, temporary shelter and medical services for the victims of this devastating natural disaster.

The San Diego Chargers are urging all NFL fans to reach out and help the American Red Cross bring desperately-needed supplies into this area.

Please help today by texting “HAITI” to 90999 and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts; the charge will appear on the next cell phone bill.

The American Red Cross is also accepting other forms of monetary donations to support relief efforts. Donors may send checks to the local chapter, designating Haiti Relief to: American Red Cross of San Diego/Imperial Counties, 3950 Calle Fortunada, San Diego, CA 92123, or by calling (858) 309-1200.

You can also click on this link for the local chapter of the American Red Cross atwww.sdarc.org and make a donation through their secure website.

The people in Haiti need our help today. Please join with the Chargers and support the important work of the American Red Cross.

2055 GMT

Democracy Now! just received this email from a medical worker at Hopital Sacre Coeur in Milot, 75 miles north of Port-Au-Prince.

From Tim Traynor at Hopital Sacre Coeur in Milot:

I am sitting at Hopital Sacre Coeur in Milot, Haiti, 75 miles north of PAP waiting for patients that have yet to arrive. I have a 7 member trauma/ general surgery team that arrived from the States earlier this afternoon and have received only 4 people from PAP. Those that made it by USCGS helo were so septic that they would have died had they not been transported to us early this PM. We have 6 Orthopedic surgeons arriving at noon tomorrow and we have no patients for them. We have created space for one hundred people and have differed all non-emergency cases until we have handled the crisis. I am told that within three to four days all those injured in the quake will be dead and the extraordinary efforts accomplished by these generous doctors will have been wasted. What in the name of God can we do or who can we talk to in an effort to alleviate the misery and keep this tragedy from turning into one of the biggest calamities in our time.

Thanks,

Tim Traynor

2043 GMT

WFP is yet again pleading for donations from citizens of the world as the people of Haiti battle with hunger, thirst and lack of medical supplies. If you’re feeling generous, visit: https://www.wfp.org/donate/haiti

WFP has been actively helping out with taking care of the survivors of Haiti’s devastating earthquake. CBS earlier quoted UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon acknowledging that WFP was feeding more than 40,000 Haitians who have no hope for a meal but from charities.

2035 GMT

Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) has released new pictures of their medical staff helping Haitians on the ground. The pictures show the misery that has been wrought upon Haiti by nature. You can view more pictures by clicking on the main picture screen. (Beware, the pictures are definitely disturbing. Do not pass them on without a warning.)

Haiti: Josh Shahryar's News LiveBlog (17-18 January)

Haiti: Josh Shahryar's Humanitarian LiveBlog (17-18 January)

Latest updates....

0335 GMT

CBS has an extremely informative video on the condition inside Haiti today. Please beware, the images are gut-wrenchingly depressing. Do not watch it if you have already seen enough. Best option is to fast forward the first 2/3s of the video.


Watch CBS News Videos Online

0326 GMT

TimesOnline reports on medical challenges on the ground in Haiti and immigration hassles for Haitian children who are being evacuated to the US:



US immigration officials had been refusing to allow children into the country until next weekend. However, as Hillary Clinton, the Secretary of State, arrived to assure Haitians that America stood ready to help “in any way we can”, doctors managed to persuade the US authorities to allow in Jean, a four-month-old Haitian girl for treatment. The orphaned child has cut through immigration rules used to bar entry to the US for Haitians even in extreme circumstances.

The charity Medishare had been considering defying US immigration by putting Jean physically in the giant hands of Alonzo Mourning, a basketball star, who has given millions to the charity and spent three days last week clearing rubbish in its tented clinic in Port-au-Prince. However, by Saturday night only 23 Haitians had been admitted to US hospitals.

Click Here to read the full entry. (The story is pretty disturbing, so caution is advised.)

Earliest updates....

2124 GMT

As search and rescue operations continued, amidst hope, there is a grim reality – the loss of life is staggering. ABC reports:

International search-and-rescue teams have pulled more than 70 people from the rubble of Haiti’s earthquake — a record for urban search-and-rescue missions following such a disaster, the U.N. claimed.

But though limited food, water and medical supplies finally are reaching victims in desperate need, Haiti’s prime minister said at least 70,000 dead bodies have been collected. And some unofficial estimates of the death toll have ranged between 150,000 and 200,000.

According to the U.N., 40 international teams containing nearly 1,800 rescue workers and more than 160 dogs, will not stop until the job is done.

2042 GMT

FOX News confirmed today that at least 16 American citizens have lost their lives in Haiti’s devastating earthquake:

Sixteen Americans are confirmed dead in the wake of Tuesday’s devastating earthquake in Haiti, the US state department said Sunday.The victims include 15 private American citizens and one US government employee, the department said.The US Embassy in Haiti, meanwhile, has reported that at least 70 Americans remain unaccounted for.

2037 GMT

Even after almost five days, people are still being pulled out from under the rubble in Haiti. The latest survivor is Isabel Azou, 58, who was pulled out by Delray Beach fire department and the Rapid Latino America Search and Rescue Team.

Sadly, her three children are still trapped under the rubble and presumed to have died in the tragedy. (I do not want to post the picture here because it is far too graphic and hope is what we all need at this hour.)

2036 GMT

Even after almost five days, people are still being pulled out from under the rubble in Haiti. The latest survivor is Isabel Azou, 58, who was pulled out by Delray Beach fire department and the Rapid Latino America Search and Rescue Team.

Sadly, her three children are still trapped under the rubble and presumed to have died in the tragedy. (I do not want to post the picture here because it is far too graphic and hope is what we all need at this hour.)