In Afghanistan, where else? Iraq?
"Taliban: 2 hostages to be freed; S. Korean women reportedly ill" by Amir Shah/Associated Press August 12, 2007
GHAZNI, Afghanistan -- A Taliban spokesman said yesterday that two sick, female South Korean hostages would be released "soon" for the sake of good relations between the Taliban and South Korea.
The spokesman, Qari Yousef Ahmadi, said the two women would be freed because they are sick. He said the decision had been made by the Taliban's high commanders.
[That the same "Taliban high command" that the New York Times described as:
"something of a catchall term for loosely affiliated insurgents without a singular command structure. Often, the Afghan government favors the phrase "enemies of the state (New York Times July 24, 2007)"
Just askin'!]
The Taliban leaders taking part in the talks had said earlier yesterday that all the Korean captives would "definitely" be released and possibly as soon as "today or tomorrow."
Ahmadi said: "The Taliban's big commanders have decided for the sake of good relations between the Taliban and the Korean people that without any conditions they are soon going to release two sick women."
[That doesn't sound at all like the blood-drinking throat-cutters I've been told they are!
The "cold-blooded killers," as my BULLSHIT PRESIDENT CALLS THEM!]
Mullah Qari Bashir, one of the Taliban negotiators, said the face-to-face talks were going well and that the Taliban were sticking with their original demand -- that 21 Taliban prisoners be released from prisons in Afghanistan.
Bashir, outside the Ghazni office of the Afghan Red Cross, which is acting as a neutral intermediary, when asked when the Koreans might be freed:
"God willing the government [of Afghanistan] and the government of Korea will accept this. Definitely these people will be released. God willing our friends [Taliban militants in prison] will be released. Hopefully today or tomorrow. I'm very optimistic. The negotiations are continuing on a positive track."
[This crisis part of what made me go away?
What shitstink state is served by pitting Christians against Muslims?
ONLY ONE!]
Another Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujaheed, said the government in Kabul gave the Taliban leaders -- Bashir and Mullah Nasrullah -- a written guarantee also signed by American and other foreign officials that the two Taliban would be safe.
Separately, Taliban militants attacked a small US base in southern Afghanistan early yesterday for the second time in a week, and the US-led coalition said the insurgents could be collecting intelligence for a future attempt to overrun the outpost.
Four militants were killed during the attack on Firebase Anaconda.
Army Captain Vanessa R. Bowman, a coalition spokeswoman:
"The fighters' actions could possibly be a rehearsal for a much bigger attack, possibly an attempt to completely overrun the post. The insurgents are paying a high price to test our response to attacks on our bases. Though direct attacks are an unorthodox method for Taliban fighters, we remain prepared to fight them in any way they choose, though we find they are regularly unprepared for our methods of combat."
[She means the AIR BOMBINGS!
And what IS THIS?
Taliban NO LONGER "COWARDS" or just GETTING STRONGER?!!]
A group of 75 Taliban attacked Anaconda on Tuesday from three sides, a rare frontal assault that left 23 militants dead."
[So they WAIT to tell us this on a WEEKEND, in the back of the article on the HOSTAGE CRISIS!
HIDING a LOSING WAR, huh?]
