Saturday, May 2, 2015

Taliban captures Humvees and Ford 150 pickup trucks used by Afghan Army

Taliban fighters with a captured Afghan Army Humvee
in Kunduz province, Afghanistan

Afghanistan - The Neverending Story

(The Long War Journal) - The Taliban released a video today titled “Kunduz and Renewed Resolve” that shows its fighters in control of Afghan security forces’ outposts, captured security personnel, and vehicles and weapons seized during the fighting. The title of the video is a play on the the name of the Taliban’s newly-launched spring offensive, which is called Azm and means resolve or determination. [See LWJ report, Afghan Taliban announces new ‘spring operations’.]

The five minute and thirty-seven second long video was produced by Al Emarah Studio, which is “part of the Multimedia Branch of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s Cultural Commission,” the Taliban stated on its website, Voice of Jihad. The video highlights “the recent victories, conquests and war booty attained by Mujahideen in the initial days of annual spring campaign dubbed ‘Azm’ (Resolve/Determination).”

Taliban fighters are shown patrolling in the Imam Sahib district, which is said to be under the group’s control. Taliban fighters are also videotaped inside and outside of several military and police outposts that were captured during the recent fighting.

The Taliban also displayed several US-supplied Humvees used by the Afghan Army and Ford 150 pickup trucks used by the Afghan police that were taken during the fighting. Also shown were captured assault rifles, machine guns, and an assortment of ammunition.

Additionally, the Taliban briefly showed at least 10 Afghan security personnel who were captured. Days after the fighting began in Kunduz, the jihadist group said that it had captured 55 security personnel, most of whom were Arbakis, or members of the tribal police.

The Taliban launched its offensive in the districts of Imam Sahib, Aliabad, and Qala-i-Zal as well as other areas of Kunduz late last week. The jihadist group is said to have advanced to within miles of the provincial capital of Kunduz city.

After the Taliban offensive was launched, the head of the provincial council estimated that more than 65 percent of the province was under Taliban control. [See LWJ report,Taliban launch offensive in northern Afghan province.]

Afghanistan War - Marines Taking Casualties During Fierce Heavy Intense Firefight In Afghanistan

Screen shots from the Taliban video from Kunduz province

Taliban fighters operating at Afghan military bases:

Equipment and weapons seized:

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Thomas Pinckney, Federalist

Commissioned as captain in the 1st South Carolina Regiment of the Continental Army. After seeing much action, he became an aide-de-camp to General Horatio Gates. He was captured by the British at the disastrous Battle of Camden in 1780. After recovering from his wounds, he was released in a prisoner exchange. In 1781 he fought under Lafayette in Virginia. Appointed by President George Washington to be the U.S. minister to Great Britain served as Envoy Extraordinary to Spain. The Federalist Party made him a candidate in the 1796 presidential election as the intended running-mate of John Adams. Served as Congressman and Governor of South Carolina. Served as a major general in the Army during the War of 1812.

Henry Lee III, Federalist

Major General "Light-Horse Harry" Lee fought at the battles of Paulus Hook, Guilford Court House, Eutaw Springs, Yorktown and the Whiskey Rebellion. Federalist Congressman from Virginia, Governor of Virginia. Father of Robert E. Lee. In 1812 Lee was attacked by a Jeffersonian mob of Democratic-Republicans while defending a Federalist newspaper from attack. Lee and the other Federalists were beaten and tortured by the mob over the next three hours. Lee was left partially blinded after hot wax was poured into his eyes. The men were left for dead. All were severely injured, and one Federalist, General James Lingan, died.

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WILLIAM PATERSON, Federalist

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Jacob Read, Federalist

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William Bingham, Federalist

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Ezekiel Whitman, Federalist

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David Cobb, Federalist

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Josiah Parker, Federalist

In 1775 Parker enlisted in the Continental Army. He was commissioned a major in the 5th Virginia Regiment in 1776 and became its colonel in 1778. His regiment served in Virginia under General Charles Lee and was transferred to George Washington. The regiment thereafter saw action at the Battles of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth and the Siege of Charleston. During Cornwallis's Virginia campaign in 1781, the notorious Colonel Tarleton ransacked his home. He was elected to the First US Congress from Virginia serving for twelve years.

William Stephens Smith, Federalist

Smith married Abigail "Nabby" Adams, the daughter of President John Adams, and so was a brother-in-law of President John Quincy Adams, and an uncle of Charles Francis Adams. Served in the Revolutionary Army as aide-de-camp to General John Sullivan. Fought in the Battle of Long Island, was wounded at Harlem Heights, Battle of White Plains, was promoted to lieutenant colonel at the Battle of Trenton, fought at the Battle of Monmouth and Newport. He was on the staff of General Lafayette, became an adjutant in the Corps of Light Infantry, then transferred to the staff of George Washington. Elected as a Federalist Congressman from New York.

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John Rutledge, Jr., Federalist

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Member of the Pennsylvania state house of representatives 1808-1810; elected as a Federalist to Congress and served from 1815, to 1823. Sergeant was a strong backer of Henry Clay's American System and the Second Bank of the United States, and even traveled to Europe to negotiate loans to the Bank. He was a strong opponent of slavery who voted against the Missouri Compromise. In 1826 he was an envoy to the Panama Congress. Elected to Congress as an Adams candidate 1827 to 1829. Failing re-election he became legal counsel to the Bank of the United States. Sergeant was the Vice Presidential running mate in Henry Clay's campaign on the National Republican ticket in 1832. Elected as a Whig to Congress serving from 1837 to 1841.

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Key had been a Loyalist in the American Revolution. He served in the Maryland Loyalists Battalion as a captain. Key fought with the British Army from 1777 to 1781, until he was captured by the Spanish in Pensacola, Florida with the rest of his battalion. After the war he served as Mayor of Annapolis & member of the Maryland House of Delegates. Appointed a Federal Judge by John Adams. He was a Counsel to Justice Samuel Chase during Chase's Jefferson ordered impeachment show-trial in 1805. Elected as a Federalist to Congress from Maryland (1807 - 1813). Francis Scott Key was his nephew.