Ace of Spades HQ

September 13, 2011

ONGOING: U.S. Embassy Under Attack in Kabul
— Gabriel Malor

Info is still sketchy as this is an ongoing attack. The best coverage I've found is being live-updated at the Guardian.

The latest:

A series of explosions can gunfire [were] heard in the Wazir Akbar Khan neighbourhood of Kabul where there's a lot of of embassies and aid agencies and the first reports were that five or six militants had got into one of the tallest buildings, unused, from which they were firing towards the US embassy and the Nato mission here in Afghanistan. Local TV is showing ...smoke coming from the area where, apparently, rockets had landed.k There were wounded people in the streets. The head of the secret poilce was on TV saying at least one policemand and at least one civilian had been killed.

The attackers are reportedly armed with suicide vests.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 03:21 AM | Comments (68)
Post contains 148 words, total size 1 kb.

1 I wonder if the attackers are the same teabaggers from the Republican debate last night who cheered at the idea of allowing a young man in a coma to die because he lacked health insurance.

Posted by: Paul Begala at September 13, 2011 03:25 AM (cSAN2)

2 I lay this too at the feet of the stumbling CF of a failure.

Posted by: Vic at September 13, 2011 03:26 AM (M9Ie6)

3 Follow me!

Posted by: The Weak Horse at September 13, 2011 03:33 AM (h4qvm)

4 I say we take off and nuke the place from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, Tea Party SOB at September 13, 2011 03:33 AM (d0Tfm)

5 How's that nation-building working for you now bitches? Here is yet another reason that nuclear weapons were invented.

Posted by: Hrothar at September 13, 2011 03:36 AM (GmKdo)

6 I think some Marines will soon oblige the suicide attackers. Send them off to Allah.

Posted by: Blaster at September 13, 2011 03:38 AM (Fw2Gg)

7 Here is yet another reason that nuclear weapons were invented.

Posted by: Hrothar at September 13, 2011 07:36 AM (GmKdo)

Amen. Our policy for dealing with these people is backward. Instead of looking for ways to spare as many lives as possible, we should be looking for excuses to destroy as many as possible. It's the only thing they understand.

Posted by: Reactionary at September 13, 2011 03:42 AM (xUM1Q)

8 I think some Marines will soon oblige the suicide attackers. Send them off to Allah. Posted by: Blaster at September 13, 2011 07:38 AM (Fw2Gg) I am praying that the Obama RoE permit self-defense.

Posted by: Hrothgar at September 13, 2011 03:42 AM (GmKdo)

9 When did the Amish move to Afghanistan?

Posted by: s☺mej☼e at September 13, 2011 03:50 AM (McHnx)

10 the RoE should be quite simple

1. Get violent enough fast enough.
2. Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Ammo is cheap. Your life is expensive.
3. The faster you finish the fight, the less shot you will get.

Posted by: StrategicCorporalUSMC at September 13, 2011 03:50 AM (zgwWv)

Posted by: StrategicCorporalUSMC at September 13, 2011 07:50 AM (zgwWv)

Well said. I especially like item #1. Sorta encompasses items 2 and 3.

Posted by: Reactionary at September 13, 2011 03:52 AM (xUM1Q)

12 Prayers for the Embassy personnel-and thank the Lord they have the Marine Security Guards. Those young men and women do an amazing job of protecting US embassies, and representing the US and the Marine Corps overseas. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Posted by: moki at September 13, 2011 03:53 AM (dZmFh)

13 11

Posted by: StrategicCorporalUSMC at September 13, 2011 07:50 AM (zgwWv)

Well said. I especially like item #1. Sorta encompasses items 2 and 3.

Posted by: Reactionary at September 13, 2011 07:52 AM (xUM1Q)

He left out the part about a heavier dose of outgoing fire...

Posted by: s☺mej☼e at September 13, 2011 03:54 AM (McHnx)

14 eh a nice morning with arab spring.

Posted by: willow at September 13, 2011 04:03 AM (h+qn8)

15 Posted by: StrategicCorporalUSMC at September 13, 2011 07:50 AM (zgwWv) Maybe #4: And don't hesitate to call for air support early and often. I love the smell of smart diplomacy in the morning!

Posted by: Hrothgar at September 13, 2011 04:07 AM (GmKdo)

16 Something tells me the Marines at the embassy helped some transition from Arab Spring to Arab Fall

Posted by: StrategicCorporalUSMC at September 13, 2011 04:07 AM (zgwWv)

17 There are many combat maxims, those are the ones that came to mind.

others include

Have a plan

Have a backup plan because the first one wont work

Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet.

If your shooting stance is good, you're a target

Tracers work both ways

Friendly Fire isn't

Posted by: StrategicCorporalUSMC at September 13, 2011 04:11 AM (zgwWv)

18 Simon Klingert's twitter feed is also good for real time updates.

https://twitter.com/#!/simon_klingert

Posted by: StrategicCorporalUSMC at September 13, 2011 04:13 AM (zgwWv)

19 How do you say "Tet Offensive" in Pashto?

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at September 13, 2011 04:14 AM (UlUS4)

20 Waiting for our current day Walter Cronkhite to declare "this war is lost." Oh, wait a minute...

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at September 13, 2011 04:15 AM (UlUS4)

21 How do you say "Tet Offensive" in Pashto? Posted by: J.J. Sefton at September 13, 2011 08:14 AM (UlUS4) Boy does that reference bring up a lot of memories. Where is Walter Cronkwrong when you need him?

Posted by: Hrothgar at September 13, 2011 04:17 AM (GmKdo)

22 Yes, the Tet offensive; when the NVA got their asses kicked by the U.S. Army, who then got their asses kicked by the U.S. media.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (NJConservative)) at September 13, 2011 04:24 AM (LH6ir)

23 Posted by: StrategicCorporalUSMC at September 13, 2011 07:50 AM (zgwWv)

Sort of O/T, but...the Israeli army allows all soldiers to carry their issue weapons at all times. In fact, they encourage it.

The U.S. Army should do the same.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (NJConservative)) at September 13, 2011 04:28 AM (LH6ir)

24 Contrary to Walter Cronkite's lies, the Tet offensive was a massive failure by the Viet Cong. Afterwards they ceased to be an effective fighting force in the South.

The Dems and their lackeys in the MFM still try to push that Tet bullshit to this day.

Posted by: Vic at September 13, 2011 04:32 AM (M9Ie6)

25 I see CBD beat me to the punch.

Posted by: Vic at September 13, 2011 04:33 AM (M9Ie6)

26 The U.S. Army should do the same. Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (NJConservative)) at September 13, 2011 08:28 AM (LH6ir) Maybe our politicians don't trust our military unlike the Israelis? Our politicians don't seem to have a problem with arming the cartels in Mexico and, due to their border uncontrol stance, here as well.

Posted by: Hrothgar at September 13, 2011 04:34 AM (GmKdo)

27 I see CBD beat me to the punch. Posted by: Vic at September 13, 2011 08:33 AM (M9Ie6) Vic, you seem to be as on top of things as ever. Glad to have you back and feisty as well.

Posted by: Hrothgar at September 13, 2011 04:36 AM (GmKdo)

28 Is anyone going to market a soap called "Arab Spring?" I assume it will have the aroma of open sewage mixed with camel droppings and burnt sheep. Just sayin.

Posted by: Sub-Tard at September 13, 2011 04:41 AM (0M3AQ)

29 PEACE LOVING KORAN THUMPERS

Posted by: that guy at September 13, 2011 04:41 AM (gOG2a)

30 The Nato Secretary-General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen , said the Taliban attacks in Kabul were an attempt to derail plans to hand over security resposibility to Afghan forces in Afghanistan, but would not succeed. I thought they wanted us to leave. They are attacking us so that we will stay? Who is crazier?, the Afgans, NATO or us for trying to Nation Build.

Posted by: Oldsailor's poet at September 13, 2011 04:42 AM (ZDUD4)

31 This reminds me of the time in 2006 when I sat down to pen a Terry Schiavo musical comedy. The working title was "Too Soon?"

Posted by: Truman North, SOB at September 13, 2011 04:42 AM (I2LwF)

32 The fact of the matter is we very seldom approach these uses of the military logically. Logically it should go in stages:

1. Determine what is the mission and if the mission is worth the costs both in lives, treasure, and political will.
2. Determine the level of troops needed to accomplish that mission.
3. Define the end point of the mission to judge success, failure, and/or time to pull out.
4. Obtain congressional approval for the mission.
5. Launch the mission.
6. Evaluate mission objectives and success along the way for needed troop levels. Do NOT reevaluate the mission objectives themselves. It is too late for that.
7. When original objectives are achieved, pull out. If it is determined objectives can not be achieved declare failure and pull out.

Note that determining BS ROE are not part of that. That should already be SOP and should be based on troop safety and not politics.

Posted by: Vic at September 13, 2011 04:43 AM (M9Ie6)

33 The Amish are back at it again. Boy it sure was smart of Ogabe to announce exit dates.

Posted by: sven10077 at September 13, 2011 04:45 AM (AEIYh)

34 Not sure the term: "armed with a suicide vest" should be in the AOSHQ stylebook.

Posted by: Jean at September 13, 2011 04:46 AM (WkuV6)

I'm praying for those at the embassy, and hope the casualties suffered are all on the side of the bastards with the suicide vests and the mental acumen of a four year old.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit at September 13, 2011 04:46 AM (4df7R)

36 Is anyone going to market a soap called "Arab Spring?" I assume it will have the aroma of open sewage mixed with camel droppings and burnt sheep. Just sayin.

Posted by: Sub-Tard at September 13, 2011 08:41 AM (0M3AQ)

LOL. I have a hard time imaginging making much of a profit on personal hygiene products over there... When I was a kid the Irish Spring soap commercial had the bar of soap spraying water on the user. I can only imagine what a bar of Arab Spring would spray out... Goat piss, most likely.

Posted by: Reactionary at September 13, 2011 04:46 AM (xUM1Q)

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Posted by: eBook iPub zNook Wigs at September 13, 2011 04:46 AM (I2LwF)

38 I thought they wanted us to leave. They are attacking us so that we will stay? Who is crazier?, the Afgans, NATO or us for trying to Nation Build.

Posted by: Oldsailor's poet at September 13, 2011 08:42 AM (ZDUD4)

yeah, that didn't make sense to me either. seems they would sit tight until the transition were over.

Posted by: willow at September 13, 2011 04:47 AM (h+qn8)

6. Evaluate mission objectives and success along the way for needed troop levels. Do NOT reevaluate the mission objectives themselves. It is too late for that.

Posted by: Vic at September 13, 2011 08:43 AM (M9Ie6)

I agree with all your points except this one. Sometimes initial objectives are based on wishful thinking or bad info. There can come a time when one must rethink what is really achievable. Otherwise you can end up endlessly banging your head against a wall, or winning a pyrric victory.

Posted by: Reactionary at September 13, 2011 04:49 AM (xUM1Q)

yeah, that didn't make sense to me either. seems they would sit tight until the transition were over.

Posted by: willow at September 13, 2011 08:47 AM (h+qn

Nah. That would mean allowing lots of filthy infidels to leave the region unscathed. Can't have that!

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit at September 13, 2011 04:49 AM (4df7R)

41 The word is out we are leaving - heck, even the Republican candidates are saying we should leave (and they are right, but no matter). So if they attack and we leave, they can say, look, we threw them out, you shouldn't mind that we take over and force our version of medieval Islam on you.

Posted by: blaster at September 13, 2011 04:50 AM (Fw2Gg)

I don't think anyone's come out and said it yet, so allow me:

"Barack Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure."

Carry on.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit at September 13, 2011 04:50 AM (4df7R)

43 vic, the problem with 7 is that it encourages various jackasses to wait us out, then cause problems, requiring us to come back at step 1. I'm encouraged that the Philippines mission took less then 100 years. (1898 - 1992)

Posted by: Jean at September 13, 2011 04:52 AM (WkuV6)

44 As soon as I can figure out how to blame Bush or the Tea Party for this, I'll be making a statement.

Posted by: PRESIDENT Barack H. Obama at September 13, 2011 04:53 AM (/7xxR)

45 Posted by: Reactionary at September 13, 2011 08:49 AM (xUM1Q) Note that obtaining congressional approval was a part of the process. To me this means that it would be extremely difficult for a sleazy politician (like a president) to review the "facts" midstream and decide unilaterally to change course. I do agree that objectives may need be changed by the appearance of unknown unknowns during the unfolding of events, but htis should not be a easy thing to do, once troops are committed.

Posted by: Hrothgar at September 13, 2011 04:54 AM (GmKdo)

46 Otherwise you can end up endlessly banging your head against a wall, or winning a pyrric victory.

That is why number 7.

vic, the problem with 7 is that it encourages various jackasses to wait us out, then cause problems, requiring us to come back at step 1. I'm encouraged that the Philippines mission took less then 100 years. (1898 - 1992)

If it is determined that the original objective was flawed then that is part of the ongoing evaluation and declare failure and pull out.

It isn't a matter of the "enemy waiting us out" since nowhere in there was a need to set a withdrawal date. That is something the stupid Democrats came up with. The need is to pull out on success or on determining that success is not possible.

On the "flawed" objective standpoint, if items 1 through 4 are done correctly the odds of that happening are very low. Part of that should be the long term strategic interests of the country and have NOTHING to do with politics.

Also, nation building should have nothing to do with the military objectives either.

Posted by: Vic at September 13, 2011 04:58 AM (M9Ie6)

47 more from twitter

BeattieDoug Doug Beattie "@simon_klingert: "City wide attack in Kabul requires sophisticated insurgent coordination & communication." > and local support!!

Posted by: StrategicCorporalUSMC at September 13, 2011 05:00 AM (zgwWv)

48 Whatever Tet was militarily, the point was that after years of being fed McNamara DoD fabrications it was a shock to the American public that the VC were even capable of trying something like that, and coming as close as they did to pulling it off.

What's ridiculous, of course, is that Tet came six years after we first really put advisors in the field in SVN, and not much over three years after large-scale commitment of ground troops.

Here we've been stumbling over our dicks for a decade in Afghanistan and all we're really fighting for now is to push back the date a few months or a couple years after our departure that the place reverts to being an ungoverned rathole - or a wholly-owned subsidiary of China should sufficient minerals be turned up somewhere.

Posted by: JEM at September 13, 2011 05:01 AM (o+SC1)

49 The public mission objectives for the commitment of ground troops should always be: Unconditional Surrender. Any other objective would fall under a SO/LIC - CIA mission and be undiscussed, no commented, Who us? are you sure those are our drones ... , etc. The internal operations order could have some nuances - but those should not be for public consumption.

Posted by: Jean at September 13, 2011 05:01 AM (WkuV6)

50 @Vic re post 35

RoE should be written by the commander on the ground not the JAG lawyers who have never experienced combat.

Posted by: StrategicCorporalUSMC at September 13, 2011 05:02 AM (zgwWv)

51 53, or we could start requiring JAGs to have served as line O1 & O2 before paying for law school and entering JAG as O3s - sort of like SOF.

Posted by: Jean at September 13, 2011 05:05 AM (WkuV6)

52 StrategicCorporalUSMC's
simon klingerts post , now has footage of the assault , i guess before they breached embassy

Posted by: willow at September 13, 2011 05:13 AM (h+qn8)

53 I don't understand how we got to a point in the military where the JAG outfit became such a significant part.

In the old days a defendant at a court martial was defended by a regular serving officer and court procedures were all military and had zero bearing or similarity to civilian courts.

We are shitting our military up from every damn angle. As colonel Jessup said, "you don't want to know the truth".

Posted by: Vic at September 13, 2011 05:14 AM (M9Ie6)

54 i guess before they breached embassy

Posted by: willow at September 13, 2011 09:13 AM (h+qn

Have they breached the embassy? I haven't heard anything on that yet.

Posted by: Vic at September 13, 2011 05:15 AM (M9Ie6)

55 Vic hmm, perhaps not, but i know i read also a link from that twirter that two terrorists and one policeman had been killed, so i possible assumed wrongly.

apologies.

Posted by: willow at September 13, 2011 05:16 AM (h+qn8)

56 twitter* er ..and possibly

Posted by: willow at September 13, 2011 05:17 AM (h+qn8)

57 a link from that twirter that two terrorists and one policeman had been killed
that was the isaf link from twitter.

i must have assumed breach because of egypt and israeli embassy transposing information in my flakey unreliable little brain.

Posted by: willow at September 13, 2011 05:23 AM (h+qn8)

58 @54 they would need to serve as a fire team leader or squad leader to understand, anything less and they will treat it as "punching their ticket" sorry so cynical but BTDT

Posted by: StrategicCPLUSMC at September 13, 2011 05:27 AM (zgwWv)

59 I think we need to donate to those guys some suicide vests that are Made in America. They wouldn't have explosives, just an embedded GPS transponder and a bulls-eye.

Posted by: Roy at September 13, 2011 05:31 AM (bm4vI)

60 Obama is starting to smell like cigarettes and Jimmy Carter's old sweater.

Posted by: Marie at September 13, 2011 05:34 AM (W7Seu)

61 MFM: They must have done this because of Sarah Palin's map with targets on it. And we're still looking for the Tea Party angle on this

Posted by: TheQuietMan at September 13, 2011 05:44 AM (1Jaio)

62 61, sure - but at least a few years as an LT under the watchful eye of a senior NCO would help clean up the JAG. A verbal eval by their NCOs to the board considering who got to go to law school on DoD's dime would be doable.

Posted by: Jean at September 13, 2011 06:48 AM (WkuV6)

63 @65 I agree. but in my experience it was only the officers with what we called ELQ (Enlisted Like Qualities) were the ones who actively sought out the counsel of the NCOs and considered the advice they were given.

Posted by: StrategicCPLUSMC at September 13, 2011 07:38 AM (zgwWv)

64 "Armed with suicide belts" doesn't seem like a very good strategy for an open frontal attack. Are they loading themselves into catapults and trying to fly over the walls to explode on impact?

Posted by: Dr Mabuse at September 13, 2011 07:55 AM (jgkJo)

65 Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.

Posted by: steevy at September 13, 2011 02:18 PM (fyOgS)

66 I don't see what the problem is. The moose-limb idiots (I know that's redundant) are in an "unused" building. They have already fired rockets at us and our neighbors. They aren't engaging military targets at all. They are shooting at civilians and little kids.

Our only possible answer to this immediate threat to peace is to eliminate that threat with extreme prejudice.

IOW

Hey everybody SNIPER practice RIGHT NOW! first come! first serve. Free beer for whoever gets the last idiot!

See? Problem solved.

Posted by: Blacksmith8✡ at September 13, 2011 03:20 PM (Q1qy3)

67 Wait a minute.... didn't the State Dept. just wrap up diplomatic talks with the Taliban a few weeks ago?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGo1-EVrsx8

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