Defense Dept. Says Taliban May Attempt to Poison Afghan Food Aid
(Taliban militia have been hiding in civilian buildings) (430) By Merle D. Kellerhals, Jr. Washington File Staff Writer Washington -- The United States has learned that the Taliban may attempt to poison humanitarian food aid being distributed to civilians in Afghanistan, a U.S. Defense Department spokesman says. Navy Rear Admiral John Stufflebeem, a deputy director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a Pentagon briefing October 24 that intelligence reports indicate the "Taliban might intend to poison humanitarian foodstuffs" and try to blame the United States. "The report that [the United States] would do that is categorically false," Stufflebeem said. "We would never poison any foodstuffs. We are humane people. We want to provide humanitarian assistance to those in need." He said two C-17 air cargo missions were flown October 23, dropping approximately 34,000 humanitarian daily rations. To date, the United States has air-dropped 785,000 humanitarian daily rations (HDR) packets to starving, displaced Afghan civilians since the coalition military campaign began October 7, he said. Humanitarian food aid, much of it paid for by the United States, has also been transported into Afghanistan overland by trucks, he said. Stufflebeem said the United States was disclosing this information now to inform the Afghans that if food aid comes from the United States "it will not be tainted. If it comes from Taliban control, they [Afghans] must be careful." Stufflebeem also said the Taliban militia have been seeking out civilian buildings, houses and facilities in which to hide from U.S.-led coalition air strikes and potential raids from special operations forces. Refugees have been describing in interviews how Taliban forces are "moving into neighborhoods, staying in people's houses, putting their troops into university dormitories, or using religious mosques to hide their vehicles," he said. Stufflebeem said coalition air strikes continued October 23 against al-Qaida and Taliban militia forces in the field and on targets of opportunity in zones near Mazar-i-Sharif, the Shomali Plains near Kabul, Kunduz and Herat. "We hit five planned target areas, which included: terrorist camps and forces; Taliban command and control; Taliban forces, both afield as well as those in garrison; and ... armor, vehicle maintenance and storage facilities," he said. The coalition used 90 strike aircraft, 75 from aircraft carriers, 10 long-range bombers, and the remainder were land-based tactical aircraft, including AC-130 Specter gunships, he said. (The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
