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Taliban Attack Kills 7 Georgian Soldiers in Afghanistan Taliban Attack Kills 7 Georgian Soldiers in Afghanistan
(about 3 hours later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — A suicide bomber driving a truck packed with explosives attacked an isolated base staffed by Georgian troops in Helmand Province on Thursday evening, killing seven soldiers after penetrating the outer perimeter, but failing to get inside the base, according to Georgian and Afghan officials in Helmand.KABUL, Afghanistan — A suicide bomber driving a truck packed with explosives attacked an isolated base staffed by Georgian troops in Helmand Province on Thursday evening, killing seven soldiers after penetrating the outer perimeter, but failing to get inside the base, according to Georgian and Afghan officials in Helmand.
It was the second truck bomb attack on a Georgian base in Helmand in less than a month; the earlier bombing on May 13 killed three Georgians, according to Georgian defense officials. Helmand has been the deadliest province for coalition troops.It was the second truck bomb attack on a Georgian base in Helmand in less than a month; the earlier bombing on May 13 killed three Georgians, according to Georgian defense officials. Helmand has been the deadliest province for coalition troops.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a text message sent to journalists.The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a text message sent to journalists.
The Georgian contingent of 1,570 soldiers is the largest non-NATO member of the International Security Assistance Force.The Georgian contingent of 1,570 soldiers is the largest non-NATO member of the International Security Assistance Force.
The attack was one of the most lethal this year for the international coalition fighting here. Coalition forces have suffered more casualties in Helmand than in any other province. American forces are now down to less than a third of the nearly 20,000 Marines that had once been stationed in the province.The attack was one of the most lethal this year for the international coalition fighting here. Coalition forces have suffered more casualties in Helmand than in any other province. American forces are now down to less than a third of the nearly 20,000 Marines that had once been stationed in the province.
The Georgians now have three bases in an area of Helmand where the Taliban are fighting hard to regain ground: the districts of Nawzad and Musa Qala, and an area near Sangin.The Georgians now have three bases in an area of Helmand where the Taliban are fighting hard to regain ground: the districts of Nawzad and Musa Qala, and an area near Sangin.
Gen. Irakli Dzneladze, chief of the Georgian Army joint staff, told a news conference in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, that in addition to the seven killed, nine Georgian soldiers were wounded. The episode brings to 30 the number of Georgians killed in Afghanistan.Gen. Irakli Dzneladze, chief of the Georgian Army joint staff, told a news conference in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, that in addition to the seven killed, nine Georgian soldiers were wounded. The episode brings to 30 the number of Georgians killed in Afghanistan.
“I offer my deepest condolences to the families of our fallen heroes and to all of Georgia,” President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia said in a televised address. “Our duty to their memory is to continue our path toward NATO membership,” he added.“I offer my deepest condolences to the families of our fallen heroes and to all of Georgia,” President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia said in a televised address. “Our duty to their memory is to continue our path toward NATO membership,” he added.
General Joseph P. Dunford, the commanding general both for NATO and United States troops in Afghanistan, offered his condolences to the Georgian people and went out of his way to praise the Georgian contribution here.
"While this is a sad moment for the Georgian people and the coalition forces, we will not be deterred from our efforts to bring stability and security to the Afghan people," he said.
"Georgia's support of the ISAF mission has been steadfast and tangible. While many have contributed to the security improvements in Afghanistan, Georgian soldiers have always stood out for their toughness and willingness to take on difficult missions. “
The Georgian forces have sometimes appeared to lack the caution of the troops from other nations stationed in Afghanistan. In an e-mail earlier this spring to reporters inviting them to embed with Georgian troops, a Georgian press officer described the area where they operate in Helmand as “the triangle of violence” but offered to take reporters “on foot patrols in Afghan villages and to meet locals.”The Georgian forces have sometimes appeared to lack the caution of the troops from other nations stationed in Afghanistan. In an e-mail earlier this spring to reporters inviting them to embed with Georgian troops, a Georgian press officer described the area where they operate in Helmand as “the triangle of violence” but offered to take reporters “on foot patrols in Afghan villages and to meet locals.”
According to some local Afghan elders the Georgian troops are not particularly well liked in the area because they arbitrarily stop people for searches, do not treat them with respect and do not understand their language. However, local Afghan government officials said they found their presence helpful in keeping the roads open.According to some local Afghan elders the Georgian troops are not particularly well liked in the area because they arbitrarily stop people for searches, do not treat them with respect and do not understand their language. However, local Afghan government officials said they found their presence helpful in keeping the roads open.
“They don’t know English and speak a Russian-sounding kind of language,” said Abdul Rahman Mutmain, an elder from Landy-Nawa where the Georgians have one of their three bases.“They don’t know English and speak a Russian-sounding kind of language,” said Abdul Rahman Mutmain, an elder from Landy-Nawa where the Georgians have one of their three bases.
“Georgians are like our warlords, they don’t behave well with people,” he said. “Sometimes they stop passengers to search them and people complain they steal their belongings, their money, wristwatches and other valuables.”“Georgians are like our warlords, they don’t behave well with people,” he said. “Sometimes they stop passengers to search them and people complain they steal their belongings, their money, wristwatches and other valuables.”
“Once my car broke down near their base in Landy-Nawa,” he added. “They rushed towards me and forced me to take the car away from the area. I explained that I cannot take it away alone, but they didn’t help me to push the car nor would they let me to fix it. So they start abusing me and I didn’t know what they were saying, and they didn’t know what I was telling them.”“Once my car broke down near their base in Landy-Nawa,” he added. “They rushed towards me and forced me to take the car away from the area. I explained that I cannot take it away alone, but they didn’t help me to push the car nor would they let me to fix it. So they start abusing me and I didn’t know what they were saying, and they didn’t know what I was telling them.”
Georgians also contributed forces to the war in Iraq. They have been engaged in Afghanistan since 2004 and deployed to the area of Helmand for about three years, Afghan officials said.Georgians also contributed forces to the war in Iraq. They have been engaged in Afghanistan since 2004 and deployed to the area of Helmand for about three years, Afghan officials said.