Five British soldiers shot dead by rogue Afghanistan policeman
Five soldiers have been shot dead by a "rogue" Afghan policeman in an attack at a police checkpoint.
 By Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent, and Andy Bloxham
Published: 9:09AM GMT 04 Nov 2009

Three Grenadier Guards and two Royal Military Police were attacked as they rested inside a compound.

The soldiers, who had removed their body armour and helmets, were shot by an Afghan national policeman who then fled. It is not known whether he was a member of the Taliban or being coerced by the insurgents. The gunman is thought to go by the name Gulbuddin and is believed to have had an accomplice.

There are also suggestions that he had animosity towards his superiors after being repeatedly moved around the country as part of his duties.

He is now being hunted by British soldiers on the ground, thought to include special forces.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: "It's our understanding that one individual Afghan National Policeman, possibly in conjunction with another, went rogue"Initial reports suggest that it was a member of the Afghan National Police who fired without warning.

"The incident happened at a checkpoint and he fired before anyone could respond.

"His motives and whereabouts are unknown at this time. Every effort is now being put into hunting down those responsible for this attack."

Peter Galbraith, who left his post as deputy head of the UN mission in Afghanistan amid disagreements over the presidential elections, said it was "not surprising" that the Afghan police had been infiltrated by the Taliban.

He said: "They wanted to get more police boots on the ground in advance of the elections so there was a real rush to recruit an additional 10,000 police, particularly in the south, particularly in Kandahar and Helmand provinces.

"So it is not totally surprising that people were recruited who may have had Taliban sympathies or were infiltrated into the police by the Taliban."

The incident is the single biggest loss of life in a gun battle since British forces began operations in 2001.

The troops are thought to include senior non-commissioned officers who had been living and training with local police for two weeks.

The latest casualties mean that 92 British troops have been killed in Afghanistan so far this year. In 1982, 255 servicemen were killed in the Falklands War.

Two Afghan police are also believed to have been killed.

It will inevitably raise questions about Britain’s continued commitment to Afghanistan and whether there are sufficient troops and equipment to tackle the Taliban.

Kim Howells, a former foreign office minister who now chairs the Intelligence and Security Committee, said: "There are many people who have argued that there is only one way out of this for Britain and America and that is to train up the Afghan army and police force.

"This is a real blow because it strikes right at the heart of that policy."

Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, paid tribute to the soldiers describing their deaths as a "terrible loss".

He said: "They fought to make Afghanistan more secure, but above all to make Britain safer from the terrorism and extremism which continues to threaten us from the border areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"I pay tribute to their courage, skill and determination. They will never be forgotten.

"It is my highest priority to ensure our heroic troops have the best possible support and equipment - and the right strategy, backed by our international partners, and by a new Afghan government ready to play its part in confronting the challenges Afghanistan faces."

The deaths come the day after president Hamid Karzai was re-elected, promising that he would stamp out corruption in all government departments, including the Interior Ministry that is responsible for the police.

His flawed election, which had been undermined by allegations of widespread fraud, throws into further question the idea of attempting to establish democracy in Afghanistan.

The Grenadier Guards, who have only been in the country for a matter of weeks, have been building contacts with the local security forces, considered vital to tackling the insurgency.

The group of soldiers went to a building in the town of Nadi Ali in central Helmand to meet senior Afghan officials, possibly to discuss forthcoming operations.

The soldiers went into a courtyard to a room where it is normal procedure to remove helmets and body armour during rest breaks.

The policeman then opened fire with what is understood to be an AK47, giving the soldiers no time to react.

Four of the soldiers were killed instantly in the attack and another later died from his wounds. It is understood that one of the dead was a senior figure within the battalion but was not an officer.

The attack is said to bear the hallmarks of the Haqqani network which has used similar tactics in the attack against the UN accommodation in Kabul killing five workers and Rawalpindi, Pakistan where terrorists were disguised as police. Jalaluddin Haqqani, a Pashtun based in north Waziristan, Pakistan, has been labelled as one of the most wanted Taliban by US forces with a $3 million reward on his head.

Training and mentoring the Afghan police and army is a focus of Nato-led efforts in Afghanistan. Gen Stanley McChrystal has said the police must grow more than three-fold in the coming years in order to allow international forces to begin to scale back in Afghanistan.

Afghan police are typically poorly educated and paid and are notorious for their corruptions. There are also persistent fears they are being infiltrated by the Taliban. The incident in Helmand province is the latest of several incidents in which Afghan police have killed international soldiers.

The deaths equal the previous worse loss of life in a single incident to enemy fire in recent years, which occurred in July when five members of 2 Bn The Rifles died in a series of linked bomb attacks in Sangin.

The previous worst year for fatalities in recent years was in 2007 when 89 troops were killed - 47 in Iraq and 42 in Afghanistan.

Thirty seven soldiers were killed and 150 injured in a six week period this summer when troops tried to establish security to allow the Afghan people to vote.

But following Operation Panther’s Claw, which cleared Taliban strongholds in central Helmand, only an estimated 150 people out of a possible total of 80,000 voted on polling day.

Questions have been raised about the Government’s strategy in Afghanistan amid outrage at the lack of equipment and troops.

In a leaked email sent weeks before his death, Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe, the commanding officer of the Welsh Guards, highlighted the chronic lack of helicopters to ferry his troops and the dangers the shortages posed.

It has also been disclosed that Gordon Brown had turned down military advice asking for troop increases from the current force of 9,000 to tackle the growing insurgency. Commanders argued that “more boots on the ground” would lead to better security and fewer casualties.

In an blog written shortly after the Grenadiers arrived in Afghanistan last month their commanding officer, Lt Col Roly Walker, said they would be based in a new area of operations which would be “demanding and dangerous”.

“The majority of the time will be spent out and about on patrol reassuring the local population, or on deliberate offensive operations to disrupt the insurgents.”

   http://tinyurl.com/ygfzk68

url:http://myreader.co.uk/gp/1212-1.aspx

Citizen's arrest for Israeli ambassador in Nottingham University today
Richard Seymour

November 3, 2009

You might recall that Nottingham University students were among those who occupied in support of Gaza in January. In response to a visit by the Israeli ambassador, they have issued the following press release:


A planned visit to the University of Nottingham campus today by the Israeli Ambassador to the UK, Ron Prosor, has caused widespread dismay and consternation within the university community, notably among the Palestinian and Islamic student body. The visit, during which the ambassador is due to deliver a lecture entitled "Israel’s Search For Peace" is due to take part at 6pm on Wednesday 4th November in the Great Hall of the Trent Building, on the University’s Main Campus. The visit is set to be the focus of a massive demonstration by student protestors who are objecting to the University authorities’ apparent insensitivity and lack of judgment by inviting Mr Prosor less than 8 months after Israel’s internationally-condemned attack on the Gazan population in December 2008-January 2009. This attack left more than a thousand civilians dead and inflicted a huge human and material toll on the Gazan population.

The decision by the University authorities to invite Mr Prosor is even more surprising considering the campus was the stage of a substantial protest movement back in February. This protest was widely reported and involved the occupation of a lecture theatre by hundreds of students. The students were protesting against what many considered to be the tacit complicity of the University authorities in Israeli war crimes.The occupation protest culminated in a large demonstration outside the Vice Chancellor’s office, under the banner of "Books Not Bombs". Nottingham South MP Alan Simpson, who spoke at the protest, urged the University to stop dealing with arms manufacturers and to help supply educational materials and financial aids to Gaza’s students.

Many of those who took part in the protest action earlier this year have expressed their disappointment at what many deem to be a highly provocative decision by the University authorities. They feel that this seriously goes against promises that were made, in the wake of the student occupation, by senior management to seek better relations with the Palestinian and Islamic student body. The protest being organised on Wednesday 4th November is aimed at raising awareness about Israeli war crimes as highlighted in the recent UN "Goldstone" report of October 2009. Some of the protestors have been seeking legal advice regarding the possibility of affecting a citizen’s arrest on the Ambassador were he to enter the campus.

Many student and human rights campaigners have urged the University to rescind the invitation and have vouched to use all peaceful and legal avenues available to them to ensure the lecture does not take place.

PRESS CONTACT: 07786316571 – EMAIL: NottinghamForGaza@gmail.com

 http://www.uruknet.de/index.php?p=m59725&hd=&size=1&l=e

url:http://myreader.co.uk/gp/1212-1.aspx

Zora Starr wrote:
> Citizen's arrest for Israeli ambassador in Nottingham University today
> Richard Seymour
> 
> November 3, 2009
> 
> You might recall that Nottingham University students were among those who occupied in support of Gaza in January. In response to a visit by the Israeli ambassador, they have issued the following press release:
> 
> 
> A planned visit to the University of Nottingham campus today by the Israeli Ambassador to the UK, Ron Prosor, has caused widespread dismay and consternation within the university community, notably among the Palestinian and Islamic student body. 
> 
> The visit, during which the ambassador is due to deliver a lecture entitled "Israel’s Search For Peace" is due to take part at 6pm on Wednesday 4th November in the Great Hall of the Trent Building, on the University’s Main Campus. 
> 
> The visit is set to be the focus of a massive demonstration by student protestors who are objecting to the University authorities’ apparent insensitivity and lack of judgment by inviting Mr Prosor less than 8 months after Israel’s internationally-condemned attack on the Gazan population in December 2008-January 2009. This attack left more than a thousand civilians dead and inflicted a huge human and material toll on the Gazan population.
> 
> The decision by the University authorities to invite Mr Prosor is even more surprising considering the campus was the stage of a substantial protest movement back in February. This protest was widely reported and involved the occupation of a lecture theatre by hundreds of students. The students were protesting against what many considered to be the tacit complicity of the University authorities in Israeli war crimes.
> 
> The occupation protest culminated in a large demonstration outside the Vice Chancellor’s office, under the banner of "Books Not Bombs". Nottingham South MP Alan Simpson, who spoke at the protest, urged the University to stop dealing with arms manufacturers and to help supply educational materials and financial aids to Gaza’s students.
> 
> Many of those who took part in the protest action earlier this year have expressed their disappointment at what many deem to be a highly provocative decision by the University authorities. They feel that this seriously goes against promises that were made, in the wake of the student occupation, by senior management to seek better relations with the Palestinian and Islamic student body. 
> 
> The protest being organised on Wednesday 4th November is aimed at raising awareness about Israeli war crimes as highlighted in the recent UN "Goldstone" report of October 2009. Some of the protestors have been seeking legal advice regarding the possibility of affecting a citizen’s arrest on the Ambassador were he to enter the campus.
> 
> Many student and human rights campaigners have urged the University to rescind the invitation and have vouched to use all peaceful and legal avenues available to them to ensure the lecture does not take place.
> 
> PRESS CONTACT: 07786316571 – EMAIL: NottinghamForGaza@gmail.com
> 

This should be fun.

He's got diplomatic immunity.

If he pulled out a gun and shot one of these tossers nothing could be 
done about it...

-- 
William Black

"Any number under six"

The answer given by Englishman Richard Peeke when asked by the Duke of 
Medina Sidonia how many Spanish sword and buckler men he could beat 
single handed with a quarterstaff.

Zora Starr wrote:
> Citizen's arrest for Israeli ambassador in Nottingham University today
> Richard Seymour
> 
> November 3, 2009
> 
> You might recall that Nottingham University students were among those who occupied in support of Gaza in January. In response to a visit by the Israeli ambassador, they have issued the following press release:
> 
> 
> A planned visit to the University of Nottingham campus today by the Israeli Ambassador to the UK, Ron Prosor, has caused widespread dismay and consternation within the university community, notably among the Palestinian and Islamic student body. 

Yeah right.

> 
> The visit, during which the ambassador is due to deliver a lecture entitled "Israel’s Search For Peace" is due to take part at 6pm on Wednesday 4th November in the Great Hall of the Trent Building, on the University’s Main Campus. 

Nothing new here - Israel wants to talk about peace and Palestinians 
want to demonstrate. Did they bring their petrol bombs?

> 
> 
> url:http://myreader.co.uk/gp/l2l2-1.aspx

William Black wrote:

> Zora Starr wrote:
> > Citizen's arrest for Israeli ambassador in Nottingham University
> > today Richard Seymour
> > 
> > November 3, 2009
> > 
> > You might recall that Nottingham University students were among
> > those who occupied in support of Gaza in January. In response to a
> > visit by the Israeli ambassador, they have issued the following
> > press release:
> > 
> > 
> > A planned visit to the University of Nottingham campus today by the
> > Israeli Ambassador to the UK, Ron Prosor, has caused widespread
> > dismay and consternation within the university community, notably
> > among the Palestinian and Islamic student body.   The visit, during
> > which the ambassador is due to deliver a lecture entitled
> > "Israel’s Search For Peace" is due to take part at 6pm on
> > Wednesday 4th November in the Great Hall of the Trent Building, on
> > the University’s Main Campus.   The visit is set to be the focus
> > of a massive demonstration by student protestors who are objecting
> > to the University authorities’ apparent insensitivity and lack of
> > judgment by inviting Mr Prosor less than 8 months after Israel’s
> > internationally-condemned attack on the Gazan population in
> > December 2008-January 2009. This attack left more than a thousand
> > civilians dead and inflicted a huge human and material toll on the
> > Gazan population.
> > 
> > The decision by the University authorities to invite Mr Prosor is
> > even more surprising considering the campus was the stage of a
> > substantial protest movement back in February. This protest was
> > widely reported and involved the occupation of a lecture theatre by
> > hundreds of students. The students were protesting against what
> > many considered to be the tacit complicity of the University
> > authorities in Israeli war crimes.
> > 
> > The occupation protest culminated in a large demonstration outside
> > the Vice Chancellor’s office, under the banner of "Books Not
> > Bombs". Nottingham South MP Alan Simpson, who spoke at the protest,
> > urged the University to stop dealing with arms manufacturers and to
> > help supply educational materials and financial aids to Gaza’s
> > students.
> > 
> > Many of those who took part in the protest action earlier this year
> > have expressed their disappointment at what many deem to be a
> > highly provocative decision by the University authorities. They
> > feel that this seriously goes against promises that were made, in
> > the wake of the student occupation, by senior management to seek
> > better relations with the Palestinian and Islamic student body.
> > The protest being organised on Wednesday 4th November is aimed at
> > raising awareness about Israeli war crimes as highlighted in the
> > recent UN "Goldstone" report of October 2009. Some of the
> > protestors have been seeking legal advice regarding the possibility
> > of affecting a citizen’s arrest on the Ambassador were he to
> > enter the campus.
> > 
> > Many student and human rights campaigners have urged the University
> > to rescind the invitation and have vouched to use all peaceful and
> > legal avenues available to them to ensure the lecture does not take
> > place.
> > 
> > PRESS CONTACT: 07786316571 – EMAIL: NottinghamForGaza@gmail.com
> > 
> 
> This should be fun.
> 
> He's got diplomatic immunity.
> 
> If he pulled out a gun and shot one of these tossers nothing could be
> done about it...

DI does not prevent him being killed in self defence

aaa wrote:
> William Black wrote:
> 
>> Zora Starr wrote:
>>> Citizen's arrest for Israeli ambassador in Nottingham University
>>> today Richard Seymour
>>>
>>> November 3, 2009
>>>
>>> You might recall that Nottingham University students were among
>>> those who occupied in support of Gaza in January. In response to a
>>> visit by the Israeli ambassador, they have issued the following
>>> press release:
>>>
>>>
>>> A planned visit to the University of Nottingham campus today by the
>>> Israeli Ambassador to the UK, Ron Prosor, has caused widespread
>>> dismay and consternation within the university community, notably
>>> among the Palestinian and Islamic student body.   The visit, during
>>> which the ambassador is due to deliver a lecture entitled
>>> "Israel’s Search For Peace" is due to take part at 6pm on
>>> Wednesday 4th November in the Great Hall of the Trent Building, on
>>> the University’s Main Campus.   The visit is set to be the focus
>>> of a massive demonstration by student protestors who are objecting
>>> to the University authorities’ apparent insensitivity and lack of
>>> judgment by inviting Mr Prosor less than 8 months after Israel’s
>>> internationally-condemned attack on the Gazan population in
>>> December 2008-January 2009. This attack left more than a thousand
>>> civilians dead and inflicted a huge human and material toll on the
>>> Gazan population.
>>>
>>> The decision by the University authorities to invite Mr Prosor is
>>> even more surprising considering the campus was the stage of a
>>> substantial protest movement back in February. This protest was
>>> widely reported and involved the occupation of a lecture theatre by
>>> hundreds of students. The students were protesting against what
>>> many considered to be the tacit complicity of the University
>>> authorities in Israeli war crimes.
>>>
>>> The occupation protest culminated in a large demonstration outside
>>> the Vice Chancellor’s office, under the banner of "Books Not
>>> Bombs". Nottingham South MP Alan Simpson, who spoke at the protest,
>>> urged the University to stop dealing with arms manufacturers and to
>>> help supply educational materials and financial aids to Gaza’s
>>> students.
>>>
>>> Many of those who took part in the protest action earlier this year
>>> have expressed their disappointment at what many deem to be a
>>> highly provocative decision by the University authorities. They
>>> feel that this seriously goes against promises that were made, in
>>> the wake of the student occupation, by senior management to seek
>>> better relations with the Palestinian and Islamic student body.
>>> The protest being organised on Wednesday 4th November is aimed at
>>> raising awareness about Israeli war crimes as highlighted in the
>>> recent UN "Goldstone" report of October 2009. Some of the
>>> protestors have been seeking legal advice regarding the possibility
>>> of affecting a citizen’s arrest on the Ambassador were he to
>>> enter the campus.
>>>
>>> Many student and human rights campaigners have urged the University
>>> to rescind the invitation and have vouched to use all peaceful and
>>> legal avenues available to them to ensure the lecture does not take
>>> place.
>>>
>>> PRESS CONTACT: 07786316571 – EMAIL: NottinghamForGaza@gmail.com
>>>
>> This should be fun.
>>
>> He's got diplomatic immunity.
>>
>> If he pulled out a gun and shot one of these tossers nothing could be
>> done about it...
> 
> DI does not prevent him being killed in self defence

By whom?

As a general rule they don't let foreign students have gun licenses and 
I imagine his own bodyguard will be UK police armed to the teeth.

That leaves the university gun club...

I wonder how many Palestinian members they have?

-- 
William Black

"Any number under six"

The answer given by Englishman Richard Peeke when asked by the Duke of 
Medina Sidonia how many Spanish sword and buckler men he could beat 
single handed with a quarterstaff.