ஆப்கானில் அமெரிக்காவுக்கு பெரும் இழப்பு

ஆப்கானிஸ்தானின் தென்கிழக்குப் பகுதியில் உள்ள தளம் ஒன்றின் மீது புதனன்று பிற்பகல் நடத்தப்பட்ட தற்கொலைத்தாக்குதலில், அமெரிக்காவின் சி.ஐ.ஏ உளவு நிறுவனம் கடந்த 25 வருடங்களில் இல்லாத அளவுக்கு மிகப்பெரிய இழப்பை எதிர்கொண்டதாக தெரியவந்துள்ளது.

கோஸ்ட் மாகாணத்தில் நடந்த இந்தத் தாக்குதலில் முழு நேரமாகவோ, அல்லது ஒப்பந்த அடிப்படையிலோ சி.ஐ.ஏவுக்காக பணியாற்றிய 8 அமெரிக்கர்கள் கொல்லப்பட்டனர்.

மேலும் 6 அமெரிக்கர்கள் இதில் காயமடைந்தனர்.

ஆப்கானிய இராணுவ அதிகாரியாக பணியாற்றிய தமது ஆளே அந்த தாக்குதலை நடத்தியதாக தலிபான்கள் கூறியுள்ளனர்.

பல சோதனைச் சாவடிகளின் ஊடாக கடந்து சென்று, அந்த நபர் உடற்பயிற்சி நிலையத்தில் அந்த தாக்குதலை நடத்தியதாகவும் அவர்கள் கூறியுள்ளனர்.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/tamil/news/story/2008/07/000000_newsbulletin.shtml

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Four Canadian soldiers, journalist killed in Kandahar blast given sad send-

Module body

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Four Canadian soldiers and a journalist killed by a powerful insurgent bomb were given a ceremonial send-off New Year's Day, the first such sombre ritual of the year, but unlikely the last.

In bright winter sunshine, amid the mournful strains of a lone piper, their remains were carried to a transport plane Friday for the long journey home to Canada.

The casket of Calgary journalist Michelle Lang, 34, was carried ahead of those of the soldiers - Sgt. George Miok, 28, Cpl. Zachery McCormack, 21, Sgt. Kirk Taylor, 28, and Pte. Garrett Chidley, 21.

The five were killed Wednesday as they rode in an armoured vehicle on the outskirts of Kandahar city on a routine patrol.

"Wednesday, 30 December, 2009 was a dark day for Canada," said Padre Sandy Scott.

"But the light that brings life to the world will never allow the powers of darkness to overcome the light of Canadians like these."

The deaths - the worst such incident in two-and-a-half years - bring to 138 the number of soldiers killed on the Afghan mission since 2002.

They also capped a bloody year for Canadians that saw 32 Canadian soldiers die.

Miok, from Edmonton and a member of the 41 Combat Engineer Regiment, was known as someone always available to his troops.

"Even in the darkest places that visit us during a mission like this," Scott said, "George would shine light of ingenuity, flexibility and another hopeful plan."

McCormack, also of Edmonton, was called a caring, "outstanding soldier," who was a member of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment.

"His tenacity made him a bigger man than his physical stature," Scott said, as jets roared into the sky a short distance away.

Taylor, of Yarmouth, N.S., someone with a "calm demeanour," served with 84 Independent Field Battery.

Chidley, of Cambridge, Ont., attached to the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, was someone who boosted troop morale with his jokes.

Known as Chiddels, the private "wanted to help make a difference for the people of Afghanistan," Scott told the hushed ceremony.

Several soldiers were wounded, as was another civilian.

The loss of life was the third worst single incident for the eight-year Canadian mission in Afghanistan and the worst in two-and-a-half years.

Canada's armed forces, Scott said, would never let the light that gives power to "our country's character be defeated by sinister or treacherous acts."

Lang, a National Newspaper Award winner, was the first Canadian journalist to die covering the war and her death sparked an outpouring of sympathy.

She had been in the country little more than two weeks.

Scott referred to her as a "rising star" in Canada's print media, someone who was committed to getting "the whole truth" and "telling stories of hope, not just pain."

Her casket was carried by four Canadian and two American soldiers, along with two members of Canada's diplomatic service.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/100101/national/afghan_cda_soldiers