Mission accomplished? Taliban, al-Qaeda still blowing up Afghans

As Walt reported in "Afghans mourn departure of Canadian soldiers" -- the Canadian Armed Forces closed their Middle East orifice ["office", surely! Ed.] last week, having done their bit to leave Afghanistan a safer and more civilized place than they found it when they joined the American invasion 12 years ago.

No senior officials of the Canadian government were on hand for the flag-lowering and final playing of "O Canada" (closing with the customary shout of "Drop the puck!"), but the Canadian commanding officer, Lance-Corporal Justin Beaver, assured the Canuck media that Afghanistan had been pacified and developed and would be in good hands with the new Afghan Army. We're satisfied, he said, that everything will be just hotsy-totsy.

Today the BBC reports that a suicide bomb attack in northern Afghanistan has killed at least 15 people, including women and children. Another 27 were wounded in the attack in Maymana, the capital of Faryab province, provincial governor Mohammadullah Batash said. To be fair, this part of the sandpit wasn't in Canada's zone, so the Canucks can hardly be blamed. Must have been the Americans.

The bomber is believed to have detonated his explosives near the entrance to a busy market. No group has so far said it carried out the bombing. However, Taliban insurgents and the al-Qaeda affiliated group the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan are active in the volatile region.

The attack comes as Afghans prepare to hold elections on April 5th, to freely and democratically choose a success to corrupt and useless President Krazai. Once the new president and his cronies are ensconced, the Americans will be able to leave, with hearty cries of "Mission accomplished!" and "Infidel go home!" ringing in their ears.

Updated at nigh noon - It has come to Walt's attention that some of you did not get the joke in the last sentence. It would be the TALIBAN who would be yelling "Mission accomplished!", because the foreign infidels had finally been chased out of their (alleged) country. Goddit now?!