<

Pamphlets Spread Taliban Word
Thursday, March 21, 2002
(12:00 AM)
By Kathy Gannon
Associated Press Writer

"The USA ... started wickedness and established military bases in various strategic places as well as holy places of Muslims," the letter said. It argued that the United States launched the war against terrorism last year as part of a plan to gain control of Central Asia.

PESHAWAR, Pakistan -- AP
In a sign the Taliban and al-Qaida are trying to revive operations, pamphlets calling for armed struggle against the United States and its coalition allies have begun circulating among Afghan refugees here and in Afghanistan.

The pamphlets denounce the interim Afghan government of Hamid Karzai as "traitors to Islam" and warn Afghans and others who fight alongside the Americans that they someday will "suffer the consequences."

The pamphlets sometimes include unsupported allegations that the Americans used chemical and biological weapons to kill thousands of people in last year's bombing campaign.

Others include stories of personal sacrifice and so-called "miracles" in the battle against the U.S.-led coalition, all apparently designed to inspire young Afghan males to take up the fight and believe that God is on the Taliban side.
(More: My San Antonio News Source)
2002 © The Associated Press.

Dan