The anti-terrorist NEFA Foundation Nov. 13 reports a new statement from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the Taliban) addressed to US President-elect Barack Obama. The statement says that "the overwhelming victory of Barrack Obama [sic]...reveals the collective willingness of American people not to continue the current despicable and anti-human wars in Afghanistan and Iraq—wars that have been launched by W. Bush." It says is "imperative for Obama to put an end to all the policies being followed by his Opposition Party, the Republicans and pull out US troops from Afghanistan and Iraq forthwith.... He should respect the rights of the people to independence and observe the norms of human rights. In short, he should set out on a policy that will have a message of peace for the war-stricken world which has been victimized by the arrogance and tyranny of USA."

Meanwhile, insurgents struck a US military convoy in a crowded market in Bati Kot, Nangarhar province, Nov. 13, with one soldier and 18 civilians killed. Two rickshaws were destroyed along with military and civilian vehicles. A day earlier, a tanker truck packed with explosives detonated outside the provincial council office in Kandahar, killing at least seven including the driver and wounding more than 40 others. (NYT, Nov. 13)

See our last post on Afghanistan.