Kabul attacks: Taliban propanda watch, Globeite edition

With apologies to Milnews.ca. First a real news story from Matthew Fisher of Canwest News:

Wave of Taliban blasts rocks Afghan capital
Key ministries targeted in co-ordinated bombings

In one of the Taliban's most spectacular assaults on the Afghan capital since they were ousted from power by U.S. forces in 2001, fighters and suicide bombers on Monday simultaneously attacked several key government ministries near the presidential palace, as well as the Central Bank and a hotel popular with wealthy foreigners.

Fighting erupted shortly before 10 a.m. and continued for more than four hours across several city blocks as government security forces hunted down the last of the insurgents.

Some of the fiercest gun battles took place at the Froshga Market, beside the luxury Serena Hotel. The multi-storey shopping centre was set ablaze, sending a huge plume of black smoke into the sky.

The Taliban claimed 20 suicide bombers had been sent to Kabul.

At least five civilians and seven insurgents were killed in the fighting [that's all folks] and dozens of civilians were injured, according to the Afghan government.

"The security situation is under control and order has once again been restored," President Hamid Karzai said in a statement in mid-afternoon.

Although there were relatively few casualties, the audacity of the highly organized multiple daylight attacks in Kabul's most heavily guarded precincts was a reminder of how difficult it is to defend against the Taliban. They have proven again and again that they can strike almost anywhere in the capital and reap huge propaganda rewards every time they do so...

Note that the more interpretive propanda aspect is well into the story after the basic facts are reported. The Globe and Mail however demonstrates those "rewards" in action:

Bold Taliban attack shows vulnerable side of Karzai's Kabul
Deadly daylight assault by team of suicide bombers shakes confidence of residents used to being outside conflict zones

The Taliban's brazen attack on the heart of Afghan government lasted more than six hours, but for Hamid Karzai it was a singular moment: When the weakness of his authority was on display for the world.

The strikes on Monday, executed by a highly co-ordinated team of suicide bombers, revealed a new level of sophistication for the insurgency [not so, see this from almost a year ago, "20 Dead as Taliban Attackers Storm Kabul Offices" and compare with casualties noted above, more here].

They also highlighted the inability of the Afghan government to protect both its symbols of power and its citizens.

For a crucial instant, attention shifted away from Mr. Karzai's struggle to form a government to his government's failure to provide the most basic security for those who live on its doorstep.

The attackers managed to infiltrate key government buildings undetected, in broad daylight, at the height of morning rush hour.

One suicide bomber drove an ambulance packed with explosives into Malik Asghar Square, near the Foreign Ministry, before detonating his charge.

Other insurgents strode into a busy shopping centre, before fanning out to the Serena Hotel, the Ministry of Justice and the Central Bank...

Interpretation first, facts second. Stinkin' agenda.

Update: A balanced interpretative story from Reuters:

The Taliban scored a strategic and political victory with brazen, well-timed attacks in the heart of Kabul on Monday, but the failed assaults on key government buildings also showed the limits to their military capacity.

The raids carried out by at least 10 gunmen, including suicide bombers, were well coordinated and bold even for Afghanistan and paralyzed the capital for several hours.

However, while the militants spread out across a strategic area near government ministries and a luxury hotel, they failed to seize any of their declared targets and instead holed up in a poorly defended shopping center.

"They just want to show their power, it was an 'attack show' from the Taliban, not a military-based action. I think there was not a military goal," said Wahid Mudjah, a Kabul-based writer and political analyst.

"They just wanted a show for the international community."..

The Globeites were certainly enthusiastic members of the audience.