Major operation finds weapons, medical supplies, no Taliban

Tom Blackwell , Canwest News Service Published: Friday, October 10, 2008 NAKONEY, Afghanistan - The Afghan soldier rustled vigorously in the grape vines, then jumped back and jubilantly held up his find. "Alahu Akbar!" - God is great! - he cried, as cheers erupted from fellow troops scattered throughout the vineyard. In the soldier's hands was an 82-millimetre recoilless rifle: an anti-tank rocket launcher that is one of the Taliban's most fearsome weapons. It was the pinnacle of a major find by Canadian and Afghan troops of insurgent arms, ammunition and bomb-making supplies hidden innocuously in a farmer's field. "That's a big morale booster," said a Canadian soldier watching the scene. "That's f-ing glorious," added another. Perhaps more intriguingly, the cache also included a treasure trove of sophisticated,... [read full story]