Afghanistan Heating Up

It's a time of significant transition in Afghanistan, the Taliban overran Musa Qala, which could be the beginning of a Spring campaign. But the Taliban may have found themselves with no other choice given a command change and the broader picture could actually be looking better for NATO.

A controversial British-backed truce with the Taliban, which brought peace to a town in southern Afghanistan and was a central plank of UK military policy, was destroyed yesterday when hundreds of Taliban fighters stormed into Musa Qala and seized control from tribal elders.

British General David Richards had negotiated a truce with the Taliban meant to protect the town. Their breaking of the truce may be less significant, as international sentiment and incoming US General Dan McNeil were against the truce to begin with.

Western diplomats said last night that the Taliban takeover was linked to a British precision airstrike that targeted one of three senior Taliban commanders operating around Musa Qala a week ago.

The airstrike, on the night of Jan 25, missed its target, Mullah Ghafoor, but killed his brother and eight associates. The Taliban commander initially attempted to move into Musa Qala a day later with a small force but was opposed by the local police and elders. However, Mullah Ghafoor returned yesterday with additional fighters gathered from the town of Sangeen, and according to some reports, Taliban reinforcements from Pakistan.

While fighting may well intensify, NATO actually did well last year with forces considered less than what was required on the ground. That's about to change as additional forces are entering Afghanistan. If NATO can have a positive year, Afghanistan forces are expected to grow during that time.

Last year, Nato beat back Taliban offensives with only 80 per cent of the troops that were needed, few helicopters and no strategic reserves. Ironically, Gen Richards's diplomatic efforts to bring in more troops is now working just as he leaves.

"My successor will have another 5,000 troops - three crack US battalions of the 82 Airborne Division, 1,000 Poles and more Brits," he said. There are presently 32,000 Nato troops in Afghanistan, while another 10,500 US troops operate under a separate command.

A mobile reserve force of 1,000 US troops - something that Gen Richards has pleaded for but never received - "is now kitting out in Kandahar," he said.

The Afghan army has 40,000 trained troops who are set to receive new equipment in the next two years when its strength will increase to 70,000. "We can hold the ring and more in 2007 and by the end of the year things could be looking very good," said Gen Richards.

General McNeil takes over on Sunday and reports claim a NATO force is already planning to eject the Taliban from Musa Qala.

American Gen. Dan McNeil on Sunday will replace British Gen. David Richards as the commander of more than 40,000 NATO-led troops in Afghanistan. Military officials have said privately that the change of command will mark a new approach in dealing with resurgent Taliban militants.

Comments

[Darth Malice]

Wipe them out.....all of them-Darth Sideous

[91B30]

At least some of those NATO troops aren't going to be much help-http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1456571.ece

Despite the heavy NATO presence, U.S. forces have suffered almost 70% of all casualties in Afghanistan-http://icasualties.org/oef/

Throw out the Canadians and Brits and it's over 80%.

[Purple Avenger]

"U.S. forces have suffered almost 70% of all casualties in Afghanistan"

Yea, we always do the heavy lifting. What's new?

[Dan Riehl]

Links via Norway? Who gives a chit? You'd be goose stepping if it wasn't for the US. And some of you losers are anyway.

[91B30]

Gentlemen-my point is that in Afghanistan (the good fight) we're the ones doing most of the fighting. Lefties are always quick to talk about how there was so much international cooperation for our efforts in Afghanistan, but the truth is that much of that is mostly symbolic (as illustrated by the numbers and the linked story).

[Darth Malice]

Except for a few valued allies,America has to fight Islam alone.

[Bill Adkins]

I truly wish that, instead of his clusterfuck in Iraq, Bush had chosen to fight the war on terror and destroy the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

[91B30]

Sure Bill, let's concentrate large numbers of our forces in a mountainous nation where we can't use armor at all, communications are sketchy and our air advantage is limited. Let's extend our supply lines across Pakistan-which teeters on the brink of Islamic extremism and is the only Islamic nuclear power to boot so that Musharaff is pushed into an untenable position.

I'm sure that when all that went predictably to hell all the Iraq naysayers would be completely supportive.

[Darth Malice]

Bill would you like to leave Al-Queada in Al-Anbar alone.....they need to be fought wherever they are.