Taliban Strength Grows In The South

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

More news that will not set well.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Over the past six weeks, the Taliban has driven government forces out of roughly half of a strategic area in southern Afghanistan that American and NATO officials declared a success story last fall in their campaign to clear out insurgents and make way for development programs, Afghan officials say.

A year after Canadian and American forces drove hundreds of Taliban fighters from the area, the Panjwai and Zhare districts southwest of Kandahar, the rebels are back and have adopted new tactics. Carrying out guerrilla attacks after NATO troops partly withdrew in July, they overran isolated police posts and are now operating in areas where they can mount attacks on Kandahar, the south's largest city.

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**Tumbleweed** · Admin Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 4

They are better at this cat and mouse game than we are because of a lack of troops across the whole country.

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

Yep and the longer NATO stays the stronger they will become.

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

Apparently, strength is growing in the West of the country also.

Coalition forces in Afghanistan say a U.S.-led coalition soldier and an Afghan soldier have been killed in clashes with Taliban insurgents in central Uruzgan province.

A coalition statement says both soldiers died Friday during combat operations. No other details were immediately available.

In other violence Friday, in western Farah province, police and other administrative officials fled Bakwa district following days of attacks by Taliban militants. Afghan forces and NATO troops are still battling to eject rebel fighters from the neighboring district of Gulistan.

Afghan officials from Delaram say they fear their district will fall next.

Taliban rebels have previously seized control of villages in remote parts of Afghanistan, but are usually forced out by NATO troops. They have, however, maintained control of Musa Qala in southern Helmand province since early this year.

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**Tumbleweed** · Admin Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 4

Quote:

Taliban rebels have previously seized control of villages in remote parts of Afghanistan, but are usually forced out by NATO troops. They have, however, maintained control of Musa Qala in southern Helmand province since early this year.

It seems the Taliban knows our weaknesses.

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

The reports are saying that because of the small amount of NATO troops, that the Taleban can move around at will.

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

I have yet to see much about this in the media. why?

Taliban militants have taken control of a third district in western Afghanistan.

Local officials say the militants captured the Khaki Safed district in the western Farah province late Sunday, with police and government officials fleeing without a fight.

One police official told the French News Agency that Afghan police, army and NATO troops were able to retake control of the area just hours later.

This is the third district in the region to be captured by Taliban insurgents. Last week, militants overran the Bakwa and Gulistan districts in Farah province. Local officials say Afghan police often withdraw and do not put up a fight when being overrun by militants.

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**Tumbleweed** · Admin Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 4

Quote:

One police official told the French News Agency that Afghan police, army and NATO troops were able to retake control of the area just hours later.

Sounds like a game of cat and mouse. Laughing

Doesn't sound like they are much of a fighting force if they give up captured territory that quick.

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

The Taleban is playing the game alright, they are demonstrating that they of capable of being amajor pain in the ass. But more they are showing they can be effective and that will gain them more and more recruits the longer the war goes on.

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

Looks like they are operating wherever they feel it is necessary.

A suicide bomber has today killed up to 90 people in Afghanistan, including at least five MPs, according to healthcare officials.

The attack, which took place early this morning, is believed to be the most deadly on the Afghan Government since the fall of the Taleban in 2001.

Witnesses said the explosion ripped through a political delegation that was due to visit a sugar factory in the northern Afghan town of Baghlan

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**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

The North is not as secure as we are allowed to believe. I question just how effective this whole startegy is.

The suicide attack in the northern Afghan province of Baghlan was unusual in a number of ways.

These include the huge number of casualties and the fact that it took place in a province which has remained relatively peaceful over recent years.

Baghlan is far away from the Taleban's main area of operations in southern Afghanistan.

It has largely escaped the kind of attacks and suicide bombings being seen almost daily in the south and south-east

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**Tumbleweed** · Admin Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 4

Quote:

These include the huge number of casualties and the fact that it took place in a province which has remained relatively peaceful over recent years.

It sort of makes sense they would strike an area not expecting an attack.

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

If you look at a map, these attacks are all over the country. IMO, they are letting the government know that they are everywhere and showing it, before the snows start.

**Tumbleweed** · Admin Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 4

Well, they are pretty effective at fighting in that kind of terrain so it will be an ongoing game of hide and seek.

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

I think that next spring may be a hell hole in Afghanistan. lots of time to recruit and train.