In Afghanistan, the Taliban rises again for fighting season

[NNN0LHI]

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/story.jsp?story=638522

Instead of fizzling out, the rebels are staging their annual spring resurgence with a surprising new spirit, writes Nick Meo from Kabul. This wasn't what US military planners were expecting
15 May 2005


American soldiers in the mountain valley of Deh Chopan expect to be targeted by an unseen enemy. But the amateurish hit-and-run attacks of the Taliban - wildly fired rockets and mistimed roadside bombs - rarely inflict casualties. It was a shock, then, when a patrol was ambushed a fortnight ago with rocket-propelled grenades and sustained small arms fire. Six Americans were wounded. Two had their legs blown off. Two more were wounded badly enough to require evacuation to Germany for surgery.

The outcome of the ferocious five-hour battle was predictable enough - withering air power obliterated the Americans' enemies - but not before a US unit had suffered serious casualties and was forced to fall back before a determined enemy assault. A couple of days later nine Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers died when they were ambushed by machine-gun fire as they got down from a truck in Kandahar province - the newly formed ANA's worst-ever combat loss. Then two US marines were killed in a cave where they had insurgents pinned down.

This wasn't what US military planners were expecting at the start of this spring's "fighting season" when the snow thaws in the mountains. After all, Afghanistan is supposed to be the war that the American military has won. The official emphasis has changed from combat operations to "hearts and minds" programmes.

[xray s]

1. psstt...someone have Pooty Poot give W a page from Russian History

The years 1979 through 1989 in particular. make sure he includes lots of pictures. W like pictures.

[ismnotwasm]

2. My daughter got back from Afghanistan a few weeks ago

She said the Taliban are all over the place, just not as active, and not running the country. Is there ANYTHING this administration hasn't screwed up? Never mind, don't answer that. What a mess.

[LynnTheDem]

3. "The Taleban is no longer in existance"...famous bush the Duh words.

How can any one person be so often and so consistantly WRONG???

[Alpharetta]

4. Better weapons bought from last year's bumper opium crop