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| Afghanistan |
| Taliban Moving At Half Speed This Year |
| 2008-05-14 |
| Afghan and security forces waited, and waited, for the Taliban Spring Offensive, but it never came. Gun battles with the Taliban were down 50 percent so far, compared to last year. Roadside bomb attacks were about the same. But Taliban casualties were up, as more Afghan and NATO forces went looking for them. Last year, 8,000 people died in Taliban violence. So far this year, the death toll is 1,200, indicating casualties for the year will be about half what they were last year. This year, a higher proportion of the dead are Taliban and al Qaeda, and a lower proportion civilians. While some Taliban commanders have tried to develop new tactics to reduce casualties (smaller units of Taliban, and avoiding contact with police and troops), nothing has worked. The Afghan army is larger (76,000 troops) and better trained than last year, and there are more foreign troops. Worst of all, more tribal leaders have sided with the government this year, meaning tribal militias are also ready to fight Taliban moving through previously pro-Taliban territory. More at link |
| Posted by:ed |
| #10 Taliban Moving At Half Speed This Year Help I've fallen and I can't get it up! |
| Posted by: Talibunny 2008-05-14 23:38 |
| #9 The Taliban had a hard winter this year. In past years they could hole up in Pakistan while they accumulated their weapons and trained for the coming offensive. This winter they were kept occupied and constantly on the move. By the time Spring came, they were tired, hungry, and reduced somewhat in number. They were in no shape to launch any large "Spring offensive". In fact, their political leaders were swept out of what offices they held and there is evidence that the population is turning against them in the "sanctuary" of Pakistan. |
| Posted by: crosspatch 2008-05-14 17:04 |
| #8 This year, a higher proportion of the dead are Taliban and al Qaeda, and a lower proportion civilians. That's funny, I thought most of the 8,000 dead last year were Talibunnies? It seems this year the civilians aren't willing to claim Taliban dead as visiting cousins, albeit terribly well-armed for a stroll in the garden. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2008-05-14 13:47 |
| #7 Long ago it was time to take the battle to the Pakistani madrassas. That is, to start internecine battles between various factions. Even going so far as to manufacture massacres, to get them to start cutting each other's throats. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2008-05-14 12:02 |
| #6 Last year, 8,000 people died in Taliban violence. So far this year, the death toll is 1,200, indicating casualties for the year will be about half what they were last year. This year, a higher proportion of the dead are Taliban and al Qaeda, and a lower proportion civilians. That's funny, I thought most of the 8,000 dead last year were Talibunnies? The Taliban Spring Offensive is not fast and it's not slow, it's half fast. They still seem to be good at killing teachers and burning schools. Like riding a bicycle, I guess some skills just stay with you. |
| Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC 2008-05-14 11:58 |
| #5 OK - global warming, brutal afghan winter, semi-quagmire - check. What are we missing - apartheid, Israel, insufficient diversity, gay rights, Gary Condit (remember him, summer of '01), drug abuse, racial profiling, the homeless? Other than winning a war or battle, what could be causing this temporary/illusory/fragile/spurious/artificial/questionable success in Afghanistan? |
| Posted by: Goober Jineting3229 2008-05-14 11:06 |
| #4 I guess the Brutal Afghan Winter™ must've been especially brutal this year. |
| Posted by: Mike 2008-05-14 10:17 |
| #3 No doubt global warming is at fault here. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2008-05-14 10:11 |
| #2 semi-quagmire™ |
| Posted by: Frank G 2008-05-14 10:01 |
| #1 In other words, they have run out of bodies and are scraping the bottom of the man-power barrel. Now if we can keep the tribal leaders on the government side, we can chalk up a win in Afghanistan. Long road still ahead, but looking better. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2008-05-14 09:26 |