Looks like my next tour there will be a bit more interesting!
I think we also need to be worrying about the rise of the Taliban in the DNC.
Musharrif simply doesn't want the 4th assassination attempt to be successful.
I don't get this reporting... follows several MSM reports from the past few weeks.
Yes, taliban are coming down from the mountains as they usually do when the weather gets better, but everything I read has them dying in silly numbers. 5:1 against Afghani police at the LOW end. 150 dead, 130 are taliban or whatever.
And all the headlines were all about "Taliban is back" and "violence rocks Afghanistan leaves 104 dead" (not mentioning only 4 were Afghani police, 1 Canadian, and 99 Taliban)
While the current Taleban offensive may sound omnious via the media, tactically it has been a disaster. The Tali have come out in larger formations, all the greater target for airpower to hit, and hit they have. The Tali have been taking big losses and not been able to hold the ground it claims to have 'taken'.
While they have gotten some support from Iraqi "veterans", the tactical situation is different (Iraq - largely urban; Afghanistan - largely rural/open). What this year's 'offensive' indicates is that Pakistan is not doing enough to shut down safe havens along the border which are allowing the Tali to regroup, plan and train during the winter.
Geeeee .. we just killed about 120 of them .. there can't be that many left ..??