"The new military drive, which involves all 18,000 American troops here, is also aimed at persuading militants to take up an offer of amnesty from the American military and the Afghan government."
In the first prong, our troops are "raking the ashes" looking for any remaining embers. This is the necessary prep work prior to the up-coming April election of the National Assembly.
In the second prong...
"However, the United States has several thousand more troops strung out across the south and east, where insurgents are strongest...the mission would include a redeployment to tighten security on the border with Pakistan and raids by special forces to snatch rebel leaders."
Interesting way to phrase it.
It would seem to me that rebel leaders caught in raids in Afghanistan would be referred to as arrested. But rebel leaders caught in clandestine raids in Pakistan would necessarily be referred to as snatched.
Hmmm...I wonder?
--Boot Hill
That's how I interpreted it. We'll never know for sure until if/when our special forces nab OBL or Ayman al-Z.
The CIA has bases in Pakistan. There have been reports that "heavily armed Shepherds" from Afghanistan are kidnapping shepherds in Pakistan. Maybe these are really CIA snatching terrorists.
http://www.chitralnews.com/Latest%20New450.htm
Cross border dacoits raid Badugal village
CHITRAL,15 Nov 04: A group of Afghan nationals from Kunar province raided a Pakistani village Badugal and decamped with 70 heads of goats and kidnapped its shepherd. The raid is said to be for the second time within a short span of one month. The village is situated at a distance of 40 kms from the Arandu border. The looters allegedly entered the village with heavy arms. The locals could not challenge them being unarmed. in the previous raid last month, the same group had snatched with 18 heads of goats. According to some locals, the incidents are the results of rivalry between two brothers living on both sides. One is living in Badugal while the other in Nooristan of Afghanistan who have developed bitter enmity over land dispute.(report by Zahiruddin)