The war that just won't end: the hunt goes on in Afghanistan

[Tinoire]

The troops were told the big combat operations were over ... but the Taliban are back, and the killing continues
By Nick Meo

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But in the deserts of Southern Afghanistan, once the Taliban's heartland, attacks on US forces and Western aid workers are on the increase.

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With American soldiers facing bloody attacks in Iraq and now perhaps a dramatic new intervention in Liberia, the US operation in Afghanistan is in danger of becoming a forgotten war in a hostile land. Not, however, that it is small-scale.

By one estimate the military spends around $1 billion a month -- about the same as the Kabul government receives annually from the US -- and 8500 US troops are based here along with troops from allies such as Romania, Thailand and South Korea.

It's a military deployment that increasingly looks as if it will drag on for years tying down troops and eating up money in a spluttering guerrilla war. The Taliban and their allies refuse to be beaten, haphazard attacks continue, central government control is more a hope than a reality, and any sense of normality returning is a long way off in the edgy streets of Kandahar.

<snip>

But reports of shifting terrorist training camps in Pakistan where young recruits are learning about explosives, suggest the enemy could become more deadly. Hekmatayar is said to be recruiting revenge-hungry Afghans who lost family members to coalition bombs, and money and weapons are still coming through Pakistan from Arab sympathisers.

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http://www.sundayherald.com/35223

[bemildred]

1. Kick.

Just a note, the weapons are easily bought if you have the money,
and the money is easily obtained from drugs. There is no need to
infer "Arab sympathisers" - although there may well be plenty of
those too - they serve primarily as cannon fodder.

[pdove]

2. Battle in Afganistan

CHAMAN, July 21 (Online): At least 25 Afghan soldiers and three US troops were killed and many others injured at the weekend as they were ambushed by Taliban fighters in Spin Boldak near Pakistani border . According to the reports from across the border, seven Taliban fighters were also killed in the worst clashes so far. However, Taliban sources were quoted as saying only one of the Taliban was killed in the fighting . "We have started guerrilla warfare against the Americans and killed many occupation troops. One of our man also embarrassed martyrdom in this fight," a Taliban spokesman was quoted as saying from Spin Boldak. Fighting between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters started last night in Shedoo Obah area that spread to the suburbs of Spin Boldak. Taliban fighters also hit a US military vehicle killing three American troops who were engaged in operation against Al-Qaida remnants in the area. The US troops called in B-52 bomber for help. The US warplanes pounded the suspected targets of Taliban. However, they succeeded to flee before the dawn . A bomb also landed in Pakistani territory, sources said. However, it could not be confirmed officially . Meanwhile, a statement issued from Bagram Air Base said that the US forces had killed up to 24 unknown fighters who attacked a coalition convoy in southern Afghanistan at the weekend . The statement further said that the US convoy came under fire from unknown attackers near the town of Spin Boldak on the Pakistani border, causing no casualties . It said coalition forces engaged the opposing fighters, killing about five and pursuing the remainder into surrounding hills, where AH-64 Apache helicopters killed 19 more. Meanwhile, it is learnt that Pakistan had closed its border with Afghanistan to prevent Taliban and Al-Qaida fighters from crossing the border .

while Jihad Unspun claims 24 Taliban dead, and 11 Americans dead in an account of the Spin Boldak battle.

[bemildred]

3. I don't count anymore.

They all lie all the time.
Do you have any idea how stupid this statement is:

"Pakistan had closed its border with Afghanistan"?