Afghanistan War News Updates -- June 17, 2008

IED Attack Outside Of Kandahar

From Time Magazine:

Is the Taliban Making a Comeback?

Hundreds of Taliban insurgents swarmed through a key district just outside the southern Afghan city of Kandahar on Monday, sending residents fleeing in anticipation of retaliation by NATO troops. This latest Taliban assault in the Argandab district caps several weeks of increased fighting in the country's southern districts along the border with Pakistan, followed by a spectacular raid on a Kandahar prison, in which some 400 Taliban fighters were freed, according to officials. "My men have seen a few of the escaped Taliban prisoners among the fighters in Argandab," says district chief Ghulam Farouq.

Read more ....

News On Afghanistan From Other Sources:
Afghanistan: Full Coverage From Yahoo News
Things Are Heating Up In Afghanistan And Pakistan, Our Enemy’s Last Gasp? -- Strata-Sphere
No looming battle in Arghandab: NATO official -- CTV News
Taliban move into villages near Kandahar but combat not imminent: officials -- CNEWS
Taliban militants destroy bridges in Afghanistan -- Yahoo News
Taliban Militants Destroy Bridges in Afghanistan -- ABC News
Taliban Fighters Launch Afghan Attack -- CBS News
Taliban take Kandahar villages -- Toronto Star
Hundreds flee as battle looms in Afghan south -- Reuters
Afghans flee amid fears of battle -- BBC News
Taliban Fighters Infiltrate Area Near Southern Afghan City -- New York Times
Taliban Prepare for Battle Outside Kandahar as Thousands Flee Area -- FOX News
Taliban fighters mass near city -- LA Times
Thousands flee as battle looms in Afghan south -- MSNBC
Taliban destroy bridges, plant mines outside Kandahar in battle preparation, official says -- L.A. Times
Taliban prep for battle outside Kandahar -- Newsweek
Afghanistan analysis: Insurgent intelligence -- The Guardian
Afghanistan: Kandahar braces for Taliban attack as thousands flee -- Guardian
Afghan, Coalition forces kill 20 militants -- Xinhuanet
Afghans say they are not planning war with Pakistan -- Yahoo News
Old-Line Taliban Commander Is Face of Rising Afghan Threat -- New York Times
The face of a deadlier Taliban threat -- International herald Tribune
Gordon Brown pledges more troops for Afghanistan and calls for sanctions in stand against terror -- Times Online
British troop commitment in Afghanistan will top 8,000 next spring -- Times Online
Karzai threatens to raid Pakistan -- The Independent
Karzai calls for a two-way road -- Westhawk
U.S. Is Urged To Okay Afghan Irregulars An 'Awakening' Strategy for Afghanistan -- New York Sun

My Comment: It is obvious that after 7 years, the policy to destroy the Taliban in Afghanistan has failed. If the Taliban are successful in attacking Kandahar, a new strategy and thinking must now be formulated and applied.