Taliban Likely To Step Up Attacks In Afghanistan

An Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier stands on his vehicle in Arghandab on June 25, 2008. The Taliban will likely try to boost its presence in new areas of Afghanistan while continuing to fight in its south and eastern strongholds, the Pentagon warned Friday in its first report on security in the country

From Yahoo News:

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The Taliban will likely try to boost its presence in new areas of Afghanistan while continuing to fight in its south and eastern strongholds, the Pentagon warned Friday in its first report on security in the country.

"The Taliban will challenge the control of the Afghan government in rural areas, especially in the south and east. The Taliban will also probably attempt to increase its presence in the west and north," the report to Congress said.

The hardline Islamic militia, which was routed from power in Afghanistan by a US-led coalition in 2001, has regrouped since then and "coalesced into a resilient insurgency."

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News On Afghanistan From Other Sources:
Pentagon: Taliban boosts presence in new areas -- China View
Taleban 'to boost Afghan attacks' -- BBC News
Three U.S.-led soldiers and Afghan interpreter killed -- Yahoo News
Four U.S. Coalition Soldiers Dead In Afghan Attacks -- Reuters
Officials: militants, civilian killed in Afghanistan's remote northeast -- International Herald Tribune
1 US-led coalition service member killed, 5 wounded in western Afghanistan -- International Herald Tribune
Afghanistan: Allied death toll reaches 7-year high -- CNN
Taliban attack US base in Afghanistan from Pakistan -- Long War Journal
From Whence Cometh Pakistan? -- Captain's Journal
Defeating IEDs and Bombs: The Lessons of Iraq for Afghanistan -- Captain's Journal
Afghan Ops Update AFPS 27 Jun 2008 -- Global Security
Pakistan military training Taliban fighters -- Insurgency Research Group
DoD Afghanistan Reports -- Small Wars Journal

My Comment: Like the case has been in Iraq, the U.S. will need to take the lead in counter-insurgency operations in Afghanistan. This means more fighting between coalition forces and the Taliban, followed by serious blow back on the reconstruction teams in the country. It looks like Afghanistan and its people are going to suffer for the next few years.