Afghanistan And Pakistan's Tribal Areas -- War News Updates For July 23 - 25, 2008

Afghan policemen stand guard near a damaged police vehicle at the site of a bomb blast in the Chaparhar district of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province on July 23. Seven policemen were killed in new attacks in Afghanistan, while a joint NATO-Afghan operation to take back a district captured by Taliban left 15 militants dead, authorities said. (AFP/Khan Wali Kamran)

Afghan Surge Up to 'Next Admin.' -- Time Magazaine

(WASHINGTON) — It will be left to the next administration to decide on any sizable troop increase for Afghanistan, the Pentagon spokesman said Wednesday.

U.S. commanders in the nearly seven-year-old war have been asking for three combat brigades, or roughly 10,000 more troops, to help confront increasing violence in Afghanistan.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said last week that officials have been looking for ways to send additional forces as soon as possible — likely in smaller units and fewer than commanders want.

Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell told a news conference Wednesday that the decision on how and when to meet the request for the larger amount is "a question, frankly, for the next administration," which will be chosen in November's presidential election.

Read more ....

An Afghan policeman stands guard with a rocket propelled granade launcher during a patrol in the southern town of Qalat, the capital of Zabul province, in 2007. Afghan troops killed at least 34 Taliban in battle after militants ambushed an army convoy in the country's south, while 15 Taliban and seven police were killed elsewhere, officials said. (AFP/File/Shah Marai)

More News On Afghanistan And the Pakistan Tribal Areas

AFGHANISTAN

Pentagon eyes sending hundreds of troops to Afghanistan -- Newsday
Pentagon: More troops to Afghanistan needed, but unlikely -- CNN
'Hard choices' on troops for Afghanistan -- Stars And Stripes
Iraq war ties up troops -- The Age
U.S' Afghan challenges daunting: expert -- The Swamp
Military revisits Afghanistan plan -- Christian Science Monitor
Suspicion, terrain are foes for US in Afghan surge -- Yahoo News
Pentagon plays down fears over Afghan violence -- Reuters
Pentagon concerned over rise in number of foreign terrorists in Afghanistan from Pak -- Thaindian
Trouble on the Afghan-Pakistan Border -- Pajamas Media
Battle in southern Afghanistan leaves 35 dead -- International Herald Tribune
NATO, Afghan Forces Launch Offensive in Eastern Afghanistan -- Voice Of America
Taliban fighters 'killed' in battle -- Al Jazeera
Afghan army says kills "dozens" of insurgents -- Reuters
Operation to retake Afghan district kills 15 Taliban: officials -- Yahoo News
British soldier killed by bomb in Afghanistan -- Times Online
Report: Taliban using text messages, ring tones -- MSNBC
Senior Taliban leader killed in Afghanistan -- Yahoo News
U.S., Afghan forces kill, wound more than 30 Taliban -- Yahoo News
Taleban kill Afghan provincial govt spokesman -- Khaleej Times
Suicide blast in Afghan capital wounds five -- Khaleej Times
Retreat to Afghanistan -- Belmont Club
Opinion: Modest goals for the other war -- USA Today
Saving Afghanistan: A Response to Rory Stewart -- CTLab
Taking Great Care from the Air -- Abu Muqawama
Afghanistan: "It's bad" -- Military Watch
For the hell of it -- Blackfive

Pakistani paramilitary soldiers stand alert in a bunker at the Bara Shekhan area of the troubled Khyber tribal district on July 3. Pakistani troops and gunships killed 15 pro-Taliban militants and captured 60 others while clearing a restive northwestern town near the Afghan border. (AFP/File/Tariq Mahmood)

PAKISTAN'S TRIBAL REGIONS

Pakistan PM to face tough terror questions in US -- Khaleej Times
Pakistan vows not to allow militants to plot attacks -- Reuters
Fly By: Pakistan and Afghanistan Border Region 07_23_08 -- Strata-Sphere
Pakistan would never compromise with militants -- Daily Times
Pakistani Leaders Reaffirm Support for Dialogue with Militants -- Voice Of America
Mullah Rahim, the most senior Taleban leader in Helmand, is arrested -- Times Online
Taliban extend ultimatum deadline to NWFP govt -- Daily Times
NATO aircraft violate Pakistani airspace -- Daily Times
Pakistan Government: 10,000 Terrorist Massed In Pakistan Tribal Areas -- Strata-Sphere
‘Tribal Areas turning into centre of power for militants’ -- Daily Times
FATA facing political, not military crisis: Zardari -- Daily Times
Peace negotiations begin with Taliban in Hangu, Pakistan -- Long War Journal
Al-Qaida senior leader grants rare TV interview -- MSNBC
Editorial: Al Qaeda and suicide-bombing -- Daily Times
Senior al-Qaida leader gives interview -- Yahoo News
Al-Qaeda leader in TV interview -- BBC News
Senior Al-Qaida Leader Gives Interview -- ABC News

My Comment: Unlike Iraq, I have lost track of what is happening in Afghanistan. There is fighting everywhere.

This increase in fighting is probably due to the following reasons:
1) The opium harvest was great this year. The Taliban are flush with cash to pay their soldiers, and to hire more.
2) Hundreds of Taliban soldiers escaped from prison two months ago. I am sure the Taliban ranks swelled after that event.
3) Foreign fighters are fleeing Iraq. Some are fleeing to Pakistan and Afghanistan. They are using their expertise to assist the Taliban.
4) Pakistan has essentially surrendered the Tribal Areas to the Taliban. The Taliban and their allies are no longer fighting a war on two fronts.
5) Frustration with the Afghan central government and systemic corruption. There is only so much that some people can take.
6) Nato is disorganized and unsure of its mandate. Most countries are now probably wishing that they can be elsewhere.

On the positive note, many key Taliban leaders and commanders have been killed this year. I will have more on this later.