Afghanistan War News Updates -- February 8, 2011

ZABUL VIEW - Members of the International Security Assistance Force provide security while other forces load supplies after and air-drop from a C-130 Hercules in Zabul province, Afghanistan, Feb. 7, 2011. The forces are assigned to Forward Operating Base Sweeney. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Brian Ferguson

Taliban's Spring Offensive Likely To Target Afghan Leaders Cooperating With Government -- Washington Post

When Taliban leaders return from Pakistan this spring to begin their annual offensive in Afghanistan, a senior U.S. commander believes they will undertake a major assassination campaign against local and tribal Afghan leaders and others who in recent months have begun cooperating with government officials and participating in the peace process.

The reason: While Taliban leaders have used the winter to withdraw to Pakistan to rearm and retrain their forces, U.S. and coalition forces have destroyed hidden support bases, carried out Special Forces raids on those Taliban leaders remaining in Afghanistan and deployed 110,000 more troops than there were last year, 70,000 of them Afghans.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

Afghan, NATO forces brace for spring offensive -- Yahoo News/AP
NATO soldier, Afghan policeman killed in blasts -- AFP
Suicide attack kills 1 in Kandahar -- L.A. Times
900 Afghan militants switch sides and join government, but reintegration program faces hurdles -- Canadian Press
Petraeus says war only just starting -- Financial Times
Secret plan to cut troop numbers in Afghanistan -- The Age
‘Baby fighters’ on frontline of Afghan war -- DAWN
Afghan Army Recruits Face Tougher Screening -- Wall Street Journal
Group Warns That 'Ghost Soldiers' in Afghanistan Make It Harder to Withdraw -- FOX News
Afghan leader: NATO reconstruction bases to go -- Yahoo News/AP

Separating the Taliban from al Qaeda -- Reuters
Taliban could be split from Al-Qaeda: study -- AFP
Study Points to Friction Between Taliban and al-Qaida -- Voice of America
Afghan Taliban would be open to talks: report -- Reuters
Taliban and al-Qaeda: Unfriended? -- Danger Room

Taliban will not win back Afghanistan: Obama -- AFP
Obama To O'Reilly: U.S. Will Defeat Al Qaeda, Taliban Won't Retake Afghanistan -- Huffington Post

Afghanistan's most loyal troops -- L.A. Times
Dog comes home to fallen Marine's family -- USA Today
Lack of funds threatens Afghan school for women -- Toronto Star
Drug producer Afghanistan experiencing tragedy of drug problems -- People's Daily
'Taliban were willing to talk' -- Gareth Porter, Asia Times