The Taliban And Al Qaeda Are Waiting For The U.S. To Leave Afghanistan

U.S. Army Staff Sgt's. Daniel Benson, left, and Charles Stokes observe their convoy safely traverse a route cleared of improvised explosive devices near Combat Outpost Terezayi in Afghanistan's Khowst province, April 12, 2012. Benson and Stokes are assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Eric-James Estrada

Taliban, Al-Qaeda Awaiting U.S. Afghanistan Exit -- Jeffrey Goldberg, Bloomberg

The multipronged attack carried out by a Taliban faction in Afghanistan last weekend, including sustained raids in the capital’s diplomatic quarter and on Parliament, was meant, the New York Times reported, to “undermine confidence in NATO and Afghan military gains.”

Well, mission accomplished, as they say. Although Afghan security forces, with help from NATO, eventually ended the assault, the Taliban’s ability to penetrate Kabul, which has been advertised as Afghanistan’s safest city, suggests a certain tenuousness to the overall security situation.

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My Comment: What is happening in Afghanistan today reminds me of what was happening in Afghanistan in 1988-1989 when the Soviets were getting ready to leave the country. The Mujaheddin held back, and within two years began the offensive that resulted with the Taliban taking control of the country.

But what is different from this case is that (unlike the Soviet departure), there will still be a reduced but significant presence of US and allied special forces in the country .... a force that should be significant enough to hold back any Taliban advances. At least that is what the planners are hoping for.