The U.S. Military Expects Heavy Fighting In Afghanistan During The Winter

A UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter flies a personnel movement mission over Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, Oct. 17, 2013. U.S. Army photo by Capt. Peter Smedberg

U.S. Officer Says Taliban Will Fight This Winter -- New York Times

BRUSSELS — A senior American military officer warned Tuesday that insurgent groups are expected to carry out an unusually aggressive campaign of violence in Afghanistan this winter, angling to create maximal disruption ahead of next year’s presidential elections and as Western forces continue to withdraw.

Afghanistan’s rugged terrain and heavy snowfall have historically resulted in a summer fighting season followed by a winter lull, with the Taliban using the cold-weather months to rest, retrain and try to further their agenda by quietly spreading political influence at the village level.

This winter, militant groups are expected to continue their traditional influence campaign. But in an interview on the sidelines of a meeting of NATO defense ministers here, the senior American officer said that intelligence reviews and Afghan reports painted a picture of a concerted insurgent effort to disrupt the elections, planned for April 2014.

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My Comment: Who knows what the Taliban are thinking .... but I guess the U.S. has intelligence that indicates to them that it is going to be a "hot winter" in Afghanistan.