June 19, 2008 [LINK / comment]
Taliban offensive in Afghanistan
For at least a year, the security situation in Afghanistan has been deteriorating, and the sudden upsurge in attacks over the past few days are a disquieting reminder of the early 1968 Tet Offensive in Vietnam. Three days ago, over 1,000 inmates escaped in a major prison break, including at least 350 who are Taliban-affiliated. Shortly thereafter, the newly reinforced insurgents launched an offensive that seized several towns in close proximity to Kandahar, the second biggest city in the country, located in the southwest. The Afghan government forces, backed by NATO troops, claims to have repelled the attack, for now at least. See the Washington Post.
Kandahar is a stronghold of the Taliban, and is one of the major centers of poppy growing. The confluence of interests between rebels and narcotics traffickers makes this malignancy especially potent, just as has been the case in Colombia, Peru, and Indochina at various times. Ulimate success in Afghanistan at this point depends as much on political maneuvering as on military force. A huge burden rests on the shoulders of President Hamid Karzai, who must avoid the appearance of serving U.S. interests while insisting on greater cooperation with Pakistan in the war against Islamic extremists who have bases along their mountainous border region. Somewhere in there, Osama bin Laden is still lurking...
It was encouraging that, even as the commitment of Germany and some other NATO allies remains shaky, the Canadian parliament voted (in March) to approve an extended tour of duty for its 2,500 troops in southern Afghanistan. See BBC. It's a shame more Americans don't appreciate how lucky we are that the Canadians are standing by our side in this lengthy, difficult conflict.