Admiral Fallon has not been in his role as top commander in the Afghanistan theatre for that long but I love this guy's style. Adm. Fallon stated that he doesn't see the Taliban mounting any sort of spring offensive this year but added this:
I like the attitude of Fallon - he mocks the Taliban in one sentence and then adds the fact that the U.S. and NATO forces will take it TO the Taliban. Remember, there are 3,200 additional Marines headed to Afghanistan and that is going to be a big impact.
Fallon didn't expound on why he doesn't see a spring offensive this year but I have my own opinion, for what it is worth:
1. Last year's highly touted spring offensive by the Taliban fizzled and was a HUGE embarassment to the Taliban and their leadership
2. The Taliban has continued to have little success in offensive attacks - they have come to the conclusion that the NATO forces are too well trained and prepared for those attacks that once upon a time were effective against the Russians.
3. Taliban leaders have already described a switch in strategies from offensives to more suicide bombers and roadside bombs.
4. Mid and high-level Taliban leaders have been exterminated at a good clip over the past six months.
Now, the one variable here is that the Taliban are going to get itchy - they aren't the kind to have the patience to let suicide bombers do all of their dirty work. There will continue to be some attacks I'm sure but no concerted effort like there was two years ago in the spring.
Here's the full story.
"The spring offensive is going to be by our people as they move out and take advantage of the situation that they helped create through their good works there in the fall of last year,"
I like the attitude of Fallon - he mocks the Taliban in one sentence and then adds the fact that the U.S. and NATO forces will take it TO the Taliban. Remember, there are 3,200 additional Marines headed to Afghanistan and that is going to be a big impact.
Fallon didn't expound on why he doesn't see a spring offensive this year but I have my own opinion, for what it is worth:
1. Last year's highly touted spring offensive by the Taliban fizzled and was a HUGE embarassment to the Taliban and their leadership
2. The Taliban has continued to have little success in offensive attacks - they have come to the conclusion that the NATO forces are too well trained and prepared for those attacks that once upon a time were effective against the Russians.
3. Taliban leaders have already described a switch in strategies from offensives to more suicide bombers and roadside bombs.
4. Mid and high-level Taliban leaders have been exterminated at a good clip over the past six months.
Now, the one variable here is that the Taliban are going to get itchy - they aren't the kind to have the patience to let suicide bombers do all of their dirty work. There will continue to be some attacks I'm sure but no concerted effort like there was two years ago in the spring.
Here's the full story.
No spring offensive for Taliban, says U.S. commander
The top commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East said Wednesday he does not expect Taliban forces in Afghanistan to launch a spring offensive this year.
Adm. William Fallon told the U.S. House armed services committee he believes the momentum will continue to swing in the direction of NATO-led coalition forces in the beleaguered country.
Fallon said he expects coalition forces to carry out their own spring offensive as they move to take advantage of improved security.
"The spring offensive is going to be by our people as they move out and take advantage of the situation that they helped create through their good works there in the fall of last year," he said.
Overall, Fallon said that while the situation in Afghanistan is not ideal, recent improvements have been encouraging.
He told the committee on Tuesday that the Taliban's ability to attack has been degraded and that a rise in suicide attacks is confined to about 10 per cent of the districts.
The U.S. is sending 3,200 more marines to Afghanistan, in part to stave off any spike in violence that might come with the warmer weather.
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