Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Afghanistan war in new phase -- with no decisive end in sight
http://www.freep.com/article/20121028/NEWS07/310280224/Afghanistan-war-in-new-phase-with-no-decisive-end-in-sightAfghanistan war in new phase -- with no decisive end in sight
October 28, 2012 |
By Robert Burns
KABUL, Afghanistan -- A new chapter of the war in Afghanistan is opening with a slimmed-down Western force doing more advising than fighting, a resilient Taliban showing little interest in peace talks, and Americans tempted to pull the plug on a conflict now in its 12th year.
A decisive end seems nowhere in sight.
The allied offensive that just ended, spearheaded by an influx of 30,000 U.S. troops, hammered the Taliban in its southern strongholds. Yet the insurgency persists as the American-led international military coalition hands off security responsibilities to the Afghans before exiting in two years.
"We are probably headed for stalemate in 2014," said Stephen Biddle, a George Washington University political science professor who has advised U.S. commanders in Afghanistan and Iraq.