Gridlock News

Winters are brutal in Afghanistan and the fighting and attacks are in a lull period, at least as much as is possible.  However, sources indicate that the Taliban is preparing for an offensive to be launched this spring against NATO troops.

NATO is not standing idly by they are sending in 6,000 more experience soldiers including 3,200 troops from the 10th mountain division.  Unlike Iraq where a surge is planned to get the country under control this boost of troops is considered necessary just to hold the ring.  This could insinuate that things are getting much worse in Afghanistan and that troop levels may be dangerously low currently.  Possibly at points where we do not have the strength to hold the ring.

I suspect it could be likely that if the surge in Iraq does work, we might see a surge in Afghanistan that will follow.  If a clean up move works in Iraq it may be sustainable in Afghanistan where many people feel we failed to finish the clean up right the first time.  The last time we heard that type of complaint was back in the first Persian gulf war.