November
28, 2006: The current plan is to hand over all security duties to the Afghan
army by 2008. At that point, the army should have 70,000 troops. There are
currently 36,000 trained troops, up from 25,000 this time last year. There's no
assurance this will work, since the history of Afghanistan is one of a weak
central government being defeated by more numerous and determined tribal
fighters.
Meanwhile,
the Taliban appear to be concentrating suicide attacks against Canadian troops.
So far this year, Taliban action has killed 36 Canadians, out of a force of
2,300. Proportionately, that's twice the death rate American troops are
suffering in Iraq. It appears the Taliban are trying to influence Canadian
public opinion, which is already lukewarm on the Afghan operations. Each
successful suicide bomb attack on Canadian troops causes more Canadian media to
demand Canada get its troops out of Afghanistan. For the Taliban and al Qaeda,
this is a sign of progress, because otherwise, the Canadian troops are killing
Taliban and al Qaeda fighters in large numbers.
November
27, 2006: In an attempt to kill a senior security official, a Taliban suicide
bomber blew himself up in a restaurant in eastern Afghanistan. The bomber
missed his target, but killed 14 other Afghans. Elsewhere along the border, 55
Taliban were killed in several actions.
November
23, 2006: As Winter settles in, even the violence slows down. So far in
November, Taliban attacks have fallen below ten a day, which is about half the
rate of September and October. There are only about a dozen roadside bomber
encountered a week, along with one or two suicide bombers. So far this year,
some 3,700 people have died because of Taliban violence, about four times as
many as last year.
