Today's Article
Taliban forces over
the last three years
have staged a
comeback in the
country, bringing
with them a steady
increase in violence.
the last three years
have staged a
comeback in the
country, bringing
with them a steady
increase in violence.
The American Spark
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Rising Afghan Violence Likely, Says Intelligence Official
By Cliff Montgomery - Apr. 6th, 2009
American intelligence predicts that Afghanistan's level of violence will climb through 2009, despite President
Barack Obama's new plan for fighting the Taliban and providing additional aid to the current Afghan
government, said a leading intelligence official in late March.
Deposed Taliban forces over the last three years have staged a comeback in the country, bringing with them a
steady increase in violence.
President Obama on March 27th called the situation "increasingly perilous." U.S. and allied forces ousted the
Taliban from control of Afghanistan over seven years ago.
Taliban forces have once again taken control in eastern and southern Afghanistan by providing some basic
security and rather crude government services. For many living in the area this probably is an improvement
from the current "government" of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, which is so crooked The New York Times
has proclaimed its corruption to be, "by many estimates...among the worst in the world."
And of course the Taliban also rules these areas with a generous dose of violence to bully the population, the
intelligence official told The Associated Press (AP). Insufficient numbers of American, Afghan or NATO forces
have left a power vacuum in these regions, allowing the Taliban to re-establish control, states U.S. intelligence.
The official discussed these matters with AP on the agreement "that his name not be used, [and] to more
freely discuss the intelligence...used to shape the newly announced strategy for Pakistan and Afghanistan,"
states AP.
Obama already has approved adding 17,000 American troops to U.S. forces in Afghanistan. The president
also has announced his goal of sending more American soldiers to serve as trainers for Afghan forces, and a
plan to increase aid to Pakistani civilians.
It's all part of an ambitious multi-year project intended to bring a greater stability to Afghanistan, while making
its notorious border region with Pakistan an increasingly harsh center of operations for al-Qaeda.
The Obama Administration wants the Pakistani government to cease both its passive and active support for
Taliban forces, the intelligence official told AP.
The Taliban employs the lawless tribal region of Pakistan's western frontier as a military base of operations,
where soldiers are trained and attacks are launched into Afghanistan.
The official added that U.S. intelligence previously shared with Pakistan has found its way into the hands of
Taliban members.
Pakistan's western frontier border with Afghanistan effectively became the central base of operations for both
al-Qaeda and the Taliban after the 2001 U.S. invasion of Afghanistan.
The intelligence official also told AP that the Obama Administration wants the Pakistani government to step up
its efforts to combat al-Qaeda and Taliban elements currently stationed in the country's western border area.
Good luck with that.
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark
e-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
By Cliff Montgomery - Apr. 6th, 2009
American intelligence predicts that Afghanistan's level of violence will climb through 2009, despite President
Barack Obama's new plan for fighting the Taliban and providing additional aid to the current Afghan
government, said a leading intelligence official in late March.
Deposed Taliban forces over the last three years have staged a comeback in the country, bringing with them a
steady increase in violence.
President Obama on March 27th called the situation "increasingly perilous." U.S. and allied forces ousted the
Taliban from control of Afghanistan over seven years ago.
Taliban forces have once again taken control in eastern and southern Afghanistan by providing some basic
security and rather crude government services. For many living in the area this probably is an improvement
from the current "government" of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, which is so crooked The New York Times
has proclaimed its corruption to be, "by many estimates...among the worst in the world."
And of course the Taliban also rules these areas with a generous dose of violence to bully the population, the
intelligence official told The Associated Press (AP). Insufficient numbers of American, Afghan or NATO forces
have left a power vacuum in these regions, allowing the Taliban to re-establish control, states U.S. intelligence.
The official discussed these matters with AP on the agreement "that his name not be used, [and] to more
freely discuss the intelligence...used to shape the newly announced strategy for Pakistan and Afghanistan,"
states AP.
Obama already has approved adding 17,000 American troops to U.S. forces in Afghanistan. The president
also has announced his goal of sending more American soldiers to serve as trainers for Afghan forces, and a
plan to increase aid to Pakistani civilians.
It's all part of an ambitious multi-year project intended to bring a greater stability to Afghanistan, while making
its notorious border region with Pakistan an increasingly harsh center of operations for al-Qaeda.
The Obama Administration wants the Pakistani government to cease both its passive and active support for
Taliban forces, the intelligence official told AP.
The Taliban employs the lawless tribal region of Pakistan's western frontier as a military base of operations,
where soldiers are trained and attacks are launched into Afghanistan.
The official added that U.S. intelligence previously shared with Pakistan has found its way into the hands of
Taliban members.
Pakistan's western frontier border with Afghanistan effectively became the central base of operations for both
al-Qaeda and the Taliban after the 2001 U.S. invasion of Afghanistan.
The intelligence official also told AP that the Obama Administration wants the Pakistani government to step up
its efforts to combat al-Qaeda and Taliban elements currently stationed in the country's western border area.
Good luck with that.
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark
e-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
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