US beefs up forces in Afghanistan BBC News 03/26/04.
We're sending 2000 more Marines to Afghanistan to hunt for al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders. This BBC piece talks about the "new offensive" that was launched two weeks ago called Operation Mountain Storm. This might or might not be the "spring offensive" that US officials indicated weeks ago would be launched. Pakistani General Saftar Hussein commented on recent operations in the Pakistani "tribal area" of South Waziristan: "He said the mission to destroy hundreds of militants and deny them sanctuary had been accomplished."
Mission accomplished. We're turning the corner. Light at the end of the tunnel. Glad to hear it.
Meanwhile, the Afghan national elections scheduled for June are being pushed back to September or later. Afghanistan Elections to Be Delayed At Least 3 Months Los Angeles Times 03/28/04. As I've mentioned before, Bush's claims of having "liberated" Afghanistan may have been a bit premature.
Plus, one of the US' favorite Afghan warlords, Ismail Khan, a real prince of an Islamic-fanatic kind of guy, has been having shootouts with a rival faction: Minister's Death Threatens to Plunge Western Afghanistan Into Chaos Radio Free Europe 03/22/04.
This October 2002 report by Human Rights Watch discusses "emir" Ismail Khan's methods of rule in his province of Herat. The reports I've seen indicate that his style of governance remains largely unchanged. The prospects of his provicial militia merging itself into the still-fledgling army of Afghanistan seem to be very minimal.
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