Military.com is reporting that the next major move against the Taliban has begun:
“U.S. operations to push back Taliban forces around Kandahar have “already begun” and will steadily build in coming months, the commander of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan said on Wednesday.
“Gen. Stanley McChrystal told reporters that the U.S.-led offensive on the Taliban’s spiritual heartland had started with initial military and political efforts, including operations designed to secure key roads and districts surrounding the southern city.
“”And instead of putting a date certain on which there would be a climactic military operation, I tell you, that process has already begun,” McChrystal said by teleconference from Afghanistan.”
Put some emphasis on that last line. Even more so than Marjah, this appears to be a slow-moving (deceptively, perhaps) inexorable push to squeeze out the fuckos, shore up the Afghan security forces, and create the conditions in which the civil population can emerge and rebuild.
The ISAF site reports other (related?) ops.
One more note on Afghanistan: “Special Forces now Report to McChrystal”. It’s about time. For the perils of fragmented C2, please see Not a Good Day to Die. Quick update… UJ at B5 has comments too.
