CBS: U.S. preps for its last major Afghan offensive

[Poll_Blind]

From CBS News:
[div class="excerpt" style="border-left: 1px solid #bfbfbf; border-top: 1px solid #bfbfbf; border-right: 1px solid #bfbfbf; border-radius: 0.3077em 0.3077em 0em 0em; box-shadow: 2px 2px 6px #bfbfbf;"]U.S. preps for its last major Afghan offensive[div class="excerpt" style="border-left: 1px solid #bfbfbf; border-bottom: 1px solid #bfbfbf; border-right: 1px solid #bfbfbf; border-radius: 0em 0em 0.3077em 0.3077em; background-color: #f4f4f4; box-shadow: 2px 2px 6px #bfbfbf;"](AP) KABUL, Afghanistan - For Taliban militants and U.S. strategists alike, all roads in this impoverished country of mountain passes, arid deserts and nearly impassable goat tracks lead to this ancient capital of 3 million people nestled in a high and narrow valley.

The Taliban made their intentions clear over the weekend, mounting spectacular coordinated attacks that spawned an 18-hour battle with Afghan and NATO forces. And now, the U.S. is gearing up for what may be the last major American-run offensive of the war — a bid to secure the approaches to the city.

While bombings and shootings elsewhere in Afghanistan receive relatively little attention, attacks in the capital alarm the general population, undermine the government's reputation and frighten foreigners into fleeing the country. That's why insurgents on Sunday struck locations that were so fortified they could cause little or no damage, including the diplomatic quarter, the parliament and a NATO base. "These are isolated attacks that are done for symbolic purposes, and they have not regained any territory," U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Monday.

The U.S.-led spring offensive, expected to begin in the coming weeks, may be NATO's last chance to shore up Kabul's defenses before a significant withdrawal of combat troops limits its options. The focus will be regions that control the main access routes, roads and highways into Kabul from the desert south and the mountainous east. These routes are used not only by militants but by traders carrying goods from Pakistan and Iran.

Well, there you have it. Or do ya?

PB

[gratuitous]

1. Eleven fucking years in, and the last (or next) major offensive is to . . .

Secure the approaches to the capital. Boy, there's some god damned progress for you. But oh boy, the attacks over the weekend were just "symbolic" and didn't regain any territory. Sort of like the attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001. Really just symbolic. Nobody took over territory in New York or Washington. Right, Leon? Another 11 years. Another few thousand lives. Or few hundred thousand. And really, we're just a couple hundred billion dollars from really turning the corner and getting a clear look at that beautiful light at the end of the tunnel!

Now look at all we've won with the saber and the gun,
Tell me is it worth it all?

[Poll_Blind]

3. You said it. nt

PB

[Comrade Grumpy]

2. What a gigantic, misguided clusterfuck!

We'll be lucky to scuttle out of there with our tails between our legs year after next.

Our best hope is a negotiated settlement with the Taliban.

After 11 years of occupation, thousands of dead, and $440 billion down the crapper.