Al-Qaida draws more foreigners to Afghan war

[RamboLiberal]

Source: MSNBC/AP

Afghanistan has been drawing a fresh influx of jihadi fighters from Turkey, Central Asia, Chechnya and the Middle East, one more sign that al-Qaida is regrouping on what is fast becoming the most active front of the war on terrorism groups.

More foreigners are infiltrating Afghanistan because of a recruitment drive by al-Qaida as well as a burgeoning insurgency that has made movement easier across the border from Pakistan, U.S. officials, militants and experts say. For the past two months, Afghanistan has overtaken Iraq in deaths of U.S. and allied troops, and nine American soldiers were killed at a remote base in Kunar province Sunday in the deadliest attack in years.

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned during a visit to Kabul this month about an increase in foreign fighters crossing into Afghanistan from Pakistan, where a new government is trying to negotiate with militants.

Two U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information, said that the U.S. is closely monitoring the flow of foreign fighters into both Afghanistan and Pakistan.



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25723872/

[seriousstan]

1. Will Obama's surge in Afghanistan take care of this? He wants to send 2 brigades, right?

He said 10,000, that just about maxs out 2 brigades.

[Art_from_Ark]

4. Did the Russians' "surge" back in the 1980s work?

Or the British "surge" back in the 1880s?

[rpannier]

2. The retirment benefits must have improved

This probably makes the Russians happy -- they're leaving Checnhya and going somewhere that's not inside Russia.

on note: Heckuva a job you're doing there Georgie.

[seriousstan]

3. No, still 72 virgins, wine and honey.

[dipsydoodle]

5. aka

Back to square one.

[Caradoc]

6. Exactly....

...what I was thinking; back to square one. But what happens to Iraq once there's a noticable drawdown of U.S. troops? Could be a disastrous military juggling act in the making, and it may well be a coordinated strategy from al Qaeda.

[dipsydoodle]

7. There is a major difference between the two

The problems in Afghanistan were largely indigenous and the "war" has had little impact on the status quo.

The problems in Iraq are wholly as a result of the invasion which caused issues which didn't previously exist. The first step in redressing the sitution should be complete withdrawal. I do however appreciate that to be unlikely.

[leftchick]

8. wow, it is the 80s all over again

I bet the Russians are really enjoying this.

[harun]

9. They are probably waiting to pick up the pieces, the way they

see fit, after the U.S. collapse.