Will Taliban ‘Wait Out’ US?

Afghan Officials Slam Pullout Timetable

Afghan officials are expressing growing disquiet over President Obama’s escalation strategy, particularly the timetable for beginning the pullout in July 2011.

Many fear that the Taliban will simply “wait out” the US, taking to the hills until the American forces leave and then swooping in largely unharmed and seizing control of Afghanistan.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs mocked the concerns as “illogical” in his conference today, insisting that if the Taliban gave the US 18 months to train the Afghan military unfettered America would “win” the war.

At any rate, the concerns may be the least of America’s problems in Afghanistan. When America escalated the war in March the Taliban did not pull back, they got more aggressive and indeed took over more of the country. The administration and its detractors both seem convinced that the 30,000 additional troops are going to put the Taliban on the run, and at this point that doesn’t appear supported by the recent momentum in Afghanistan.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.