The spring escalation has definitely arrived in Afghanistan this weekend, with officials confirming that eight NATO soldiers were killed on Saturday alone and Taliban spokesmen threatening more attacks to come.
Two attacks in Southern Afghanistan left a total of three soldiers killed, while a suicide bombing in Laghman Province, reportedly carried out by an attacker who was an Afghan soldier, killed five NATO soldiers and four Afghan soldiers.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said the suicide bomber had been in the army “for years” as a sleeper agent before carrying out the attack, but had just been moved to the base in the past month.
Another Taliban spokesman, who was not named, said that the group intends to launch a number of additional attacks going forward. He said those attacks would target both Afghan officials and security forces.
Violence in Afghanistan traditionally drops somewhat in the winter, as the nation’s lack of infrastructure forces insurgents to winter over on mountains. 711 NATO soldiers died in Afghanistan in 2010, most in summer and autumn. 131 NATO soldiers have died so far in 2011.
I'm beginning to respect the Taliban. It takes guts to fight it out against the most evil Empire the world has ever seen, and keep fighting, on and on, until it's only a matter of time until they win. Not even the Evil Empire can stay in Afghanistan forever.
What? There's STILL a war in the Afghaniscam? Gosh, Amerika is sure in a lot of wars…
They will not be "NATO" soldiers. These eight dead will all be from the United States. The "NATO" moniker is propaganda that Jason Ditz and the corporate media use to hide the truth about the Afghan war.
The headline should read five of eight soldiers killed in Afghanistan already identified as being from the US. As reported by your own site. Why do you insist on this mindless Pentagon "NATO" propaganda.
American exceptionalism aka superiority demands that, admitting that American may be killed would sound defeatist.
Honestly what do u want them to do? Just because most troops in those particular regions are American doesnt mean he should try to predict what the DoD won't release for another day….How good would it look if he said 5 Americans killed and they turned out to be Estonian- or from any country for that matter?
When Britain occupied Helmand it made some sense to claim NATO. But nearly every soldier in Afghanistan who is in a combat role in 2011 is from the United States. Most NATO countries have only a token number of soldiers and they are in support roles. Libya may be a NATO exercise but Afghanistan in 2011 is 95% a US war. And it would be fine if there was a follow up of reportage a day later but AntiWar and corporate media rarely follow up with casualty figures that reveal all killed were US soldiers unless occasionally like today when there is a high number of US dead. But the day to day grind of one, two or three US casualties is always "NATO" with zero follow up that all killed were US soldiers.
The occupation only makes the Taliban's self-righteousness appear valiant and heroic. And, honestly, perhaps it is. Who is to judge ?
Petraeus will say: This news that yet more NATO/American troops have been killed is further proof that the Taliban is getting increasing desperate and/or is in its last throes. … Stay the course! The strategy is working!