tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15332945.post7978666683441741591..comments2024-02-08T05:16:28.230-05:00Comments on Defense Statecraft: And so it Begins!Robert Farleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233771830519084383noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15332945.post-27332756183289740862008-04-29T14:14:00.000-04:002008-04-29T14:14:00.000-04:00And as an interesting note, the Taliban in Pakista...And as an interesting note, the Taliban in Pakistan is meanwhile still upholding a ceasefire agreement with Islamabad. Under that agreement, Pakistan is to keep its troops out of the tribal areas.<BR/><BR/>So basically, while the Afghani Taliban is taking potshots at the president of Afghanistan and probably kicking off their Spring offensive, they're asking the Pakistani government to stay out of the area where they plan and prepare for these attacks. Sounds a bit suspicious.<BR/><BR/>Then again, this blog has earlier wondered whether the Taliban is necessarily as united an entity as it was when the U.S. first moved in in 2001. If the Taliban isn't necessarily united, how well can it coordinate a new round of attacks?<BR/><BR/>Will the Taliban and tribes in Pakistan seek a deal with Islamabad, preferring the option of political representation to violence?<BR/><BR/>The U.S. is sending in more marines, France is sending in more troops, and other countries such as Poland and Ukraine are also sending in their troop additions before the end of the month.<BR/><BR/>So, does all this mean that we have a larger, more coordinated ISAF force dealing with a smaller, less coordinated and divided Taliban offensive?<BR/><BR/>Guess we'll have to wait and see.Montey Buklerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17710017898880040515noreply@blogger.com