U.S. Urges NATO to Increase Funding

U.S. security adviser Stephen Hadley had a meeting in Brussels with the NATO Secretary General, urging him to call for increased funding for NATO troops in Afghanistan. They want to execute a preemptive spring offensive against Taliban militants there. Afghan militias are commonly dormant during the winter, and become active launching offensives in the spring that last through late summer. The NATO Secretary General agreed with Mr. Hadley that easing the pressure on anti-government forces there would lead to Afghanistan again becoming a safe haven for terrorists. I agree with their assessment. Additionally, the U.S. too often leaves countries that we become involved in, in worse shape than when we arrived. Afghanistan is a good example. As soon as the Soviets were defeated there, we left, leaving the door open for radical Islamists to fill the power vacuum. Certainly we have a moral obligation to finish the job we started there this time, not only for our own security, but for the welfare of the Afghan people as well. Agence France-Presse (AFP)

Town in Farah Retaken

I was just working on my blog...sprucing it up...figuring out how to put the hyperlinks in it...and I came across this article....the town in Farah was retaken hours after it fell to the Taliban....Voice of America

Foreign Leaders face Domestic Pressures

The Australian Prime Minister is wanting to send more troops to both Iraq and Afghanistan, but, he's facing the same sort of opposition President Bush is receiving at home. Yahoo news
In this article, it says that the Taliban has captured a district within the Farah Province. I believe that that is a terrible omen. Farah is located in the western part of Afghanistan, which, like the North, has been relatively peaceful. It is primarily the south and east regions of the country that the Taliban is most active. Voice of America
The third article deals with the frustration the U.S. is feeling with Pakistan and it's lack of effort in apprehending Taliban fighters and in securing the Afghan-Pakistan border. Musharref is definitely walking a tightrope at home. There are still plenty of Taliban supporters within Pakistan, especially in the Waziristan region where tribal ties and loyalty are stronger than the central government, and Osama bin Laden is considered a legendary hero. Fox news