The future of Afghanistan, Does anybody know?

[OrangeEmpire]

Does anybody know?

What's become of the place? What was the western world's plan for Afghanistan after the taliban were removed? And has that plan come to fruition? Why or why not?

I ask this because I've heard next to nothing about it. Ever since the invasion of Iraq, Afghanistan has been completely eclipsed.

Does anybody know?

U.S. Back at Full War Footing in Afghanistan

The United States military is quietly carrying out the largest military offensive in Afghanistan since U.S. troops invaded the country in 2001.

"The Taliban has made a comeback, and we have the next 90 days to crush them," said a senior U.S. military official.

The offensive, "Operation Mountain Thrust," involves almost 11,000 U.S. troops and is focused on four southern Afghanistan provinces.

The Taliban has re-emerged as the Afghan government "has created vacuums of power" says the official. Proceeds from the growing opium trade in the region has helped the Taliban obtain new weapons and pay local officials.

The Taliban leader, Mullah Omar, remains at large despite a $10 million reward offered by the United States. U.S. military officials believe he has established a safe haven in Pakistan, where U.S. soldiers cannot operate.

 

[OrangeEmpire]

The overall mission of the US Marines is winding down in Afghanistan now. NATO is going to take full command of the infrastructure projects soon. US forces will still be in command of anti-terror/Taliban operations, but NATO will be the dominant force in Afghanistan, probably after this year.

The only marine pressence in the country in the future will probably come from short stints by Marine Expeditionary Units (11th, 13th, and 15th, out of Camp Pendleton), while they operate in the area in supporting roles, mostly to fill in gaps during combat ops and such (kind of like what the 22nd, 24th, and 26th MEUs, out of Camp Lejeune, used to do in Bosnia). But as far as deploying battalions to the area, the Marine mission is almost over. The marines are getting phased out of the Afghan rotation now. It should be completely turned over to the US Army and NATO forces soon.