AFGHANISTAN: Taliban respond extensively to Obama administration's war strategy review

Unlike the shadowy insurgents of Iraq, the Afghan Taliban have a very sophisticated and fast-moving media operation that has already issued a detailed response to the much-anticipated review of American strategy in the Afghanistan war issued on Thursday.

As expected, the Taliban gave the Obama administration's review, covered by the Los Angeles Times, and its timing a big thumbs down. 

"Obama unveils review of the strategy in a time that they left no stone unturned in Afghanistan to beef up the occupation, but all their efforts have failed," a message e-mailed to reporters in Kabul said.

"Now he has come with the review of the strategy to present it before the American public and the public of the world in an effort to distract the attention from his failed strategy; to buoy up a new hope and keep people occupied in illusory expectations."

The strategy review, the the message said, "proves that his last year’s strategy, with all other overseas schemes, have faced frustration and failure because the substance of these schemes and strategy do not coincide with the ground realities in Afghanistan."

AFGHANISTAN: Taliban accused of forcing farmers to grow opium poppy instead of saffron

It is as pricey as precious metals or illicit drugs, and in some kitchens it is increasingly becoming even more valued. Saffron, a spice that grows in Afghanistan, could be a solution for farmers who want to make ends meet without growing poppy flowers that can be turned into opium and heroin that enrich and empower drug barons.

But this week, the spokesman for the NATO-led coalition in Afghanistan spoke of a "disturbing trend" in the western portion of the country: The Taliban is forcing farmers to stop growing the savory spice and switch to more nefarious crops. 

"Insurgents are pressuring Herat farmers to switch to growing poppy instead of saffron so they can use the money from drug sales to fund their operations," German army Gen. Josef Blotz told reporters Monday. "In areas north of Herat city, insurgents have destroyed fields planted with saffron, and last month they attacked two trucks carrying saffron bulbs for planting and killed the truckers who were delivering them."

A Taliban spokesman reached by telephone Wednesday denied the charge.

PAKISTAN: Trucks supplying fuel for NATO forces in Afghanistan torched

The roads connecting Pakistan to Afghanistan continue to be dangerous as the Taliban tries to hamper supply lines for United States-led forces.  

On Saturday in the northwestern city of Peshawar, insurgents didn't even wait for the supply trucks to leave the depot.  Two dozen gunmen reportedly torched at least eight trucks used to supply fuel for NATO forces in Afghanistan, police said.

No casualties were reported.

-- Los Angeles Times

Photo: Owners stand next to their trucks, used for supplying fuel for NATO forces in Afghanistan, after they were attacked in the outskirts of Peshawar. Credit: Fayaz Aziz / Reuters