The new U.S. troops have been conducting operations in both provinces largely from north to south in an attempt to push militants away from the capital, Haight said. He rejected claims the insurgents were encroaching on the capital.
"The truth is, the Taliban doesn't have the technology, it doesn't have the amount of soldiers it needs, it doesn't have the capacity to really go into Kabul and take over Kabul. Not even close," Haight said.
One of the troops' main priorities has been to secure the two major highways that run south from Kabul through both provinces. Three forward operating bases and around half a dozen outposts have been erected on and around both routes.
Securing the capital and the ring road out to the border fits in with my view on the upcoming campaign.
