Taliban militants struck in the heart of the Afghan capital Monday, launching suicide attacks on key government targets in a clear sign the insurgents plan to escalate their fight as the U.S. and its allies ramp up a campaign to end the war. At least five bystanders and security forces were killed and nearly 40 wounded, officials said.
The Defense Ministry said seven attackers had also been killed in the brazen attack, which occurred 10 days before a major international conference in London on ways to shore up the Afghan government to confront the growing Taliban threat.
After a series of blasts and more than three hours of subsequent gunfights outside several ministries and inside a shopping mall, President Hamid Karzai said security had been restored to the capital, though search operations continued amid reports that more attackers were hiding in the city.
This is war. Stuff happens. The enemy wants to win and if they can get enough volunteers willing to die in an attack where surviving is unlikely, the enemy can launch such attacks.
But the enemy got their message out: a "brazen" attack reflecting the enemy's determination to "escalate" in response to our surge. And if you doubt the objective, check out the details from Stratfor:
Taliban spokesman Zabihollah Mojahed said 20 suicide assailants were attacking the Presidential Palace, the Central Bank and the Ministries of Finance, Justice and Mines and Industries. The Serena Hotel, the Defense Ministry and Afghan Telecom had also reportedly come under attack.
The first Stratfor report noted that the hotel is where journalists, among others, stay.
This was not an offensive in the sense that the Taliban could possibly take and hold the capital. It was a Mumbai-style terrorist attack that struck a wide number of targets at the same time. So far, it doesn't look like any of the attackers are holding anything to prolong the press coverage. So it is different from Mumbai in that sense.
It is bloody. And shows the enemy is not crushed. But it is not "an offensive." So mop up, find and kill or capture the attackers and their enablers, pursue the enemy, and kill them.
