Changes

''For the Soviet invasion and war, 1979-89, see [[Soviet-Afghan War]]. For politics and society, see [[Afghanistan]].

''For the Soviet invasion and war, 1979-89, see [[Soviet-Afghan War]]. For politics and society, see [[Afghanistan]].

The Taliban was easily defeated in October 2001 and it seemed the war was over quickly.  But the Taliban regrouped, especially in the southern provinces, with sanctuaries inside neighboring Pakistan in remote areas where the government of Pakistan had little authority. Important factors for the return of insurgency include the initial mistakes made in 2001; radical Islamic support from Pakistan; weaknesses of the [[Hamad Karzai]] government, especially its feeble and corrupt national army and police; the question of legitimacy and offenses to traditional tribal and Islamic values and beliefs; and, finally, the extent to which NATO forces became part of the problem.  

Operation Enduring Freedom easily defeated the Taliban in late 2001 and it seemed the war was over quickly.  But the Taliban regrouped, especially in the southern provinces, with sanctuaries inside neighboring Pakistan in remote areas where the government of Pakistan had little authority. By 2003 the insurgency in the south was in operation, funded by opium production. Important factors for the return of insurgency include the initial mistakes made in 2001; radical Islamic support from Pakistan; weaknesses of the [[Hamad Karzai]] government, especially its feeble and corrupt national army and police; the question of legitimacy and offenses to traditional tribal and Islamic values and beliefs; and, finally, the extent to which NATO forces became part of the problem.  

==Sanctuary==

==Sanctuary==

Democrats in Congress, led by Senator [[Carl Levin]] demand accelerated efforts to train and equip Afghan security forces before there is any more deployment of American troops. Mr. Levin said new goals should be established for Afghan security forces. The army, he said, should grow to 250,000 troops by the end of 2012, and the police to 160,000 officers by that date. The current targets are 134,000 army troops and 96,000 police officers by the end of next year.  The luke-warm Congressional Democrats are countered by Republicans, led by Senator [[John McCain]], who strongly supports the Obama position. McCain insists that more troops are "vitally needed" and that any delay in ordering more combat forces to the fight would put American lives at risk.

Democrats in Congress, led by Senator [[Carl Levin]] demand accelerated efforts to train and equip Afghan security forces before there is any more deployment of American troops. Mr. Levin said new goals should be established for Afghan security forces. The army, he said, should grow to 250,000 troops by the end of 2012, and the police to 160,000 officers by that date. The current targets are 134,000 army troops and 96,000 police officers by the end of next year.  The luke-warm Congressional Democrats are countered by Republicans, led by Senator [[John McCain]], who strongly supports the Obama position. McCain insists that more troops are "vitally needed" and that any delay in ordering more combat forces to the fight would put American lives at risk.

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

* Franks, Tommy. ''American Soldier'' (2004), memoir of US commander in 2001-2

* Franks, Tommy. ''American Soldier'' (2004), memoir of US commander in 2001-2

* Jones, Seth. ''In the Graveyard of Empires: America's War in Afghanistan'' (2009) [http://www.amazon.com/Graveyard-Empires-Americas-War-Afghanistan/dp/0393068986/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253093556&sr=1-3 excerpt and text search]

* Jones, Seth. ''In the Graveyard of Empires: America's War in Afghanistan'' (2009) [http://www.amazon.com/Graveyard-Empires-Americas-War-Afghanistan/dp/0393068986/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253093556&sr=1-3 excerpt and text search]

* Rashid, Ahmed. ''Descent into Chaos: The U.S. and the Disaster in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia'' (2009), blames Bush for a weak response to the need for force. [http://www.amazon.com/Descent-into-Chaos-Disaster-Afghanistan/dp/014311557X/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1 excerpt and text search]

* Rashid, Ahmed. ''Descent into Chaos: The U.S. and the Disaster in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia'' (2009), blames Bush for a weak response to the need for force. [http://www.amazon.com/Descent-into-Chaos-Disaster-Afghanistan/dp/014311557X/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1 excerpt and text search]