The Defense Department’s November 2010 ‘Report on Progress Toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan’ “says dramatic increases in fighting against the Taliban have failed to convince the local population that the Afghan government and coalition forces will succeed. ‘The Taliban’s strength lies in the Afghan population’s perception that Coalition forces will soon leave, giving credence to the belief that a Taliban victory is inevitable,’ the report says. …The report says that Taliban is not popular but it exploits frustration with a weak Afghanistan government. ‘Despite public polling showing a lack of support for the Taliban, Afghan nationals are likely to remain non-committal until the Afghan Government and Coalition forces can convincingly provide security, government and economic opportunities,’ the report says. ‘The Taliban have sufficient organizational capability and support to pose a threat to the government’s viability, particularly in the south. If the security situation erodes, regional stability will rapidly decline as well.’ ” [The 15th of the month used for date sorting purposes only.]
– Charley Keyes, “Pentagon Report: Afghans Believe Taliban Victory Inevitable,” CNN, Nov. 24, 2010