Taliban strengthening in Afghanistan

CNN:

The Taliban's influence has grown in parts of southern Afghanistan over the past year, the top U.S. commander in that country said Wednesday.

Observations from coalition forces, Afghan institutions and others in the country "gives us a sense that the number of Taliban fighters in certain districts [northern Kandahar, northern Helmand and Oruzgan provinces] may have increased over the past several months," Lt. Gen. Karl Eikenberry told reporters in Washington.

Eikenberry, commanding general of Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan, said the Taliban isn't "necessarily a strong enemy." But it is strong enough to exploit and coerce weak government institutions.

One of my qualms with the Iraqi invasion was that we left Afghanistan unfinished. Had we stayed to promote stability and peace in the country we probably wouldn't be in the mess that we are in now. We may have even caught that guy responsible for 9/11. You remember Mr. "Wanted Dead or Alive" himself.

Hopefully this isn't a sign of things to come in Afghanistan.