In Afghanistan, uptick in violence this winter coincides with less snow

No brainer, lack of snow in “the passes” means mobility and infiltration, right?  Not so fast.  Actually to claim that sustained Taliban combat operations has extended into the “traditional non-fighting winter months” because of a lack of snow in “the passes” is a bit of stretch.  Maybe the mild weather isn’t a factor because US/NATO has not be effective in degrading threat capabilities.  That is probably the truth, and we shouldn’t shy away from that.  But hey, that’s the latest talking point coming from Kabul, so it must be true.

Afghanistan’s push to tax U.S. contractors could renew tensions

So a corrupt government that is incapable of implementing an equitable tax system for Afghan wage earners can arbitrarily decide to tax US contractors for the wages they earn while they risk their lives to improve the government’s quality of life.  Makes perfect flipping sense.

US soldiers killed while training Iraqis

This past weekend  two US troops were murdered by an Iraqi soldier during a training exercise.

The grind in Iraq continues; an Operation New Dawn.