British Lt. Gen. David Richards, head of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force, now in charge in southern Afghanistan, believes the new campaign launched this past weekend will end a resurgent Taliban offensive in Afghanistan within the next six months. If not, according to USA Today, Richards says NATO could lose ground with Afghans in the southern region who are now straddling the fence. ISAF also is poised to take over in the eastern part of the country some time this month.
A-10 Thunderbolt II attack planes in the Middle East are flying with fresh modifications as the Air Force looks to make the plane more versatile amid America’s ongoing blockade of Iranian ports and a tenuous ceasefire in the U.S. air war against Iran.