Monday’s AP report notwithstanding, Coalition forces say that the Taliban does not control the Arghandab district:
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (June 17, 2008) – Afghan National Police and Coalition forces completed a patrol in the Arghandab District of Kandahar province today and found no evidence that militants control the area.
While in the area, Coalition forces moved freely and met no resistance. Recent reports of militant control in the area appear to be unfounded.
The threat of militant activity still exists throughout the province, but the patrol found no indication that militants have overwhelming strength in the Arghandab area.
(Via America’s North Shore Journal, via Instapundit.)
Amazingly, it sounds like the AP was taken in by a fake offensive. That would be incompetent even for them.
ASIDE: I’m amused by the measured language in the CJTF press release. They don’t say for sure that the Taliban doesn’t control the area, but if it does, they can’t tell. . .
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