During that soul searching, the White House came to believe that the Obama administration underutilised America’s total aerial superiority. But the first tangible moves have been a significant increase in the tempo and intensity of airstrikes, an effort to take the war to the Taliban. That was up 50 per cent from August and the highest since October 2010, according to US Air Force data. US Air Force personnel on the ground in Afghanistan report a significant shift in how airpower is being used. But the White House hopes overwhelming force will exacerbate divisions in the Taliban ranks and help lure more members to the negotiating table, where America’s diplomats will be waiting.

Source: The Express Tribune December 23, 2017 06:43 UTC