"The Real War on Terror"

Democrats often point to Afghanistan as "the real war on terror". They say that Iraq is a mere distraction, and that the strain of that conflict on the American military has led to a situation where, in the words of Howard Dean, "We don't have enough troops in Afghanistan."

Only it seems that the situation in Afghanistan isn't as dire as the Democrats would have us believe. From the AP:

NATO spokesman Brig. Gen. Richard Nugee said Wednesday, however, that it will be NATO troops who will be launching the real offensive, referring to upcoming military operations but giving no details.

"We do not believe that there will be a spring offensive by the Taliban," Nugee said. "There will be an upward surge in violence as the weather gets better ... I don't think it will amount to an offensive. An offensive is a very symbolic phrase, it means a huge upsurge in a very short amount of time. We just don't think that will happen."

Last year, the Taliban launched a record number of attacks, and some 4,000 people, most of them militants, died in insurgency-related violence, according to a tally by The Associated Press based on reports from Afghan, NATO and U.S.-led coalition officials. Militants also launched a record 139 suicide attacks in 2006, according to the U.S. military.

That isn't to say that the situation in Afghanistan, just like that in Iraq, wouldn't be much improved by the addition of several thousand American troops. But it sounds like NATO may be doing an adequate job of things.