ARAB-US RELATIONS - Dec 13 - US Mounts Fresh Attack On Taliban.

The US-led military coalition in Afghanistan begins a big offensive against militants loyal to the ousted Taliban regime in an attempt to quash any attempt to disrupt parliamentary elections next spring. Operation Lightning Freedom, which involves the entire 18,000-strong force, is designed to target Taliban remnants during the snowy winter months, when militants traditionally lie low and prepare for a spring offensive, said Maj Mark McCann, of the coalition, in Kabul. The coalition credited a similar operation, Lightning Resolve, which was launched in July last year, with preventing attacks during the Oct 9 presidential election. The chief of staff for US forces in Afghanistan Col David Lamm, said the military would continue to squeeze the Taliban while offering moderates the option of turning themselves in under an amnesty. Kabul has been in talks with moderate Taliban leaders for more than a year but has yet to announce an official mechanism whereby low-level militants could come in from the cold. Zalmay Khalilzad, US ambassador to Kabul, said this month foot soldiers could lay down their arms without fear of capture or retribution from the military. Afghanistan is scheduled to form a new parliament through elections in April, though many local and foreign officials believe the vote will have to be put off because of the complexity of organising it, and because about 25,000 irregular militia have yet to be disarmed.