On Patrol

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta suggested Wednesday that coalition forces would shift combat responsibility to Afghan forces by mid-2013, nearly 1½ years earlier than expected.

The chatter—which developed during this week’s NATO meeting in Brussels—came one day after a leaked report suggested Taliban fighters feel they’re in good position to re-take the country once coalition forces leave. The Associated Press reported Thursday that coalition officials are concerned over the depth of Taliban infiltration into Afghanistan’s security forces, which have expanded in preparation for the eventual handover of responsibility.

The coalition still plans on staying in Afghanistan through the end of 2014. But instead of being first to every fight, it will become an advise-and-assist partner to the Afghan military, much like it did with Iraq’s armed forces.

More on Afghanistan:

• Time’s Battleland blog says Panetta’s announcement makes sense, considering the path the U.S. took in exiting Iraq.
  
  
• An editorial in The Guardian criticizes coalition reassurances of progress in the fight against the Taliban, pointing to this week’s leaked report suggesting members of the group feel they could retake Afghanistan when the coalition leaves.

• Afghan troops attacked coalition troops 45 times since May 2007, according to testimony at a Wednesday hearing before the House Armed Services Committee.