Long War Journal Map of AFG Violence

[The Bread Guy]

With associated commentary here

 

[Carbon-14]

I find statistics like this rather useless without context.  They're counting "Taliban-related incidents".  Okay.  Are the sizes or effects of the incidents taken into account?  For example, would the large battle during Operation Medusa be counted as an "incident" the same as a lone sniper harrassing a patrol?  Theres no perspective if its an article written around purely numbers.

 

[Snafu-Bar]

To me, it gives a general overview of where and how many incidents are getting reported, the details are left for higher up's to debate.

 

[midget-boyd91]

When I look at this, I see that the 'most affected areas' are all along the Pak-Afghan border. And when I scroll down and read the little table that shows the number of 'incidents' for all the provinces.. it says to me that much of Afghanistan is in (relative) peace.  Look at Bamyan and Panjsher for example: they only have a total of 4 reported incidents in 2007 and 2008 in that time frame.
The only thing that this map/table show me, are that border movements, and thus attacks in border regions are up.  Why? Your guess is as good as mine. Everyone has offensives in warzones. This could be thiers (regardless of whether or not it is prolonged).

I also agree with Carbon 14:  I would like to know what is classed as an 'incident.'    Is a lone round fired counted as an incident if it is reported,  ... and a full fledged contact with a number of fighters left out because it wasn't reported? 

Regardless, I guess it shows a decent, albeit vague, overview.

Midget

 

[Garett]

The increase in Helmand and Kandahar probably have something to do with the Marines operating there. More boots on the ground = more contacts.