this just in

[Michael Eisenstadt]

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/09/international/asia/09STRA.html

according to the above, perhaps 40,000 of 
Taliban forces are massed in the northeast 
facing the Northern Alliance Afghans. 
Alongside of them are 500-1000 Arab 
mujahadeen of bin Laden's. 

the Taliban MUST beat back the Northern Alliance as 
they have had to do for the last few years. American
plan seems pretty clever. The plan: kill as
many as possible of the Taliban fighters
and Arab mujahadeen on this front so the
Northern Alliance can break through.

also according to the article, the 40000
Taliban effectives might melt away real fast
as is the custom among these fighters when
the tide of battle turns. Let us hope that
the Arabs can be cornered and will fight
to the death. a large number of dead
Arabs in Afghanistan, let us hope, will 
seriously impress the average Arab in the
street watching all this on TV.