More "success" in Afghanistan

A suicide attacker on Saturday killed a senior Afghan official in the south of the country, a setback for U.S.-led efforts to improve governance and a demonstration of the insurgents' continuing ability to strike.

Abdul Latif Ashna, the deputy governor of the key province of Kandahar, was killed when his car was struck by a man on a motorbike packed with explosives.

Kandahar province is the subject of a major U.S.-led military push, starting last summer, which has seen thousands of international and Afghan forces pour into Kandahar city and the surrounding districts, with major success claimed in improving security there.

Kandahar is the spiritual home of the Taliban movement.

While the Taliban's visible presence and ability to mount military-style attacks has been severely curbed around Kandahar, the insurgents retain the ability to carry out targeted assassinations, striking terror into government officials and others working with international security forces.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/30/2041522/suicide-blast-kills-key-afghan.html

According to the administration, our efforts in Kandahar have resulted in a "major success . . . in improving security" - - except for the suicide bombers, random explosions, targeted assassinations, and terror directed at government officials and international security forces.