For the first time since the 2001 Afghan war began, the Taliban have overrun a major city, easily brushing aside the Afghan security forces and sending them running.  Hundreds of Taliban fighters launched a multi-pronged attack on Kunduz that eventually led to the capture of the central city. On Tuesday, the U.S. hit back with a series of air strikes, and the Afghan army prepared to move in and try to take the city of 300,000 back. The city fell Monday, after hundreds of Taliban gunmen launched a coordinated, multi-pronged attack at several points around the city. After a day of fierce fighting, they managed to overrun government buildings and hoisted their flag in the city square. The fast-moving assault took the military and intelligence authorities by surprise. U.S. Army Col. Brian Tribus, the spokesman for the U.S. and NATO missions in Afghanistan, said the early Tuesday morning airstrike was conducted "in order to eliminate a threat to the force" —...(Read Full Post)