A-10s bolster forces in Afghanistan

BAGRAM, Afghanistan -- The U.S. military bolstered its firepower in eastern Afghanistan even as a dispute among its Afghan allies threatened Monday to complicate the campaign against the Taliban and al-Qaida.

The military has brought a small number of A-10 Thunderbolt II attack jets to this base to bolster America's capability to provide close air support for combat operations against al-Qaida and the Taliban, a U.S. military spokesman said.

The A-10s, armed with a 30 millimeter Gatling guns as well as AGM-65 Maverick and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, have already been used in operations in Afghanistan, including the just-concluded Operation Anaconda.

A dispute among America's Afghan allies continued to build, meanwhile, about 40 miles east of the Operation Anaconda battle area. Afghan officials said U.S. Special Forces had not handed over two suspects who allegedly sought refuge at their base after an ambush of the car of the regional security chief in which one bodyguard and two others were killed. The incident threatens to drive a wedge between Afghan groups allied with the United States in the fight against Taliban and al-Qaida and promote further instability in the Khost area -- a major land route from eastern Afghanistan into Pakistan.

The campaign against Taliban and al-Qaida quickened, however, as the A-10s took up positions at Bagram, making them available more quickly in case al-Qaida and Taliban targets are spotted. The aircraft had been positioned outside of Afghanistan.

"The A-10s that are coming in here give us an additional air platform," said Maj. Gen. Frank Hagenbeck. "They bring close air support and a little bit more coordinates than our helicopters can cover on any given mission."