(Image Source: The New York Times)

BY EMOKE BEBIAK

You're watching multisource world video news analysis from Newsy.
 

Taliban insurgents attacked the U.S. Embassy and NATO headquarters in Kabul on Tuesday. Reports say three Afghan police officers and one civilian were killed, while several others were injured. No NATO or US officials were wounded.

A reporter for Sky News has the details.

“The main attack seems to have been close to the embassy district, and at least five suicide attackers have stormed a half-constructed high-rise building. Now, they got to the top floors of that and they used that high vantage point to fire rockets...”

CNN reports, the attack was well-planned and probably meant as a demonstration of power.

“And this is really part of a larger strategy from the Taliban. This is hardly a soft target, this is one of the most secure areas as you can imagine here...”

“This is to show that they can strike, they can strike at the heart of some of the most important institutions...”

The attack surprised many, as officials had been predicting a weakening Taliban. Just two days before, U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker was optimistic in an editorial for The Washington Post, saying...

“The Afghans and our own soldiers are picking up a lot of signals that the Taliban foot soldiers are tired of it all, and ready to put their guns down if they can be assured that they can be fully reintegrated.”

Crocker also added,

“The biggest problem in Kabul is traffic.”

He was wrong and the assault adds to questions about the future of Afghanistan. U.S. and NATO troops are set to leave the country by 2014. But, according to the LA Times, the attack won’t disrupt those plans...

“In Brussels, NATO vowed that the attack would not deter Western forces from an orderly handover of security responsibilities to Afghan forces as the West winds down its combat mission in Afghanistan -- a process known as ‘transition.’”

A blogger for the Guardian says the attack might not hinder the transition--but could differ the terms...

“Today's attack does not necessarily mean that the Taliban is opposed to talking peace. On the contrary, it could be a show of strength with future negotiations in mind.”

The AP reports, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the assault a "cowardly attack,” promising to tighten security.



Transcript by Newsy.