IEDs are taliban new favorite weapon of choice

In 2008, the taliban had more than doubled IED attacks on NATO forces. This is because the taliban know they will get their asses handed to them in a straight up fight with NATO forces. I guess the taliban aren't so eager to find out if there are any virgins in paradise. Canada.com

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Using bigger and better homemade bombs to kill and to maim coalition soldiers is now the signature combat strategy for Taliban militants operating in Kandahar province, according to a Canadian military bomb expert.

Insurgents are "no longer standing and fighting," Capt. Roy Ulrich, deputy commander of the counter-IED unit in Kandahar, said at a technical briefing held late Thursday.

"This (planting improvised explosive devices, or IEDs) is their chosen strategy," he said.

According to military figures, NATO soldiers based in the province - including Canada's 2,700 troops - have been the target of more than double the number of IED attacks this winter over last.

About 180 attacks were recorded between September and December 2008, compared to 75 over the same period in 2007.