Taliban borrows from Iraqi militants

KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- A new essay calls the recent success of the Taliban in Afghanistan the result of a borrowed "chameleon" strategy from the war in Iraq.

The essay by author Muhami al-Dawla says the Taliban are employing "chameleon cells," which are small groups of self-governing and highly organized terrorists, Jihadica reported.

According to the Internet-based publication founded by Islamism expert William McCants, al-Dawla writes the chameleon cells' success stems from their capability of blending into local populations and also penetrating government security.

Al-Dawla says the chameleon tactic being employed by the Taliban borrows heavily from the militant Islamic State of Iraq, which developed the strategy in the war in Iraq.

"The chameleon groups in Iraq are able to carry out attacks on Awakening leaders because of their infiltration of the Awakening security forces," Jihadica reported.