Violence in southern Afghanistan has increased in recent months, coming as the U.S. boosted troop strength there from about 20,000 to 23,000. But the top U.S. military commander in the country said the increased Taliban activity is due more to weak government institutions than a major surge in the Taliban’s strength. The commander of U.S.-led coalition forces, Lt. Gen. Karl Eikenberry, told Pentagon reporters that he is not yet ready to make recommendations to reduce U.S. troop levels, which have increased by about 15 percent since the beginning of the year. Full Story