Al Qaeda, Afghanistan and the Good War
28 February 2008
Dr. George Friedman, 'Al Qaeda, Afghanistan and the Good War', Foreign Policy Association, 28 February 2008
EXCERPT: "There has been tremendous controversy over the U.S. invasion of Iraq, which consistently has been contrasted with Afghanistan. Many of those who opposed the Iraq war have supported the war in Afghanistan; indeed, they have argued that among the problems with Iraq is that it diverts resources from Afghanistan. Afghanistan...
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Peacebuilding in Afghanistan: The Case for a National Strategy
28 February 2008
'Peacebuilding in Afghanistan: The Case for a National Strategy', OXFAM International, 28 February 2008
EXCERPT: "Existing measures to promote peace in Afghanistan are not succeeding. This is not only due to the revival of the Taliban, but also because little has been done to try to ensure that families, communities, and tribes ? the fundamental units of Afghan society ? get on better with each other. War has fractured the social fabric...
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NATO Credibility In Afghanistan At Stake If Fails To Curb Militancy
28 February 2008
'', ChinaView, 28 February 2008
EXCERPT: "NATO's hesitation to contribute more troops to Afghanistan would benefit Taliban militants as their elusive leader Mullah Mohammad Omar defined it a defeat of the alliance and vowed to continue war as long as the foreign troops remain in the post-Taliban country. Omar in his latest but first statement in 2008 issued to media on...
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Clashes Over Afghanistan Poppy Fields
28 February 2008
'Clashes Over Afghanistan Poppy Fields', The Guardian, 28 February 2008
EXCERPT: "A militant ambush on forces destroying Afghanistan's opium poppy fields sparked clashes that killed 25 Taliban fighters and a policeman, authorities said today [28 February 2008]. The skirmish came less than 24 hours after a senior US intelligence officer said the Afghan government was in control of only 30% of the country. Insurgents surprised the force...
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Hard Decisions As Pakistan's Largest Refugee Village Faces Closure
28 February 2008
'Hard Decisions As Pakistan's Largest Refugee Village Faces Closure', United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 28 February 2008
EXCERPT: "The long-running saga of Jalozai, Pakistan's largest Afghan refugee village, could soon come to an end. Affected Afghans will have to make some hard decisions as the April 15 deadline for closure approaches. The decision to close Jalozai ? located in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) ? was...
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Aussies Turn Big Guns On Taliban
28 February 2008
'Aussies Turn Big Guns On Taliban', News.com.au, 28 February 2008
EXCERPT: "Australian troops have been forced to use some of their heaviest firepower to fight Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan during a series of recent skirmishes, the Department of Defence says. The soldiers have been using 81mm mortars, which can hit targets kilometres away but which have not been widely used by Australia since the Vietnam war. No Australian soldiers...
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MacKay Optimistic About Extra NATO Troops For Kandahar
28 February 2008
'MacKay Optimistic About Extra NATO Troops For Kandahar', The Globe and Mail, 28 February 2008
EXCERPT: "Defence Minister Peter MacKay says there is "reason for optimism" that Canada will get the extra 1,000 NATO troops and equipment it's demanded as a condition of staying in Afghanistan. He dismissed news reports from France that suggest French President Nicolas Sarkozy is leaning against sending troops to join Canadians in...
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US: Tribal Leaders Still In Charge Of Afghanistan
28 February 2008
'US: Tribal Leaders Still In Charge Of Afghanistan', The Times Online, 28 February 2008
EXCERPT: "President Karzai of Afghanistan controls less than a third of his country despite six years of international aid and billions of pounds of international aid, according to the top intelligence official. Michael McConnell, Director of National Intelligence, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the resurgent Taleban controlled up to...
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