Analysts: al-Qaeda Has Funds Despite Economic Woes
16 October 2008
'', The Associated Press, 16 October 2008
EXCERPT: "Al-Qaida, which gets its money from the drug trade in Afghanistan and sympathizers in the oil-rich Gulf states, is likely to escape the effects of the global financial crisis. One reason is that al-Qaida and other Islamic terrorists have been forced to avoid using banks, relying instead on less-efficient ways to move their cash...
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Taliban Gets Foreign Help But Won't Win: General
16 October 2008
'Taliban Gets Foreign Help But Won't Win: General', AlertNet, 16 October 2008
EXCERPT: "Foreign militants have imported sophisticated tactics to invigorate the Taliban insurgency but Western pessimism over the conflict in Afghanistan is unwarranted, the U.S. general leading the fight said on Thursday. U.S. General David McKiernan told Reuters that non-native militants were posing an increasing threat in Afghanistan by bringing...
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German Parliament Approves Extra Troops for Afghanistan
16 October 2008
'German Parliament Approves Extra Troops for Afghanistan', Deutsche Welle, 16 October 2008
EXCERPT: "Germany's lower house of parliament voted on Thursday to increase the number of troops Berlin can send to Afghanistan by 1,000 soldiers and extended the mission's mandate by 14 months. A majority of 442 lawmakers voted to support a proposal by Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling coalition to extend Berlin's participation...
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Defections Hit Afghan Forces
16 October 2008
'Defections Hit Afghan Forces', Al Jazeera, 16 October 2008
EXCERPT: "After fighting the Taliban for the past seven years, many working for the Afghan security forces are now switching sides. Sulieman Ameri and his 16 men were until a month ago serving the Afghan government as police patrolling the border with Iran. Now they answer to the Taliban and their goal is to drive all foreign troops out of Afghanistan. Ameri, now a Taliban...
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