Mint Oil, Melons: Afghan Farm Fairs Spur Business
29 October 2008
'', The Associated Press, 29 October 2008
EXCERPT: "An agriculture fair in Kabul last year attracted 160,000 people. But this year the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. government aid arm that sponsors the fairs, pulled back the size of the event. Still, 50,000 people showed up to look at the 200 booths. Some 60 overseas buyers attended. The U.S. and Afghan...
Read the post »
Afghanistan Troop Buildup Could More Than Double
29 October 2008
'', The Associated Press, 29 October 2008
EXCERPT: "Military planners now think they may need to send more than double the number of extra troops initially believed needed to help fight the war in Afghanistan. The buildup in the increasingly violent campaign could amount to more than 20,000 troops rather than the originally planned 10,000, two senior defense officials...
Read the post »
US Won't Reconcile With Taliban Chief
29 October 2008
'US Won't Reconcile With Taliban Chief', Canada.com / Reuters, 29 October 2008
EXCERPT: "The United States supports Afghan government efforts to reconcile with insurgents but not with Mullah Mohammed Omar, the Taliban leader who harbored Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, a Pentagon spokesman said Wednesday. 'We as a government do not believe that Mullah Omar is somebody you reconcile with,' said Geoff Morrell,...
Read the post »
Karzai Admits Failure In Securing Afghanistan
29 October 2008
'', AFP, 29 October 2008
EXCERPT: "President Hamid Karzai said Wednesday violence had surged in Afghanistan, admitting his government's internationally backed efforts to secure the country had failed. Security had even deteriorated since the Taliban regime was ousted in 2001, the US-backed leader said in an address to hundreds of women gathered from all over Afghanistan for a meeting...
Read the post »