US Pilot Program To Recruit New Local Afghan Militias
17 December 2008
'', US News and World Report, 16 December 2008
EXCERPT: "The U.S. military will soon launch a pilot program to raise local militias, paid by the Pentagon, in an effort to improve security throughout the country. The plan is modeled in part on a similar program in Iraq to build up Sunni neighborhood militias. But officials warn that the forces must be carefully vetted to avoid...
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UN Chief In Afghanistan: Protect Civilians
17 December 2008
'', The Associated Press, 17 December 2008
EXCERPT: "The United Nations' chief in Afghanistan called Wednesday for international military forces to revise their agreement with the Afghan government to include practices that will better safeguard civilians. The United Nations has repeatedly criticized international forces for not doing enough to protect Afghan civilians during airstrikes,...
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US Accuses Britain Over Military Failings In Afghanistan
17 December 2008
'US Accuses Britain Over Military Failings In Afghanistan', Times Online, 17 December 2008
EXCERPT: "The performance of Britain's overstretched military in Afghanistan is coming under sustained criticism from the Pentagon and US analysts even as Gordon Brown ponders whether to send in further reinforcements. Robert Gates, the US Defence Secretary who has been asked to remain in his job under Barack Obama, is understood to have...
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Afghanistan Piles Pressure On A War "Fatigued" World
17 December 2008
'', AFP, 17 December 2008
EXCERPT: "The US military machine is building up its presence in Afghanistan after paying what its leaders admit is a 'frightful' cost in Iraq, while no one in the West can wants to predict where the next surprise war will erupt in 2009. Afghanistan has taken over from Iraq as the war causing most worry. There are now about 70,000...
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