Deadlier Taliban Network Surfaces
09 February 2009
'', Toronto Star, 9 February 2009
EXCERPT: "A fanatical wing of the Taliban, with strong links to Al Qaeda, has moved into southern Afghanistan. The Haqqani network is operating in Kandahar alongside more traditional Taliban elements, say U.S., Afghan and Canadian officials. The group of hardcore, highly trained terrorist cells claimed responsibility for last year's attempted assassination...
Read the post »
Kazakhstan Allows US Non-Military Transit To Afghanistan
09 February 2009
'Kazakhstan Allows US Non-Military Transit To Afghanistan', RIA Novosti, 9 February 2009
EXCERPT: "Kazakhstan has permitted the transit of non-military logistical supplies for U.S. troops deployed in Afghanistan, a Kazakh Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday. Yerzhan Ashikbayev said only the land transit of civilian cargoes for the U.S. contingent in Afghanistan had been allowed. He also said that their "technical...
Read the post »
Surge Of Troops "Needed For Five Years": NATO Commander
09 February 2009
'Surge Of Troops "Needed For Five Years": NATO Commander', The Telegraph, 8 February 2009
EXCERPT: "General David McKiernan has asked for more than 30,000 extra US soldiers over the next 18 months to fight the Taliban-led insurgency. He said there would be "more expected" of other Nato partners and said 2009 would be 'a tough year'. A tipping point when the Afghan police and army were strong enough...
Read the post »
Afghan People "Losing Confidence"
09 February 2009
'Afghan People "Losing Confidence"', BBC News, 9 February 2009
EXCERPT: "People in Afghanistan have far less confidence in the direction their country is taking than four years ago, a new BBC/ABC opinion poll suggests. The approval rating for the central government in Kabul is still high - but is steadily falling. Support for the presence of foreign troops is also strong but declining, compared with previous polls. But...
Read the post »