More Pakistanis View Al-Qaeda, Taliban Negatively
13 August 2009
'', The Washington Post, 13 August 2009
EXCERPT: "Pakistani views of al-Qaeda and the Taliban have shifted markedly since last year, with unfavorable opinions doubling to about two-thirds of those surveyed in a new Pew Research Center poll. Condemnation of extremists did not coincide with a more favorable view of the United States, held by only 16 percent of the Pakistanis surveyed....
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Gates Cites Caveats To Possible US Buildup
13 August 2009
'', AFP, 13 August 2009
EXCERPT: "US Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday left open the possibility of sending more forces to Afghanistan but warned of stretched military resources. With about 132,000 troops in Iraq, Gates said there were constraints as to how many extra troops could be sent to Afghanistan at least until after Iraq's elections in January. 'I...
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Taliban Agree Ceasefire Deals For Elections
13 August 2009
'Taliban Agree Ceasefire Deals For Elections', The Guardian, 13 August 2009
EXCERPT: "A series of secret ceasefire deals have been agreed with Taliban commanders to ensure that voting can go ahead in Afghanistan's volatile south during next week's presidential elections. Under the deals, brokered by Ahmed Wali Karzai ? the controversial brother and campaign manager of the president, Hamid Karzai ? individual Taliban...
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Observers See Pattern Of Fraud Before Elections
13 August 2009
'', The Associated Press, 13 August 2009
EXCERPT: "Voting observers expect fraud during next week's Afghan presidential election and warn that cheating will most likely take place at polling stations in remote or dangerous areas where independent monitors won't be able to be present. A suspiciously high number of women ? far more than men ? have been registered to vote...
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