29 July 2010
Taliban Congratulates Netherlands for Pulling Soldiers Out, The Daily Telegraph, 29 July 2010
EXCERPT: "Almost 2,000 Dutch troops have been deployed in the Uruzgan region, where the Taliban is active and opium production is high. The final contingent of 250 Dutch soldiers will be withdrawn on Sunday, after strong domestic opposition to participation in the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force. Qari Yusuf Ahmadii, a Taliban spokesman,...
Read the post »
Al Qaeda Maintains an Extensive Network in Afghanistan
29 July 2010
Analysis: Al Qaeda Maintains an Extensive Network in Afghanistan, The Long War Journal, 29 July 2010
EXCERPT: "On May 21 there was a suicide attack in Paktia province in Afghanistan that was initially claimed by the Taliban, but was later traced back to al Qaeda. The facts surrounding that strike and others, as well as information gleaned from US military press releases, paint a picture of al Qaeda that contradicts recent statements by top...
Read the post »
29 July 2010
Drug Use, Poor Discipline Afflict Afghanistan's Army, The Wall Street Journal, 29 July 2010
EXCERPT: "Use of marijuana, opium and heroin among Afghan troops, even while on patrol, is just one of the challenges coalition forces face in working with the Afghan National Army as they begin a major push against the Taliban in and around the southern city of Kandahar. U.S. soldiers complain that poor discipline, drug use, a trigger-happy...
Read the post »
For General Petraeus, Battling Corruption in Afghanistan is a Priority
29 July 2010
, The Washington Post, 29 July 2010
EXCERPT: "Every day, Gen. David H. Petraeus meets with senior NATO officials at headquarters for a 7:30 a.m. update, and at nearly every session, he returns to an issue that has bedeviled the U.S. campaign for years: Afghan corruption. In his first month on the job, Petraeus has intensified efforts to uncover the scope and mechanics of...
Read the post »