US Govt Watchdog: Deep Problems Plague Afghan Vote
13 September 2010
, The Associated Press, 12 September 2010
EXCERPT: "Afghanistan's electoral process is plagued by deep-rooted problems that will take years to fix, according to a report issued by a U.S. government watchdog agency as the country prepares for its first vote since last year's flawed presidential election. The report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction...
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Efforts to Recruit Pashtuns in Afghan South Falter
13 September 2010
Efforts to Recruit Pashtuns in Afghan South Falter, The Wall Street Journal, 12 September 2010
EXCERPT: "Recent initiatives to recruit more southern Pashtuns into the Afghan security forces have faltered, leaving Afghanistan with a critical shortage of soldiers familiar with the Taliban's main strongholds in the country's south. Afghan military officials had hoped that stepped-up recruiting, meetings with senior southern...
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Security in Afghanistan Is Deteriorating, Aid Groups Say
13 September 2010
, The New York Times, 11 September 2010
EXCERPT: "Even as more American troops flow into the country, Afghanistan is more dangerous than it has ever been during this war, with security deteriorating in recent months, according to international organizations and humanitarian groups. Large parts of the country that were once completely safe, like most of the northern provinces, now...
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Afghan Commander Issues Rules on Contractors
13 September 2010
, The New York Times, 12 September 2010
EXCERPT: "The NATO military command in Afghanistan has quietly issued new guidelines on contracting aimed at pushing commanders to take a tougher approach to how they spend billions of dollars. It is part of an effort to reduce corruption and decrease the funds that indirectly flow to the insurgency. The American-led military operation here now spends about...
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