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30 Oct 2009 10:13

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U.S., World: The risks of U.S. military presence in Afghanistan are pretty high

Reuters uses a pretty stark example of how a nothing mission quickly turned deadly. Obama, pay heed as you decide to add more troops. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

29 Oct 2009 09:54

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World: Now offering bribes to Taliban members (if they quit)? The U.S.

  • This could either be inspired or a bag of fail. The U.S. has a unique way of trying to pare down the Taliban’s power in Afghanistan: They’re talking about offering money to members if they quit. It’s one with pitfalls – it’ll probably only work temporarily to buy time and loyalty. But it replicates a program that was used in Iraq to strong effect. We’re not sure how we feel about essentially bribing people to switch sides. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Oct 2009 20:05

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World: The UN’s Secretary General condemns “shameless” Taliban killings

  • We stand by the people of Afghanistan today, and we will do so tomorrow.
  • United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon • Reassuring the people of Afghanistan that the UN will be there even after an attack on UN personnel by the Taliban today. The attack, which killed five and injured nine, was the deadliest attack on UN workers since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Oct 2009 10:06

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World: Afghan attack: UN workers don’t feel safe right now

  • I’m in another guesthouse maybe 200 metres as the crow flies from the Bekhtar, and believe me right now I feel vulnerable. I would like the UN to consider our security very seriously indeed as the current operational standards are patently ineffective.
  • An anonymous United Nations worker • Describing their feelings on the attack on a UN guest house in Kabul, Afghanistan. As the UN is needed in the war-torn country right now, the organization should probably heed this concern. It’s one thing when civilians are getting attacked. It’s another thing entirely when impartial humanitarian workers are. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Oct 2009 10:03

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World: An attack on UN workers in Afghanistan leaves the world in shock

  • six United Nations workers were killed in the attack in Kabul today source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

26 Oct 2009 22:18

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U.S., World: Obama: Not looking to put troops in harm’s way unless necessary

  • I won’t risk your lives unless it is absolutely necessary. And if it necessary, we will back you up to the hilt.
  • President Barack Obama • Speaking to a Jacksonville, Fla. military audience about whether or not he plans to send more troops to Afghanistan. The president appears not to want to force the issue unless it needs to be forced. “I will never rush the solemn decision of sending you into harm’s way,” he continued. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

25 Oct 2009 09:43

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World: Hamid Karzai not interested in power-sharing Afghan leadership

  • In our view there is no alternative to a second round. This is the only constitutional way to establish a new government.
  • Hamid Karzai’s campaign spokesman, Wahid Omar • Speaking at a press conference about the possibility of a power-sharing government. While Karzai agreed to a runoff, his challenger, Abdullah Abdullah, is just a wee bit concerned about the fact that the Independent Election Commission may not be as “independent” as its name suggests, and in fact may have many members loyal to Karzai. • source
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20 Oct 2009 09:23

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World: Hamid Karzai’s learning to live with the idea of a runoff

The Afghan president has the look of a man hoping that the “anyone but Karzai” grassroots campaign didn’t get off the ground. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

19 Oct 2009 22:26

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World: The White House is cautiously optimistic on an Afghan runoff

  • There are any number of cliches you could choose from, but we’ll wait until the chickens are hatched.
  • A senior administration official • Discussing the White House’s happiness that there’s been a breakthrough in getting Afghan president Hamid Karzai to agree to a runoff, though there’s been no definitive agreement yet. Karzai had been fighting the idea of a runoff despite the fact that the UN found that many of the votes in his favor had been falsified. You still have a minor shot, Abdullah Abdullah! • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

19 Oct 2009 08:57

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World: Hamid Karzai has too much power over the Afghan election

  • He can somehow create an electoral deadlock. Despite the fact that the UN looked into the results of the election, and they’re designed to be an impartial third party, a UN-led probe into vote-rigging is on hold in Afghanistan because Karzai’s upset. Why? Because the UN’s throwing out questionable votes, which will cause a runoff election. And Karzai, for obvious reasons, doesn’t want a runoff. Karzai better deal with it, because he could be affecting whether the U.S. puts more troops in his country by fighting the electoral fraud charges. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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