23 December 2010

Taliban's Cash Flow Grows From Heroin Trade, Crime, NPR, 20 December 2010

EXCERPT: "The latest review of the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan notes that coalition troops are making gains against the Taliban on the battlefield. But that hasn't stemmed the flow of money into Taliban coffers. U.S. diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks reveal growing U.S. frustration with Arab allies and their failure to deal with charities and private...

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23 December 2010

Exclusive: ISAF Captures Qods Force Operative in Kandahar [blog], The Long War Journal, 23 December 2010

EXCERPT: "Coalition and Afghan special operations teams have captured a Taliban commander who doubles as an Iranian Qods Force operative and helped ship weapons from Iran into Afghanistan. The Taliban/Qods Force operative, who was not named, was detained during a Dec. 18 raid in the Zhari district in Kandahar province, the International...

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23 December 2010

Afghanistan Battles Insecurity, Joblessness, VOA News, 23 December 2010

EXCERPT: "Growing insecurity and unemployment in Afghanistan is forcing Afghans into the capital, across borders and into the insurgency looking for work. Every day hundreds of men gather at Kote Sangi; one of the busiest intersections in Kabul. They fill the intersection waiting for work; they pass time talking and joking over cups of tea. The workers say from morning...

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23 December 2010

Afghan Taliban Leadership Splintered by Intense US Military Campaign, The Guardian, 22 December 2010

EXCERPT: "The US military onslaught against the Taliban in Kandahar has dealt a major blow against insurgent commanders who have been forced to flee areas they used to control and reduced two of the most senior insurgent field commanders to squabbling over footsoldiers, residents in the critically important southern province say. Tribal...

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23 December 2010

US Medicines for Afghan Soldiers Disappear, The Associated Press, 22 December 2010

EXCERPT: "U.S.-donated medicines and pharmaceutical supplies meant to keep the new Afghan army and police healthy have been disappearing before reaching Afghan military hospitals and clinics, and the government said it is removing the army's top medical officer from his post as part of an investigation into alleged corruption.  Afghan Defense...

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23 December 2010

UN Envoy Fears "Spectacular Attacks" in Afghanistan, AFP, 23 December 2010

EXCERPT: "The UN envoy to Afghanistan on Wednesday warned that the war was likely to get worse in the short-term and that Taliban insurgents may attempt 'spectacular attacks.' 'We are detecting from the anti-government elements an attempt to show, on their side, spectacular attacks,' Staffan de Mistura said at the United Nations. 'I'm...

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