afghanistan

Petraeus On Afghanistan

The last time I heard Gen. David Petraeus, commander of all U.S. forces in the Middle East and South Asia, talk about Afghanistan, he was endorsing the Karzai government’s efforts to explore negotiations with reconcilable elements of the Taliban. Now the Central Command chief is putting together a massive strategy review for Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, [...]

Zbigniew Bzrezinski Holds Forth on Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan

Former Carter administration National Security Adviser Zbigniew Bzrezinski has moved far to the left over the past several decades — and in particular over the last eight years, when he’s become downright combative — and so today it’s interesting to hear him talk about four distinct but somewhat linked issues: Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan. [...]

D.C. Federal Judge Orders Bush Administration to Produce Evidence About Bagram Prisoners

After hearing arguments on whether prisoners held indefinitely without charge at the U.S.-controlled prison at the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan have the right to challenge their detention in American courts, Judge John D. Bates of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia late Wednesday ordered the government to provide certain basic information [...]

Obama’s Gitmo?

A case before the Washington, DC District Court could serve as a roadmap for what the Obama administration must do with thousands of ‘war on terror’ detainees held by the US around the world.

Pakistani Forces Moving From Afghan Border to Indian Border

Via Matthew Yglesias, the post-Mumbai climate of increased Indo-Pakistani tensions is causing the Pakistani military to redeploy forces from the northwest frontier province, where the task is allegedly combatting Pakistani militants and preventing exfiltration to Afghanistan, to the Indian border. Whether or not the Mumbai attacks were planned in the Pakistani tribal areas by Pakistani [...]

Nir Rosen on Private Security Contractors in Iraq

Great Daphne piece, right? For more on private security contractors in Iraq, check out The National in Abu Dhabi, where my friend Nir Rosen recounts his time with the new wave of mercenaries:

But like the jihadists, security contractors are also setting their sights on the new frontier in Afghanistan, where the resurgent Taliban and the [...]

Viagra as Counterinsurgency Asset

The portrait of 2009’s passel of counterinsurgency efforts in Afghanistan is becoming clearer. Bolster troop levels. Recruit tribal militias to battle extremists, in a second-time-as-farce version of Iraq’s Anbar Awakening. Mitigate increasing distance with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in advance of elections. Work with the Big-T Taliban’s rejection of peace talks by pursuing negotiations with [...]

Sons Of Afghanistan Program Starts Off With A Bang Of Disingenuousness

When a policy rollout begins with a series of misrepresentations, you just know that policy is totally superawesome and its architects have total confidence in its wisdom and success. To boot, the Sons of Afghanistan tribal-militia pilot program in Wardak Province got brought up at Geoff Morrell’s Christmas-eve-day Pentagon press conference. Here’s how the Pentagon’s [...]

Karzai’s Xmas Gift to the U.S.: Resistance to Troop Buildup

It wasn’t long ago that Afghan president Hamid Karzai stunned observers by telling U.N. officials that it was nearing time to set a timeline for withdrawing U.S. forces. Now he’s expressing skepticism on the wisdom of increasing that presence by the planned 20,000 to 30,000 new troops.

Mullah Omar: No Talks With Karzai, Period

Is that your opening negotiation position, Mullah Omar?
From the BBC:

Taleban leader Mullah Omar has denied there are any talks under way to end the insurgency in Afghanistan, a statement from the organisation says.
He rejected reports he had written to the king of Saudi Arabia or the Afghan government about ending the conflict, the statement in [...]