Realizing that 'Taking Back Afghanistan" from the Taliban means redefining Karzai's goals, it would include strong economic development, ridding the region of the Poppy Culture and empowering the security of the villages while disarming the warlords.
It would also include a 'regional' peace between Pakistan and India to faciliate quality of life for the people and disbanding 'terrorist' interests that disrupt peace in Kashmir. What is good for a Kashmirian Peace is also good for Afghanistan, India and Pakistan.
It is a solid conclusion that terrorist networks exist in imporverishment. The Afghan people along with those in Kashmir and the border villages of Pakistan have sustained poverty for longer than any civilized world should allow. Honoring their culture while allowing for solid economic goals, the 'region' could move away from violence and into a benevolence for their children.A high priority of the region, including Iran, has to be developing a 'strategy' to bring people into housing that can survive earthquakes as well.
US in contact with Pakistan over Afghan deployment: Pentagon (click here)
WASHINGTON: No decision has been made so far on the deployment of additional US troops in Afghanistan and the Pentagon has been in close contact with Islamabad over the proposal, the Pentagon said on Thursday. It said if implemented, the proposal would also help Pakistan curb cross-border militancy. Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said Defence Secretary Robert Gates was expected to give a recommendation on the proposal to US President Barack Obama ‘in the coming days’. He said the additional troops in Afghanistan would be “a delicate plus-up because you have got to do it commensurate to the infrastructure that exists” in Afghanistan. Asked if India was going to play a greater role in Afghanistan, he said, “I know there’s a great deal of investment by India in Afghanistan ... but I couldn’t tell you that I have any knowledge of a game plan for India to play a more pronounced role in Afghanistan.” Morrell said attacks on some of the lines of communication from Pakistan into Afghanistan had ‘not had an operational impact’ on supplies to Afghanistan. app
Nato figures show surge in Afghanistan violence (click here)
Violence soared by nearly a third last year, the highest rise since coalition operations began
Jason Burke
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 31 January 2009 18.52 GMT
Violence in Afghanistan soared by nearly a third last year, the highest rise since coalition operations in the troubled country began more than seven years ago.
According to new Nato statistics obtained by the Observer, violence rose by 31%, taking levels of fighting to a new peak of intensity. In 2007 there were around 5,000 "violent incidents" in the 20 worst-affected districts of the country. Last year the total rose to around 7,000.
Nato officials said the sharp rise was "in large part" due to more international troops pushing into areas that were previously without any military presence – such as the major deployment of US marines to the southern province of Helmand where UK forces are based – provoking more combat....
Obama seems unlikely to widen war in Afghanistan (click here)
By ANNE GEARAN – 5 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama, who pledged during his campaign to shift U.S. troops and resources from Iraq to Afghanistan, has done little since taking office to suggest he will significantly widen the grinding war against a resurgent Taliban....
Army suicides (January 30, 2009)
2006 Courant Investigation (click here)
This award-winning series first published in May 2006 and its follow up coverage examine the U.S. military's gaps in mental health care for its soldiers.
Army Suicides In 2008 Hit Highest Level Ever Recorded (click here)
By MATTHEW KAUFFMAN The Hartford Courant
January 30, 2009
At least 128 active-duty soldiers killed themselves last year — the highest number ever recorded — leading Pentagon officials to declare an Armywide "stand down" to address the problem soldier by soldier....
An Afghan police officer checks a gun as weapons are displayed after being handed over from local commanders of illegal militants through the Disbandment of Illegal Armed Group (DIAG) in Jalalabad, the provincial capital of Ningarhar province, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009. DIAG is a U.N.-backed program for disarming the illegal militants in Afghanistan.
Rahmat Gul / AP Photo
US-funded program to arm Afghan groups begins (click here)
By RAHIM FAIEZ
Associated Press Writer
KABUL, Afghanistan -- A U.S.-funded program to train and arm community members in Afghanistan's most dangerous regions as a way to defend against the Taliban has begun, the country's interior minister said Saturday.
The U.S. will provide funds to arm the community force with the same weapons used by Afghan police - Kalashnikov rifles, said Interior Ministry Mohammad Hanif Atmar.
The program has already begun, but Atmar refused to say where, citing security concerns. Other officials have said the program will begin in Wardak, an increasingly dangerous province on the southwest side of Kabul.
"After training they will have the responsibility of protecting the people, providing security for the highways, schools, clinics and other government institutions," Atmar told a news conference....
