Clinton Says US Losing Media War in Afghanistan, Pakistan (click title to entry - thank you)
By VOA News 20 May 2009
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the U.S. is losing the media war in Afghanistan and Pakistan - something she said must be reversed.
She told the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Wednesday that militants broadcasting from radio equipment on the backs of pickup trucks are threatening and intimidating people.
She says while they are spreading what she called the "worst kind of disinformation" they have been more effective than the U.S. when it comes to strategic communications.
Secretary Clinton says as a result, the Obama administration is revamping its communications strategy - looking at new ways to directly reach people in areas where militants are active - including on their cell phones.
Clinton says the U.S. must not lose the "information war" in the region, and much do a better job at communicating its values and ideals to Afghans and Pakistanis.
She is seeking $48.6 billion in State Department funding for 2010, a seven percent increase over 2009 funding levels. Clinton also says the State Department will work side-by-side with the Defense Department to promote U.S. interests and security in the region.
Reid named AP news director in Kabul (click here)
6 hours ago
NEW YORK (AP) — Robert H. Reid, The Associated Press bureau chief in Baghdad, has been appointed to a new position heading AP's coverage in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Senior Managing Editor John Daniszewski announced the appointment Thursday.
As news director for Afghanistan and Pakistan and bureau chief in Kabul, Reid will direct coverage of the widening conflict in the two countries where U.S.-supported governments are threatened by resurgent Taliban movements.
"Bob Reid has played a pivotal role in AP's coverage of the war in Afghanistan from the start in 2001 and will return to that story now," said Daniszewski, noting that Reid would be relocating to Afghanistan in a few weeks.
"His experience in Afghanistan dates to the Soviet invasion. He is an outstanding journalist, and as bureau chief and news director he will lead one of the AP's most important multimedia news operations to new heights."
The move marks a buildup of AP's operation in Afghanistan, led since 2006 by chief correspondent Jason Straziuso. In coming weeks, the cooperative will shift more journalists to the area in response to rising news demand. Reid will plan and coordinate coverage, working with Straziuso and Islamabad Chief of Bureau Chris Brummitt....
US Says 9 Militants Killed in Afghanistan (click here)
By VOA News 21 May 2009
The U.S. military said nine suspected militants have been killed in separate operations in southern and central Afghanistan.
It said U.S.-led coalition forces killed two militants and captured six others in a clash Thursday in the southern province of Helmand.
Separately, the military said seven militants were killed during an airstrike that followed a gunbattle in the central province of Ghazni Wednesday. It also said a Taliban commander was detained.
U.S. President Barack Obama has ordered 21,000 additional troops to reinforce the 38,000 U.S. troops already in Afghanistan, where the Taliban-led insurgency is spreading.
Did this, but, no $80 million for the closing of Gitmo. Right. The 'Gitmo thing' is a political volley and nothing else. It has no validity except to create a Rove wedge issue.
Associated Press
US Senate approves $100 billion IMF line of credit (click here)
Associated Press, 05.21.09, 04:59 PM EDT
The Senate approved on Thursday a $100 billion U.S. line of credit to the International Monetary Fund, rejecting an attempt by a conservative senator to remove the commitment from legislation to finance military and diplomatic operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
By a 64-30 vote, the Senate turned back an amendment by Republican Jim DeMint that would have denied the line of credit the IMF is to use to shore up the ability of countries around the globe to cope with financial crises, along with $8 billion for existing IMF commitments.
