Stories about Afghanistan from September, 2009
Afghanistan: Terror suspect arrested
Afghan PenLog rounds up most of the reporting on the arrest of Najibullah Zazi, indicted in New York on terrorism charges. Zazi supposedly trained in explosives in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Afghanistan: Is Withdrawal a Surrender?
Joshua Foust reflects on the fact that the withdrawal of the U.S. military from vast tracts of indefensible bases in Afghanistan is being put into motion.
Afghanistan: Threat to Germany
Nick Fielding writes about several videos in German language, threatening an al-Qaeda attack on the country unless it withdraws its 4,000 soldiers from Afghanistan.
Afghanistan: Captain Semrau Goes to Trial
Joshua Foust reports that Captain Robert Semrau, a Canadian military man facing murder charges for the alleged shooting death of an injured, unarmed insurgent outside Lashkar Gah, is now facing a general court martial.
Afghanistan: Mullah Omar's New Statement
Nick Fielding analyzes the political statement of Mullah Mohammad Omar, leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, for the Afghans, particularly those who are loyal towards the Karzai regime.
Afghanistan: Riots in Ghazni, the Province Falls
Joshua Foust reports that the strategic province of Ghazni in Afghanistan is falling to the Taliban with increasing presence of its “Radio Shariat” in the area and violent anti-government riots in the city.
Afghanistan: New Blog in Kunar
Joshua Foust writes that the Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan has a blog with news and some great pictures.
Afghanistan: Growing presence of Taliban
Nick Fielding reports that Taliban now has a permanent presence in 80 per cent of Afghanistan, up from 72 per cent in November 2008 and 54 per cent in 2007.
Afghanistan: Rethinking “Af-Pak”
Nick Fielding analyzes the shifts in understanding of the Afghanistan politics by the West, as more politicians are rejecting the idea of linking policy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Afghanistan: Riots in Ghazni
Free Range International reports that there is a fresh round of rioting in Ghazni, Afghanistan. There are rumors the rioters were protesting the abduction and murder of Shams al-Din, a popular anti-American cleric.
Egypt: Prison Awaits Those who don't Fast in Ramadan
For the first time in Egypt, the Ministry of Interior arrests Muslims who eat and drink in public during the fasting month of Ramadan. Marwa Rakha has the story.
Afghanistan: Conversation with soldier
Captain's Cat, an aid worker in Gardez City, posts a conversation with a young American soldier, where he expresses exasperation at the way Afghan culture works, and admits he only joined the Army to pay for college.
Afghanistan: Animal House in Kabul
Tim Lynch, an American security contractor in Afghanistan, used to work with the now-fired security guards at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. He says: “The problem with the current guard force is that they are on a sh** contract. Ignore the money value published in the papers – that number...
Afghanistan: Mystery of the missing opium crop
Nick Fielding tries to understand why and how, according to the Afghan Opium Survey from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime report, the bottom is starting to fall out of the Afghan opium market with opium cultivation down 22%, production down by 10% and prices at a ten-year low.
Afghanistan: Contractors and warfare
Nick Fielding analyzes the Congressional Research Service report on contractors in Afghanistan and notes that there are some fascinating material on the economic shape of modern warfare.
Afghanistan: Protecting People or Bombing Hospitals?
Joshua Foust reports that U.S. forces bombed a hospital in Paktika Province because the hospital was treating a Taliban commander. Moreover, the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan claimed the Americans attacked one of their clinics as well.
Afganistan: Universities and master programs
Afghan PenLog explains why universities in Afghanistan are not academically prepared to offer master programs.
Afghanistan: U.S Army – To Stay or Not to Stay
Safrang reviews the recent opinions on Afghanistan, the new strategic assessment of the counter-insurgency measures and anticipations of the upcoming review of the strategy this fall.
Afghanistan: Journalist murdered
Nick Fielding reports that journalist Janullah Hashimzada, 37, was shot dead by four masked gunmen in Afghanistan in result of a targetted assassination.
Afghanistan: New Strategy Needed
Joshua Foust reflects on the statement made by the U.S. military official that there needs to be some fundamentally new thinking in Afghanistan, rather than new troops.
