Stories about Afghanistan from August, 2010
Afghanistan: Parliamentary Election Update
Joshua Foust provides an update on the upcoming parliamentary election in Afghanistan, specifying numerous worrying instances of violations and abuses of state resource by candidates, campaign staff, and government employees.
Afghanistan: The Helmand Food Zone Fiasco
Joel Hafvenstein writes about the British “Food Zone” program, which was considered to be a better effort comparing to other counternarcotics activties in Afghanistan. But “when examined closely, there’s no reason to think the Food Zone program was effective’, he says.
Afghanistan: Just get rid od Karzai
Joshua Foust reflects on the popular belief that Hamid Karzai is the main problem in Afghanistan. “What can we do about it? The usual answers seem to involve removing Hamid Karzai in some way—with all its myriad problems usually left unsaid”, he writes.
Portugal: Blogging Against Military Action
Blog Anti-Nato Portugal [pt, es] denounces that the United States has denied making available, in the aid effort to Pakistan, the 19 helicopters destined to the war in Afghanistan. Bloggers cite a military high official, who in a press conference, confirmed that the decision was up to Washington and that the...
Afghan photo bloggers, beyond war and Wikileaks
By publishing photos of different aspects of their country, Afghan photo bloggers display an Afghanistan beyond war and Wikileaks, of beauty as well as poverty.
Afghanistan: State Dept Terrorism Report makes bleak reading
Nick Fielding reviews new report by the U.S. State Department on Afghanistan, noting that Taliban attacks increased over 2008 amid diminished direct influence of al-Qaeda, whilst the anti-government insurgency remained a capable, determined, and resilient threat to stability.
Afghanistan: Taliban beyong the Pashtuns
Nick Fielding reviews the article, which argues that the Taliban has started making significant inroads among other ethnic groups, including Uzbeks, Tajiks and Turkmens from the north of Afghanistan.
