Stories about Afghanistan from September, 2008
Afghanistan: Surge East
Joshua Foust thinks that long-term development goals are a critically missing piece of the Western agenda in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan: How to Win
Joshua Foust takes issue with an essay about how to “win” in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan: What kind of government
Joshua Foust notes some of the problems with the American conceptions of Afghan society, and how that is influencing bad policy.
Afghanistan: Students on Hunger Strike
Azar Balkhi reports that following the language dispute in the Balkh province of Afghanistan, in which students of the local university entered into a clash with the police, the protesters went on a hunger strike.
Afghanistan: Weapons of Insurgents
Nasim Fekrat reports on the fact that the Taliban insurgents use US-made Stinger anti-aircraft guided missiles. Just a few weeks ago, there was a deadly US helicopter crash caused by a Stinger in southern Afghanistan.
Afghanistan: Herat Bombing
Azar Balkhi reports that a rival tribes provocation allegedly was behind the US air-strikes which killed up to 90 civilians in a village in western Afghanistan.
Russia: American and European expectations of Russia
The 8th Circle draws attention to the Transatlantic Trends 2008 report, dealing with e.g. views toward a Reassertive Russia, NATO’s mission in Afghanistan, and Turkey’s relations with the West.
Afghanistan: First Policewomen
Azar Balkhi reports that for the first time in Afghan history, first policewomen were appointed on official positions in Herat, western province of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan: Elections Ahead
Afghan Blogger posts a speech by the Political Counselor of the Afghanistan Embassy in Washington, DC, concerning the upcoming 2009 Afghan Presidential Election.
Afghanistan: Taliban Sets Schoolbooks on Fire
Azar Balkhi reports that the Taliban militias attacked a convoy of stationary and burned over 80,000 textbooks, which were to be delivered to the secondary schools of the northern Afghanistan.