Archive for the Afghanistan Category

Taliban offer a bounty for each NATO death

Taliban offer a bounty for each NATO death

Poverty is often mistakenly used as the catchall explanation for radicalization, terror and violence. We have reported previously why this rather simplistic explanation doesn’t stand up to analysis of the empirical evidence, such as our article “Facts and fiction about Muslim radicalization

05.27.2010 | Afghanistan, Asia |

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US to supersede British national command chain

US to supersede British national command chain

In a development that will see shudders go down the spine of those who believe national integrity greater than transnational cooperation, British troops in Afghanistan will now come under direct US command. The complicated NATO multinational chain of command and the often conflicting ‘national cav

05.21.2010 | Afghanistan, Americas, Europe |

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Risk of rift in US-Australia partnership due to Afghanistan command chain issues

Risk of rift in US-Australia partnership due to Afghanistan command chain issues

Afghanistan is a complex theater enough due to its inherent nature; but adding to the level of difficulty is the chain of command challenge. We have reported on this before in relation to NATO, where the chain of command is riddled with what are called “National Caveats.”  These are the spe

03.10.2010 | Afghanistan, Asia |

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Germany to amend ‘national caveat’ NATO rules for Afghanistan

Germany to amend ‘national caveat’ NATO rules for Afghanistan

The NATO chain of command is riddled with what are called “National Caveats.”  These are the specific rules of engagement that NATO member countries prescribe for their specific troops as a precondition of engagement in the conflict. The rules are highly variable. Some countries say their t

02.5.2010 | Afghanistan, Asia, Europe |

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The curious (and under-reported) trial in Manhattan of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui

The curious (and under-reported) trial in Manhattan of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui

In the current partisan environment every issue becomes politicized even without merit. It is surprising therefore that the trial of Pakistan scientist Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is gathering such little coverage in the mainstream press. The potential for other admittedly more high profile cases being t

02.3.2010 | Afghanistan, Americas, Asia, Pakistan |

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Pashtun Taliban – the Lost Tribe of Israel?

Pashtun Taliban – the Lost Tribe of Israel?

There would be a certain irony - others might see the hand of cosmic humor - in the latest DNA research that seeks to demonstrate that the Pashtun may be one of the ten "Lost Tribes of Israel".  There are more than 40 million Pashtuns around the world including around 10 million in Afghanistan

01.19.2010 | Afghanistan, Asia, Israel, Pakistan |

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How virtual Internet Jihad can become real

How virtual Internet Jihad can become real

There is a very active "real" world of jihad on the Internet, at least for the participants. The blogs, bulletin boards are active, virulent and pervasive. The authorities hunt these sites in a game of cat and mouse, but as fast as they are blocked another version springs to life on a different

01.12.2010 | Afghanistan, Asia, Editorials, Middle East |

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International students and Pakistan’s conservative madrassas

International students and Pakistan’s conservative madrassas

It is no great secret that the most extreme madrassas of Pakistan and Afghanistan mark the front line of the battle against radicalization of young Muslims and the potential to stem the flow of ready recruits for the insurgent groups. A recent development though is an increase in the thousands o

12.23.2009 | Afghanistan, Asia, Editorials, Middle East, Pakistan |

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Afghanistan - show them change, don’t tell them

Afghanistan – show them change, don’t tell them

It is becoming a thematic position of ours that in the case of international relations, change is best effected by showing not telling other countries what they should do; foreign policy efficiency  resides in  slowly affecting change  from within. Afghanistan is a case in point. We have been t

12.8.2009 | Afghanistan, Asia |

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Are pay increases the answer for the Afghan police?

Are pay increases the answer for the Afghan police?

There are about 93,000 Afghan police at present. Based on fatality statistics, it is a far more dangerous job than being a member of the army. Like many in the region,  the police have a terrible reputation for corruption. This is not a unique situation in the developing world. In many police force

12.3.2009 | Afghanistan, Asia |

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What is really going on with Pakistan and the Taliban?

What is really going on with Pakistan and the Taliban?

It is difficult for a Westerner to understand the relationship between Pakistan and the big-tent coalition insurgency we term the Taliban. If one reads the many politicians, analysts, commentators, populists and self-professed experts espousing opinions about how Pakistan should do this, believe thi

11.30.2009 | Afghanistan, Asia, Editorials, Pakistan |

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Iran now 4th largest investor in Afghanistan

Iran now 4th largest investor in Afghanistan

If ever you want to trace the paths of influence of a nation, one doesn’t have to look much further than the investment and trade links. While some Western nations believe boots and bombs is the measure of national spirit, others prefer the more subtle reach of money and trade. NATO has bee

11.28.2009 | Afghanistan, Iran, Middle East |

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