With the outlook in Afghanistan already looking worse every day, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen told reporters this morning that the situation in Afghanistan will likely get even worse next year. He said the situation will not improve until the...
US Report Declares Herat Strike “Legitimate Self-Defense”
A late August US air strike in Herat Province which killed at least 90 civilians, most of them children, according to both the United Nations and the Afghan government has been a matter of continuing embarrassment for international forces and a source of tension...
Draft NIE Warns of “Downward Spiral” in Afghanistan
The National Intelligence Estimate on Afghanistan is nearing completion, and while as reported before the document will be classified, the New York Times has spoken with officials privy to the contents of a draft version of the report, and offers some new insights on...
Petraeus: US Should Talk With Talk With Taliban, Other Enemies
Much has been made of the rumored peace talks between Afghanistan and the Taliban, and while both the Taliban and the Afghan government have made rather public denials that any such talks are ongoing, the United States has been totally silent on the report. That is,...
US Inquiry Revises Herat Civilian Toll, Still Disputes UN, Afghan Accounts
Updated 10/8 2:20 PM EST The United States has concluded its promised inquiry into August's air strike in Afghanistan's Herat Province. Both Afghan and UN investigations concluded that the US strike killed at least 90 civilians, most of them children. The US hotly...
Gen. Craddock Tired of Explaining Need for Aggressive Afghan Drug War
In a surprisingly harsh outburst, NATO Supreme Commander for Europe General John Craddock has condemned those allies who are questioning the wisdom of the US plan to ratchet up raids against Afghan drug lords. Gen. Craddock complained that a "handful" of unnamed...
Gates Cautions Brits Against “Defeatism” in Afghanistan
Speaking in reaction to recent comments from two high profile British officials regarding the situation in Afghanistan, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates cautioned against having a "defeatist" outlook or "underestimating the opportunities to be successful in the long...
Afghanistan / Taliban Peace Talk Rumors: Are They or Aren’t They?
Their lips say "no," but their unnamed sources speaking to CNN say yes. There has been a lot of talk over the past week of a "secret" round of talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban sponsored by the Saudis with British backing. And while the Taliban...
British Envoy: Prepare Public for “Acceptable Dictator” in Afghanistan
Investigative French weekly magazine La Canard Enchaîné has obtained a leaked copy of a coded diplomatic message from French diplomat Jean-François Fitou. The message, sent on September 2nd, gives an account of a previous meeting with British Ambassador to Afghanistan...
Taliban Rejects Karzai Call for Talks
Afghan President Hamid Karzai gave an interview on Pakistani television in which he implored Taliban leader Mullah Omar to return to the country and compete in the next presidential election. Karzai promised to be "wholly solely responsible for his safety." But top...