Anand Gopal » surge

US Troops in Afghanistan Face Tough Battle: Making ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ Work

Posted in Articles, Military on Jul 8th, 2009

In Wardak province, the counterinsurgency model has been difficult to implement, though US forces have already seen some success in the first phase of the effort.
Jaghatu, Afghanistan - Part 2 of a two-part series.
As the US sends more troops to Afghanistan to try to reverse the growing violence, they are relying on the “clear, [...]

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In Afghanistan Surge, Soldiers Negotiate a Complex Web of Local Loyalties

Posted in Articles, Military on Jul 7th, 2009

As forces of the 10th Mountain Division poured into Wardak Province to combat the Taliban, they’ve also had to battle a cool reception.
Tangi Valley, Afghanistan - Part one of a two-part series.
When the soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division penetrated the insurgent-ridden Tangi Valley in the heart of Wardak Province, they braved rockets and [...]

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Taliban announce ‘countersurge’ in Afghanistan

Posted in Articles, Security on Apr 30th, 2009

• A daily summary of global reports on security issues.
The militants have vowed to launch a new offensive against the US and its allies, which are preparing to increase troop levels.
The Taliban have vowed to launch a new offensive this summer in Afghanistan against the government and the foreign soldiers stationed there. The [...]

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Many in Afghanistan oppose Obama’s troop buildup plans

Posted in Articles, Military on Mar 1st, 2009

Frustration and fear is sparking opposition to plans that would nearly double the size of US forces there.
Kabul, Afghanistan - Parliamentarian Shukria Barakzai says she has an innovative amendment to Washington’s planned injection of up to 30,000 new troops here.
“Send us 30,000 scholars instead. Or [...]

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Who Rules Afghanistan? (Intro by Tom Engelhardt)

Posted in Articles on Oct 9th, 2008

By Tom Engelhardt
In a 1998 interview with Le Nouvel Observateur, Zbigniew Brzezinski, former national security adviser to President Jimmy Carter, spoke proudly of how, in July 1979, he had “signed the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul” and so helped draw a Russian interventionary force into Afghanistan. [...]

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