Clipmarks | Afghanistan Clips

US and Russia- Tension in the ISS ?

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:38:10 GMT

clipped by: klippety
clipper's remarks: Once there was peace, for a while, now missiles, radars, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan. But noooo, Condi, Bush and cohorts had to run the world into a new cold war.

Clip Source: features.csmonitor.com

Will US-Russia tensions extend to space?

International cooperation in human spaceflight may be facing its toughest test since the cold war.

The immediate concern: Will US astronauts be able to ride Russian rockets between 2010, when the last shuttle is retired, and 2015, when the National Aeronautics and Space Administration expects to launch a replacement?

Russian spacecraft are how NASA plans to send its astronauts to the International Space Station. But with tensions rising over Russia’s invasion of Georgia and a US-Polish missile deal, some lawmakers and space-policy analysts worry that the US Congress – or Russia itself – could scuttle the plan. If tensions fail to ease over the longer term, the space station could shift from an orbiting laboratory to a geopolitical bargaining chip.

Proposals range from extending the shuttle program beyond 2010 to cutting a deal with China, which is ramping up its own human spaceflight effort. Each option faces big budgetary or political challenges.

Why more troops won't help Afghanistan

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:16:11 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: The nature of the conflict has changed from regional to a nation-wide warlord/Taliban alliance fueled by a separate and huge opium-poppy economy. This is what the Soviets failed to defeat, despite massive infusions of blood and capital.

Clip Source: www.atimes.com

The nature of the war in Afghanistan is changing, though, and it is not the sheer numbers that coun

Beyond the Taliban, local alliances between warlords and former

mujahideen commanders

have added a fresh dimension

They had been lured into the American camp through various inducements, including jobs, monetary benefits and the opportunity to take part in politics. It was considered better to have them fighting in parliament than on the battlefield.

once the Taliban insurgency took firm root in the south the writ of the government evaporated and the peasants were allowed and encouraged to grow poppy. By 2007, a parallel economy flourished and, finding the riches irresistible, former warlords, tribal chiefs, clerics and other segments of society sided with the Taliban.

The indications are that NATO wants to tackle the problem by pouring in troops

could help secure arteries, but as the Soviets - who in the 1980s had more than double the NATO number of troops - learned, it's not size that matters

Tags: afghanistan, war on terror

Taliban kills 70 Pakistanis in suicide attack

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:17:12 GMT

clipped by: tommy2balmy
clipper's remarks: The Kamra Air Weapon Complex and Heavy Industries Taxila are also contained within the Wah Cantt. Taxila "is devoted to land combat systems," Global Security notes, while Kamra is believed to be connected with Pakistan's nuclear weapons program. The Pakistani Ordnance Factories are believed to store nuclear weapons at a "screwdriver level" - meaning the components are stored disassembled and can be assembled within hours of use.

Clip Source: www.longwarjournal.org

The Taliban's suicide campaign against the Pakistani government is in full swing. The latest suicide bombings occurred outside a weapons factory just west of the capital of Islamabad in Punjab province.

More than seventy Pakistanis have been reported killed and more than eighty wounded after two suicide bombers detonated their vest "almost simultaneously" outside the gates of the Wah Cantt (military installation), Geo TV reported. The bombers detonated their vests within a minute of each other. The attack occurred just as workers were changing shifts in order to maximize casualties.

The Taliban took credit for today's attack. Mullah Omar, the spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban, said the attack was a response to yesterday's airstrike in Wana, South Waziristan, that killed at least eight al Qaeda and Taliban fighters.

The attack occurred outside the gates of the Pakistani Ordnance Factories, a collection of 14 factories that produces arms and ammunition for the Pakistani armed forces.

Tags: taliban, afghanistan, pakistan

Russia pledges to "leave door open" for NATO

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:58:52 GMT

clipped by: tommy2balmy
clipper's remarks: The Russian top diplomat described as critical Russia's partnership support for NATO, referring to the international operation in Afghanistan, where he said "the alliance's fate is being decided."

Clip Source: en.rian.ru

SOCHI, August 21 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday that the country's future ties with NATO depend on how the Western military alliance chooses to act.

NATO foreign ministers said after talks on Tuesday that the alliance was freezing contacts with Russia until it pulls its troops out of Georgia, but stopped short of stronger measures.

"We are not planning to slam the door, and they are also keeping the door open. Everything depends on the priorities that NATO chooses, not on us," Lavrov said.

"If these priorities move toward reckless support for Saakashvili's bankrupt regime, and if the price they are ready to pay is to sever relations with Russia, this is not our choice," he added.

The Russian top diplomat described as critical Russia's partnership support for NATO, referring to the international operation in Afghanistan, where he said "the alliance's fate is being decided."

Tags: russia, georgia, former soviet republic, nato

Asia Times: Bush hid Musharraf's Al Qaeda links

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:29:46 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: al-Qaeda "was a creation of the jihadist culture of the Pakistani army; Bush whitewashed connections to nuclear technology sales.

Clip Source: www.atimes.com

Bush buried Musharraf's al-Qaeda links

What has not been reported is that the Bush administration

covered up the Musharraf regime's involvement in the activities of the Abdul Qadeer Khan nuclear technology export program and its deals with al-Qaeda's Pakistani tribal allies.

the Pakistani military, over which Musharraf presided, was the real terrorist nexus with the Taliban and al-Qaeda.

al-Qaeda "was a creation of the jihadist culture of the Pakistani army

After 9/11, the White House created the political myth that Musharraf, faced with a clear choice, had "joined the free world in fighting the terrorists". But

on September 19, 2001

Musharraf gave a televised speech in Urdu in which he declared, "We are trying our best to come out of this critical situation without any damage to Afghanistan and the Taliban."

The Bush administration also gave Musharraf and the military regime a free ride on the Khan network's selling of nuclear technology to Libya and Iran

Tags: bush, war, pakistan, al qaeda

Taliban Launches Large Coordinated Assaults

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:34:43 GMT

clipped by: cptenaud
clipper's remarks: The Taliban claimed responsibility for all three attacks in Khost. Their spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahed, reached by telephone at an unknown location, said that 15 suicide bombers, equipped with machine guns and vests packed with explosives, with 30 militants backing them up, attacked the base, one of the largest foreign military bases in Afghanistan. He claimed that some of the bombers had gotten inside the base and had killed a number of American soldiers and destroyed equipment and helicopters. This last claim was denied by General Azimi of the Afghan military.

Clip Source: www.vetvoice.com

by: RockRichard

Tue Aug 19

This isn't good:

KABUL, Afghanistan - Taliban insurgents mounted their most serious attacks in six years of fighting, one a complex attack with multiple suicide bombers on an American military base on Monday night, and another by some 100 insurgents on French forces in a district east of the capital, killing 10 French soldiers and wounding 21 others, military officials said Tuesday.
...
The attack on Camp Salerno in Khost Province was one of the most complex attacks seen so far in Afghanistan with multiple suicide bombers and a backup fighting force that tried to breach defenses on to the airport at the base. It followed a suicide car bombing at the outer entrance to the same base on Monday morning, which killed 12 Afghan workers lining up to enter the base, and another attempted bombing that was thwarted shortly after.

Tags: taliban, al qaeda, afghanistan

10 Weeks of Hell: Afghanistan Death Rate Exceeding Highest of Iraq War

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:28:52 GMT

clipped by: cptenaud
clipper's remarks: in an ambush, with four of them being captured and subsequently executed. Around the same time, Afghan insurgents launched a coordinated attack on a major U.S. base.

The fatality rate in Afghanistan during the past 10 weeks would be equivalent to 353 deaths in Iraq at the same time--a rate not even seen during the bloody crescendo of 2007.

This is a crisis.

Clip Source: www.vetvoice.com

by: Brandon Friedman

Tue Aug 19

Afghanistan is now deadlier than Iraq ever was.

When the Iraq War reached its deadliest peak during a 10-week period in April, May, and June of 2007, 308 coalition troops died. That was 1 out of every 575 troops on the ground at the time.* It was a terrible period in which even the most die-hard Bush supporters began to question the sense in continuing the occupation. By contrast, 105 coalition troops have died in Afghanistan during the past 10 weeks. But because there are only 52,700 troops in Afghanistan, this represents 1 out of every 502 troops on the ground.

The war in Iraq--at its most violent peak--was never as dangerous for our troops as Afghanistan now is. In the past 10 weeks, three American soldiers have been captured, killed, and chopped up. Nine American soldiers were killed in a single instance when their outpost was overrun by Taliban militants. And today, the violence only intensified: 10 French soldiers were slaughtered

Tags: taliban, iraq, casualties, afghanistan

McCain Doesn't Disagree that We Might Need a Draft

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:10:21 GMT

clipped by: cptenaud
clipper's remarks: Jon Soltz, Iraq War Veteran and Chairman of VoteVets.org said, "At least Senator McCain is being honest. A vote for him is a vote for the draft. Period. Unless Senator McCain radically changes his worldview, there would be a draft to implement his plans."

Soltz added, "When you take into account his indefinite military commitment to Iraq, his desire to send more troops to Afghanistan, record lows in recruiting and retention, and possibly more wars he is looking to get into, like "Bomb Bomb Bomb" Iran, his numbers don't add up without a draft. Whether America likes it or not isn't relevant - a draft is the only way to do everything Senator McCain wants to do. I give him points for being honest and upfront, though, that we're going to need a draft if he is elected."

This isn't the first time that Senator McCain has hinted at a reinstitution of the draft if he is elected. Asked on September 29, 2007 in New Hampshire about the draft, McCain said he would "consider it."

Clip Source: www.vetvoice.com

by: Brandon Friedman

Wed Aug 20

This is absolutely amazing. A woman told John McCain today that we might need a draft to accomplish all his foreign policy goals. And he said he didn't disagree.

So there you have it: McCain = Draft. Here's the response from VoteVets:

VETERANS REACT TO MCCAIN'S ADMISSION THAT HE'LL NEED A MILITARY DRAFT
WASHINGTON - Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans today reacted to John McCain's statement that he doesn't disagree that we would need a military draft to do everything he wants. At a town hall in Las Cruces, NM, a woman said she could not see doing everything McCain wanted, and would not have the troops under his plan to follow Osama bin Laden to the "gates of hell" without a draft. In response, McCain said, "I don't disagree with anything you said." The video of that can be viewed here:

[Video]

Tags: john mccain, draft

Muslim women in jail for premarital sex.

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:44:44 GMT

clipped by: Karzdan
clipper's remarks: So what if they where victims of rape. They still had sex outside of marriage and must pay for their indiscretion.

Absurd!

This article is being discussed here;
http://www.atheistthinktank.net/thinktank/index.php?topic=4933.0
Please join us.

Clip Source: www.independent.co.uk

The Afghan women jailed for being victims of rape

Beneath the anonymity of the sky-blue burqa, Saliha's slender frame and voice betray her young age.Asked why she was serving seven years in jail alongside hardened insurgents and criminals, the 15-year-old giggled and buried her head in her friend's shoulder.

"She is shy," apologised fellow inmate Zirdana, explaining that the teenager had been married at a young age to an abusive husband and ran away with a boy from her neighbourhood.

Asked whether she had loved the boy, Saliha squirmed with childish embarrassment as her friend replied: "Yes."

Ostracised from her family and village, Saliha was convicted of escaping from home and illegal sexual relations. The first carries a maximum penalty of 10 years, the second 20. These are two of the most common accusations facing female prisoners in Afghanistan.

Two-thirds of the women in Lashkar Gah's medieval-looking jail have been convicted of illegal sexual relations, but most are simply rape victim

Tags: religion, rape, victims of rape, sexism

Resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:27:54 GMT

clipped by: tommy2balmy
clipper's remarks: Another result of "successful" troop surge in Iraq?
As forces that could be used in Afghanistan continue to be diverted to Iraq the failure of the US/NATO Afghan war becomes even clearer.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

BAMIYAN, Afghanistan — Taliban insurgents mounted their most serious attacks in six years of fighting in Afghanistan over the last two days, including a coordinated assault by at least 10 suicide bombers against one of the largest American military bases in the country, and another by about 100 insurgents who killed 10 elite French paratroopers.

As a result, this year is on pace to be the deadliest in the Afghan war so far, as the insurgent attacks show rising zeal and sophistication. The insurgents are employing not only a growing number of suicide and roadside bombs, but are also waging increasingly well-organized and complex operations using multiple attackers with different types of weapons, NATO officials say.

More foreign fighters are entering Afghanistan this summer than in previous years, NATO officials say, an indication that Al Qaeda and allied groups have been able to gather more foreigners in their tribal redoubts.

Tags: us, afghanistan, nato

SBS, SAS get more tasks in Afghanistan

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:22:47 GMT

clipped by: notareargunner
clipper's remarks: While the Civvy Shits who run the MoD on behalf of this effete Government get more brazen with their false assertions of victory, more soldiers are dying.
When the nation has the courage to tell these self opinionated ignoramuses that everything they touch turns to SH&T, and when those sheeples who swallow whole the bunkum and disinformation coming from Downing Street like overpaid prostitutes sucking on the sperm of middle eastern despots, when the nations says enough, we Brits will regain our self respect and national morality.
Until then Bless the troops being tasked with impossible missions and may they get home safe and well.

Clip Source: fylde-bootnecks.blogspot.com

clipped from www.telegraph.co.uk

Troops from the SAS and SBS will be used in the Army's "decapitation" strategy designed to knock out the insurgent's leadership.

The current UK force of more than 8,000 is already almost double the size deployed to Helmand in 2006 and commanders believe the problem of overstretch will not disappear even with withdrawal from Iraq.

The former Pakistan leader had been a key ally of the West in the War on Terror, and Nato have become increasingly worried that Taliban foot soldiers killed or captured are being replaced by indoctrinated "fighters" from madrassas in Pakistan.

Tags: british, sbs, sas.afghanistan

Project sensored...

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:17:08 GMT

clipped by: rvnurse2b
clipper's remarks: This isn't the only news that isn't being broadcast...

Clip Source: www.projectcensored.org

# 25 Who Will Profit from Native Energy?

# 24 Media Misquotes Threat From Iran’s President

# 23 Feinstein’s Conflict of Interest in Iraq

# 22 North Invades Mexico

# 21 US Seeks WTO Immunity for Illegal Farm Payments

# 20 Terror Act Against Animal Activists

# 19 People’s Movement Challenges Neoliberal Agenda

# 17 Drinking Water Contaminated by Military and Corporations

# 15 Toxic Exposure Can Be Transmitted to Future Generations on a “Second Genetic Code”

# 10 Vulture Funds Threaten Poor Nations’ Debt Relief

#9 Privatization of America’s Infrastructure

#7 Behind Blackwater Inc.

#6 Operation FALCON Raids

#5 Human Traffic Builds US Embassy in Iraq

# 4 Frenzy of Increasingly Destructive Trade Agreements

# 3 AFRICOM: US Military Control of Africa’s Resources

#2 Bush Moves Toward Martial Law

#1 No Habeas Corpus for “Any Person”

#8 KIA: The US Neoliberal Invasion of India

# 11 The Scam of “Reconstruction” in Afghanistan

# 13 Immigrant Roundups to Gain Cheap Labor for US Corporate Giants

McCain: "tough, decisive, experienced" mastery of foreign affairs??

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 22:50:37 GMT

clipped by: izzy3r

Clip Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Of course the crisis in Georgia is just the latest example of how the War in Iraq has massively limited American's ability to respond to this -- or any other -- security crisis.

America already had one major military operation underway in Afghanistan when the Bush administration -- with McCain's full support -- recklessly poured most of our other military assets into the invasion of Iraq. Today most Army and Marine units are either deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan, preparing to deploy or recovering from deployment. The fact is that at the present time, we do not have the wherewithal to respond militarily to a crisis even if such a response were necessary or appropriate.

As a result, John McCain's strident statements following Russia's military actions only place into relief the reality that he has continuously supported Bush policies that make us weaker -- in spite of his tough talk.

Majority of Jailed Afghan Women Serving Time for Being Raped

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:50:35 GMT

clipped by: Smoke TNT
clipper's remarks: "As she was led away to her jail cell yesterday, Dorkhani lifted her burqa to reveal a sun-battered face streaked with tears and pleading eyes: "Please, please take our words somewhere where people will be kind and help us.""

Clip Source: www.independent.co.uk

Two-thirds of the women in Lashkar Gah's medieval-looking jail have been convicted of illegal sexual relations, but most are simply rape victims – mirroring the situation nationwide. The system does not distinguish between those who have been attacked and those who have chosen to run off with a man.

Sitting among the plastic flowers around his desk, where an optimistic United Nations scales of justice poster competed for space with images of Afghanistan's President, Hamid Karzai, Colonel Ghulam Ali, a high-ranking regional security officer, explained sternly that he supported the authorities' right to convict victims of rape. "In Afghanistan whether it is forced or not forced it is a crime because the Islamic rules say that it is," he claimed. "I think it is good. There are many diseases that can be created in today's world, such as HIV, through illegal sexual relations."

Tags: islam, afghanistan, muslims, islamofascism, rape, women

10 French soldiers die in Afghan battle

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:04:01 GMT

clipped by: ratilfar
clipper's remarks: So now it is up to the Europeans (including the French) to bear the burden of US forgotten war in Afghanistan.

Clip Source: news.yahoo.com

SUROBI, Afghanistan - Insurgents ambushed a group of French parachutists outside Kabul, sparking a battle that killed 10 of the soldiers in the biggest loss of life for international forces in combat in Afghanistan in more than three years, officials said Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a team of suicide bombers tried unsuccessfully to storm a U.S. military base near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in a daring attack on a major American installation.

The French soldiers from the 8th infantry parachute regiment were on a reconnaissance mission in the Surobi district, an area known as a militant redoubt about 30 miles east of the Afghan capital.

An Afghan official said that four of those soldiers had been kidnapped by insurgents and killed. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't supposed to release the information.

NATO officials had no immediate comment. It was the highest French military death toll in an attack since clashes in Bouake, Ivory Coast in 2004.

Tags: afghanistan, war, war on terror, france, us, troops, casualties