Analysis & Commentary
A Desperate ‘Longshot’
Some in the Obama administration are desperate to jumpstart peace negotiations with the Taliban in advance of NATO’s summit in Chicago next month.
Afghan Security Forces Kill 3 ISAF Troops in South, East
An Afghan soldier killed two British soldiers on a military base in southern Afghanistan today, while a policeman killed an ISAF soldier in the east. The Afghan soldier was killed by ISAF troops, who opened fire on the attacker.
Afghan Soldier and Teacher Kill 2 ISAF Soldiers in South
An Afghan soldier and a teacher opened fire on NATO troops in Kandahar province today, killing two soldiers before being killed in return fire. Afghan security personnel have killed seven International Security Assistance Force soldiers in the past 10 days, while the Taliban have killed six ISAF troops during the same time period.
Afghan Taliban Announces New ‘Political Office’ in Qatar
The Taliban announced today that it is opening a "political office" in Qatar. According to a translation of the Taliban's message by the SITE Intelligence Group, the office is intended to "spread understanding with the international community."
Afghan Troops Ramp Up Attacks on Western Trainers, Threatening Allied War Effort
“It’s sort of a catch-22,” said Bill Roggio, the editor of Long War Journal, a Web site that closely tracks the Afghan war. “Our plan is to turn the country over to the Afghans, which means training them to take over. But they’re killing the guys we have doing the training.”
Al Qaeda Brokers New Anti-US Taliban Alliance in Pakistan and Afghanistan
One of al Qaeda's top leaders has reached out to the most powerful Taliban commanders along the Afghan-Pakistani border to create a new alliance to battle the US and NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Ambassador Crocker Objects to Strategic Retreat
Ambassador Ryan Crocker, the State Department’s man in Kabul, is clearly concerned about a premature drawdown of American and Western forces from Afghanistan.
As The West Lets Down Its Guard
Is the West drawing the curtain on Ares’ toils? Will the 21st centurywitness an end to Western military engagement? There is an argument to bemade for the end of war in the West. Western societies have by and large banished war among them, live in peace with each other, and enjoy unprecedented prosperity.
Assessing Afghanistan
The strategic impact of the Afghan massacre.
Crane Durham’s Nothing But Truth
Russia's involvement in Syria, US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, and Iran's nuclear strategy.
Delaware’s Afternoon News with Allan Loudel
US soldier kills 16 Afghan civilians in rampage.
Did Turkey Turn On Israel To Boost Business From The Arab World?
But the strategic calculus is harder to crunch. ‘Turkey has quite a bit to lose here,’ said Jonathan Schanzer, analyst in Washington. ‘NATO is looking sideways at it right now, wondering whether it’s a reliable partner. And you have the U.S. questioning its alliance.’
Don’t Stay the Course
In this tense campaign season, al-Qaeda is very much in the front of the Obama administration’s mind. In fact, administration officials can’t remind you often enough that Barack rubbed out Osama — which you may see as a no-brainer...
Eight Years and Counting
Eight years ago this week, Osama bin Laden watched and then celebrated as a terrorist attack he had authorized brought down the World Trade Center and part of the Pentagon, slaughtering thousands of innocent Americans.
Empty Gestures
Trying to explain the growing chasm between Israel and Europe, the British journalist and author Anatol Lieven wrote in 2004: "For equally valid and legitimate reasons, Western Europe and parts of the liberal intelligentsia of the United States...
Ex-Gitmo Detainee Killed in Afghanistan
The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) announced today that a "combined Afghan and coalition security force" had killed "a key affiliate of the al Qaeda network during a security operation in Jalalabad district, Nangarhar province." The deceased "insurgent leader" has been identified as a a former Guantanamo detainee named Sabar Lal Melma.
FDD Congratulates Bipartisan Group of Senators for Iran Sanctions Bill
Washington, D.C. (May 25, 2011) - FDD congratulates a bipartisan group of Senators for sponsoring dramatic new sanctions in response to Iran's ongoing nuclear activities. The Iran, North Korea and Syria Sanctions Consolidation Act of 2011 was introduced by Senators Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), and Robert Menendez (D-NJ).
Fixing Afghanistan was a Noble Project that Became a Noble Failure
This was a bad week for Afghanistan optimists. First, the British media leaked a classified U.S. report — based on thousands of interrogations of Taliban and former Taliban militants — concluding that the Taliban are set to retake Afghanistan with Pakistan’s assistance
Former Czech President Vaclav Havel, a Revolutionary Who Always ‘Lived Within the Truth’
In 1985, then dissident and future Czech president Vaclav Havel, who died Sunday at the age of 75, wrote an essay entitled “Anatomy of Reticence.”
Fox 5 Morning News
Pakistan is cancelling its attendance at an international conference in protest over an attack by NATO forces that left 24 Pakistani soldiers dead.
