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CANinKHarSept2008

Page history last edited by PBworks 15 years, 6 months ago

News

September 2008

30 Sept 08

K'Har Governor: CAN Should Rethink This GTFO in 2011 Thing

Excerpt from Book on CAN Troops in AFG

CF Troops in K'Har Get Advance Screening of New WW1 Movie - News release

"Afghan mission raises only minor (Canadian election) campaign debate"

Petraeus warns "combat in Afghanistan could intensify in the coming months" - USA SecDef Says Mission Long Term, Not Short Term

UN Sec Gen Report Says Things Getting Worse, Taliban Killing LOTS of Civvies - Full report (.pdf)

Analysis: Learning Lessons from IRQ for Helmand - Can Petraeus Save AFG? - "Continuing US losses will lead to military strikes on Pakistan"

Reuters: "Afghan President Hamid Karzai has made a call for peace to Taliban leader Mullah Omar and has asked the king of Saudi Arabia to help in talks with the militant group responsible for a surge violence." - More

Almost 200,000 Kids in Helmand, Kandahar Don't Get Polio Vaccine, Thanks to Taliban - More - Schools Reopen in K'har (.pdf) - Entire 29 Sept 08 UNAMA News Conference Text (including polio and school quotes)

US Civil Affairs Troops Get Bravery Medals for Nov 2007 Action in Uruzgan Province

Yet Another Dude Who Wouldn't Stop when Told Killed in Sangin - More

Bodyguards Killed in K'Har Attack on Zabul Governor - More - more

Interpol Pissed at Killing of Top Female Cop in K'Har

Taliban Boss Nabbed in Uruzgan - More - Bad Weekend for Bad Guys in Zabul, Helmand and K'Har - Bad Boys Killed, Ammo Cache Found in K'har

Much of RC South Food Insecure - Map - Security & Humanitarian Overview, Week Ending 26 Sept 08

NATO Sec-Gen, UN Uber-Envoy Meet

Bumps Along the Road to Training AFG Police

More on How US Army Helped in Kajaki Turbine Caper

Taliban Propaganda Watch: "Puppet Deputy governor of Zabul killed in Kandahar" - More - "Message of Ameer Al Mumeneen Mullah Mohammad Omar Mujahid about the pleasure of Eid al-Fitr" (GoogEng) - Better translation/summary: If USA Pulls Out, We'll Leave You Alone - More - more - Original in Arabic

Opinion: "Afghan mission a stealth topic" - "Before the Oct. 14 federal election vote, (the NDP and Greens) should explain exactly how Canada can provide help to Afghanistan if the Taliban regains control of the country and returns to old habits such as killing female school teachers." - "Taliban strike down a symbol of justice for women" - "The Kandahar police commander has said he expects her death to discourage other women from joining the police. That would be a great loss, and a victory for the Taliban that must be denied." - "Why the US is losing in Afghanistan"

Nabbed AFG Ambassador to PAK Found, Now Recovering in Hospital - More

PAK says bad boys flowing in from AFG.... - ...while UN says refugees flowing into AFG from PAK - PAK Gov't Working with Tribes to Fight Taliban

29 Sept 08

More on Injured CF Troops: CBC.ca - CTV.ca - Canadian Press - Deux soldats canadiens sont blessés dans une attaque

Some Coming Home, Some Preparing to Head Out

Mourning Assassination of Top Female Cop in Kandahar - Son of Cop Injured, in Coma - NATO Condemns Killing

Homicide Bombers Kill 6, Injures 17 with Blast Near Police Cars in K'Har - More - ....or Maybe 3 and 17? - ISAF Condemns Attack

Blog: US Accused of Hitting Red Crescent Vehicles, Staff in K'Har? (GoogEng) - Original in Italian

More on Proposed "Development Surge" - "The collapse of security in Helmand owes as much to government failings as to any military action"

Hekmatyar Takes Blame for FRA Ambush

Taliban Deny Talks with Saudis (see official statement below)

Taliban Propaganda Watch: Taliban Statement Denying Any Talks with Saudis - Taliban Take Credit for Shooting Female AFG Cop and Son - "2 checkpoints of puppet police demolished in Uruzgan/Shabrghan" - Roundup of Taliban Allegations from Across AFG

Opinion: Scott Taylor Disagrees with Lew-Mac's View of Figures on NATO Troop Commitment to AFG - "A successful strategy must attack the insurgency's true center of gravity: the protection, well-being, and state of mind of each Afghan. Secure these and you win; fail and you lose." - Comparing Colombia and Afghanistan

28 Sept 08

Two CF Troops Injured in Attack on Panjwai Outpost

More on CF Troops Handing Out Food to End Ramadan

One CF Soldier's Blog Impressions - "Saturday Bazaar" in K'Har - More Headed Downrange... - ....as Some Settle Back Home

Embed Sees What NATO Firepower Can Do

Column: "If the army were to announce tomorrow that in order to maintain the manpower commitment to Kandahar through 2011 it had become necessary for every able-bodied citizen of military age (17 to 57) to register for a lottery draft of obligatory service, you can bet that Afghanistan would be the number one item on every voter's agenda."

US General Says Taliban Can't Do a Winter Offensive - Analysis: "Prosecuting the war in Afghanistan from provincial capitals has been disastrous; we need to turn our military strategy inside out."

Senior Female AFG Cop Shot Dead in K'Har - More - more - more - more - more

UK MoD Reportedly Buying More Armoured Vehicles for Troops in AFG - AUS Fed Cops Fighting AFG Drug Lords

Saudis Talking to Taliban (With UK Support)? - "One problem with the Saudi-sponsored talks so far is that the go-between has been unable to speak directly to Mullah Omar." - No Confirmation from AFG Foreign Minister

Tailban Propaganda Watch: Weekly Summary, 21-27 Sept 08 (.pdf) - "A helicopter of American occupation shot down in Kandahar" - "A vehicle of puppet army blew up in Kandahar" (GoogEng) - Original in Arabic - "Killed 6 police officers in Kandahar sity" (GoogEng) - Original in Arabic - "1 vehicle of Puppet police blew up in Kandahar" - "9 british soldiers killed, destroyed enemy tanks in Sangin, Helmend" (GoogEng) - Original in Arabic - "12 supplying truck of British destroyed 14 booty in Helmand"

Opinion: "What a Surge Can't Solve in Afghanistan"

UZB Envoy to UN: More Economic, Social Help Needed for AFG

US Cranks Up Efforts in PAK to Avoid "October Surprise"

27 Sept 08

CAN Troops Help Distribute Food as Ramadan Ends - More - Some Photos - Help Still not Enough - More

PPCLI Soldier Happy to Be Home

Taliban Die Ambushing the Wrong Convoy Passing Through Kandahar - Helmand Governor's Office Denies Civvies Killed in Recent Coalition Action

NATO Aiming at Surge of Development Projects - More - Girls' School Inaugurated in Kandahar - Oruzgan Man Donates Land for New School?

UK Not Committing More Troops to AFG - Royal Marine to Lose Foot After Helmand Firefight Injury - NLD Gov't Denies Troops in Uruzgan Poorly Equipped - More - AUS Chinooks Helping in the Fight - More - No Word on Whether Suspended NLD Troops Heading Home or to Court

Taliban Propaganda Watch: "(D)estruction supply convoy (5 trucks, 13 soldiers) in Kandahar" (GoogEng) - Original in Arabic - "6 soldiers killed in ambush in Zabul" (GoogEng) - Original in Arabic

Opinion: "Lack of coherence frustrates British operation in Helmand"

Kidnapped PAK Fuel Supplier to NATO Killed During Police Raid

USA Stops SF Raids into PAK - Warning Shots from USA Troops Got PAK Troops to Stop Shooting @ Choppers? - PAK Says It Didn't Happen, USA Says it Did

USA Chair of Joint Chiefs "Urges Calm" Dealing with PAK - Says PAK Not Targeting USA Troops - More - Connie Rice Sees Good PAK-AFG Vibes - PAK Reminds USA of Its Side of the "Clamp Down on the Terrorists" Deal

PAK Promises to Re-take Tribal Areas Before Christmas

26 Sept 08

CAN DefMin on AFG: "By the time the Canadian military finishes their mission in 2011, MacKay says Afghanis will have a greater ability to protect their own people, promote their own civil rights, and defend their sovereignty. Contributions to development and reconstruction will still continue past 2011." (.pdf version of article)

CAN Embed Comments on "Urban sprawl behind the barricades"

NLD: 107mm Rockets Hit K'Har Airfield, Nobody Injured (GoogEng) - Original in Dutch

K'Har Docs, Medical Staff Can't Go to Work Because of Taliban Threats - Co-Ed School House Opens in K'Har (.pdf)

Just Another Day in AFG: Spreading Aid in Oruzgan, Killing Bad Guys in Zabul

AFG Commandos Help Out in K'har - ANA "slowly pulls itself up by bootstraps"

UN Uber-Envoy Says More Cops Needed - More on Pentagon Review of AFG Strategy... - ...and the Guy Doing the Review

How USAF Helped in the Kajaki Dam Turbine Caper - US Army Had a Hand In It, Too

NLD Troops Suspended for Collectively Refusing to Follow Orders in Uruzgan (.pdf permalink) - Meanwhile, NLD Officers Complain to Union Gets Complaint About Not Enough AFVs in AFG (.pdf permalink) - NLD PRT in Uruzgan Gets New ROTO (GoogEng) - Original in Dutch - AUS Bridge Builders Kick Taliban Butt - UK OMLT Troop @ Work - Retired Brit Neurosurgeon Recognized for Service in Helmand

Summer 2008 Analysis: "When implementing a fully integrated civil-military counterinsurgency strategy in the context of Helmand Province extensive resources must be identified and allocated in a fast pace. Together with this the rapid deployment of civilian advisors to theatre will be crucial for success in the complexities of counterinsurgency in Helmand Province"

Analysis: "The tide turned in Iraq when coalition forces got off the FOB, got outside the wire, lived in small outposts and started walking through villages and neighborhoods instead of driving around in humvees. That lesson has yet to make its way to Afghanistan"

Aid Groups Ask for UN Help to Keep Delivering Aid in AFG

PAK Terrs (Responsible for Hotel Bombing?) Threaten Anyone Helping USA in PAK

PAK Troops Fire on US Choppers Inside AFG - ISAF Statement - More - more - Pentagon: Just a "Misunderstanding" - PAK Says It Was Only Flares - Honest! - Really They Were!

Talib from Herat Training in PAK: All Taliban May be Bad Guys, but Not All Bad Guys Taliban

No Clues Yet Re: Nabbed AFG Ambassador

25 Sept 08

CAN Senator Concerned AFG Not an Election Issue - CAN Parties on AFG Mission

Official Text of UN Resolution 1833 (2008) (.pdf)

NATO Trying to "Fast Track" Soviet-Bloc Chopper Upgrade Fund

No, Tim Horton's Did NOT Start the Petition....

AFG Pres Calls for Greater "Afghanization" of Army, Development Process - Calls for More Help Training Security Forces - Careful with the Civvies, Folks! - Tension with USA Noted? - UN Statement - Text of speech (.pdf)

NATO Mil Boss Concerned About Taliban Approach Killing More Civvies - Says ISAF Should Do More Counter Narcotic Work, Too

Bomb Blasts Kill AFG Cops, Civvies in Kandahar, Spin Boldak - More - Honkin' Dope Bust in Helmand - Marines Hold Shura near Sangin - Blogger STILL Not Happy

IED That Killed US Officer, AFG Interpreters in South Called Huge by Eyewitnesses, Injured (.pdf permalink) - More - Brit Commander Says He Needs 2x the Troops He's Got - More - "How we got a 200-tonne turbine past the Taleban" - AUS Public Out of Touch with AFG War? - Why AUS Troops are Busy - AUS Gunners Busy, Too - IED That Killed Civvies in Oruzgan Meant for AUS Troops - AUS Statement - Photos

UN Calls Peace Day a Success

Taliban Propaganda Watch: "Local leader of goverment killed in Kandahar" (GoogEng) - Original in Arabic - "1 vehicle of Puppet police blew up in Kandahar" - "A tank of Australian invaders blew up in Uruzgan" - Taliban's Roundup of Ops Around AFG

Opinion: "Taliban whip up support for Canada's conservatives" - "Signs of progress have been hard to find in Afghanistan lately, but with a change in strategy our mission there need not end in failure" - "A US-NATO War In Pakistan?" - "The man Karzai blocked as UN envoy to Afghanistan warns that it's now or never" - "It's not spin -- the pain is real -- when our soldiers are killed, but so too is the pain real when the Afghans die, including the large numbers of non-combatants."

Released Journalist/Fixer Says CAN Ratted on Him - More - more - more - more - Fixer Seeking Compensation from CAN, USA Governments

PAK Wants USA Int to Fight Terrorists - PAK Governor Says USA Must Talk to Taliban's Mullah Omar - Americans Expected to be Underwhelmed by Idea

24 Sept 08

James Hayward Arnal, R.I.P.: Letters to children survive

How One Injured Soldier "Reclaimed" the Day His Life Changed Forever

Un commandant affirme que les Afghans ont progressé

Opinion: "Reveal Afghan war cost" - CAN Historian's Questions for PM on Defence Issues

AFG Pres to UN: "The war in Afghanistan, the war against terrorism in Afghanistan is not the right place to fight, that the war against terrorism cannot be fought in Afghan villages but it has to have a regional approach that has to be concentrated on the sanctuaries"

USA Commanders Expecting Taliban Winter Offensive

USA Has Three Brigades Available for AFG.... - ....but Not Until Spring - More - Also, Let's Not Shift Too Many Too Quickly

No Plans to Declassify Coming US Int Estimate on AFG

AFG (Again) Denies IRN Helping the Bad Guys

Six Civvies Killed by IED in Uruzgan - ISAF Helps Injured Civvies After Clearing Taliban Outta Sangin - Air Strike Takes Out Taliban "Commander and Weapons Facilitator", Minions in Uruzgan - More - More Bad Boys Killed in Oruzgan with Direct, Indirect Fire - Drug Dealer Nabbed in Helmand - More (of the same) - Bad Boys Wearing Police Uniforms Nabbed in K'Har

USA Officer Dies of Wounds from IED Blast near K'har - DoD Statement - US Civil Affairs Troops Receiving Medals for Valor During Nov 2007 Firefight - Could it Be This Firefight? - Wounded AUS SF Soldier Returns Home - Brit Argylls Return as Borderers Prepare to Head Out Soon - UK Cas Describes Waiting for Help During Firefight - BBC Embed with the Troops - ITA Sending 4 x Tornadoes - More

Taliban Propaganda Watch: "The occupation forces & International Day of Peace!!" (.pdf permalink)

"This is the chaos that is foreign aid in Afghanistan, a place where every mistake ever made in every underdeveloped economy is now being repeated."

Polio Bad in South, Southwest

USA DefSec Says PAK Faces "Existential" Threat from Bad Guys - Defends Ops in PAK - Looking For Other Ways to Send Bullets 'n Beans

AFG Sends Envoys to PAK to Sort Out Nabbed Ambassador

PAK Governor Says Their Suicide Bombers are Coming from IND - PAK Military Says Lotsa Foreigners Streaming in from AFG to Fight

23 Sept 08

ISAF's UN Mandate Extended for Another Year Starting 13 Oct - UN News release (including wording of resolution) - More

Still Looking into CF Detainee Allegations

More on Foot Patrol Shooting Possible Suicide Bomber in Helmand

More on Journalist/Handler Released by US Forces - More - more

Registan District Governor, Police Chief Killed in Kandahar by Roadside Bomb - More - more - more - more - Taliban Claims Responsibility

Zabul Ag Staff Get Extra Training

FRA Votes to Stay in AFG - Beefing Up Mission, Too - More - more - more - CAN Media Stands By Report that FRA Outgunned in Ambush - AUS Chinook Pilots Busy in Uruzgan - IND Boosting Security Presence

August 2008 Summary of Security Issues

Taliban Propaganda Watch: "Puppet district governor killed in Kandahar" - "Capture convoy with foodstuffs for the British invaders in Helmend" (GoogEng) - Original in Arabic - "9 puppet police killed in Uruzgan" - "21 puppet police killed in Nemroz"

Opinion: "Our soldiers demonstrate over and over that they are the finest this country has to offer." - "Losing the Afghan war?" - "Canadians greatly undervalue Afghan lives"

Ration Pack Postcards from Marines in AFG

AQ Imploding?

AFG DefMin Calls for "Border Region Task Force" - More - Who's Who of PAK Insurgents

More on AFG Ambassador Nabbed in PAK - More - more - more

22 Sept 08

More on New CAN Battle Group Into the Breach - More - more - more - more - more - Outgoing Commander Sees Progress

Derniers soldats de Valcartier commencent à rentrer

US Troops Under CAN Command @ FOB RAMROD - More - Permalink to both articles (.pdf)

Racing to Remember the Injured - More - more - more

Kite Flying, Release of Doves, and Declaration of "Peace Avenue" Some Highlights of Peace Day in RC-South - More - more - Shame the Tailban Didn't Keep Their Promise - More - more - more - more - more

More Proof of Taliban Using Child Suicide Bombers - "Attacks deprive 300,000 students of education" - How Hunger Helps the Taliban

Refugees Driven from Fighting in South

CAN Reporter/Fixer Released from USA Custody

Coalition Soldier Killed in IED Blast in Southern AFG

AFG ForMin: "We need enough competent foreign troops in Afghanistan to decrease the number of civilian deaths caused by air-strikes and an active military force that could efficiently fight against terrorism. We need such forces alongside ANA forces"

Delay in Extension of UN Mandate for ISAF - NATO Says FRA Not Outgunned in August Ambush - More - FRA Denies It, Too - More - more - FRA Parliament to Vote on AFG Mission - More

Humanitarian, Security Round Up as of 19 Sept 08

Opinion: "For parliamentarians, Afghanistan is the occasional topic of House of Commons debate, a government policy decision here and there, and then on to other business. For soldiers and their families, it's a commitment that could end up lasting a lifetime." - "U.S. combat power can defeat the neo-Taliban, though a military solution alone won't solve the political impasse that provides Pashtun insurgents traction in the south."

AFG Envoy to PAK Nabbed

Analysis: "With recent cross-border attacks by U.S. forces inside Pakistan's tribal areas, the focus of the war on terror is shifting to the Pashtun regions of Pakistan and is likely to intensify. But the Pashtun intelligentsia -- on both sides of the border -- say they want peace and are asking for a better understanding of the dynamics of their homeland." - "Attacks in Pakistan 'stupid, futile' "

US Advisors to Train PAK Frontier Corps Militia

21 Sept 08

New CAN Battle Group Takes the Reins

NATO SecGen (Carefully) Says CAN Should Expect Pressure to Stay Longer in AFG

Another Truck that Didn't Stop, Another Shooting - More - ISAF Foot Patrol Shoots Man Who Wouldn't Stop in Sangin - More - ISAF Statement - Would Be Suicide Bomber Shot in Pajwahi District of K'Har - Arms, Drugs Seized in Nimruz

More on Suspension of Offensive Ops for Peace Day - UNAMA Statement (.pdf) - UN Uber-Envoy Statement (.pdf) - More - more - AFG President's Statement (.pdf permalink) - Taliban Says It'll Play Nice - More - more - more - Official Taliban statement below - One Suicide Bomber Apparently Tried, Though, in Nimruz

Widows in Zabul Get Wheat from Red Cross - Unidentified US Aid Official Says Progress Seen in Uruzgan

Former Head of CAN's Aid Program in AFG (.pdf): “The international community, with the best of intentions may lack the capacity to help in terms of program delivery and institution-building.”

Analysis: "Efficient (Taliban) tactical action has resulted in higher levels of casualties for western forces" - More

FRA Troops Caught Off Guard, Unprepared in Ambush? - More - Brit Old Timer Offers Warning About Waziristan - Brit Medic Helps AFG Girl Hit by Taliban - UK MoD Accused of "Covering Up" Severity of Injuries - More - Demonstrators Call for End fo DEU Mission

Taliban Propaganda Watch: Summary, 9-20 Sept 08 (.pdf) - Taliban's Peace Day Statement - Original (Arabic at bottom of page) - Washington Post: "The old Taliban wanted to bring sharia, security and unity to Afghanistan. The new Taliban has much broader goals -- to drive foreign forces out of the country and the Muslim world." - More

AQ Video Promises More AFG Attacks - More - Link to video

Opinion: "Facing up to that old 'ally' Islamabad"

20 Sept 08

ISAF, ANA Forces Promise No Offensive Action on UN Peace Day (But They WILL Protect Themselves if Attacked) - More on UNAMA Peace Day - Army.ca: How Good an Idea is This?

Getting Harder for Reporters to Get Work Done with CF in AFG - Other Work Slowing Down, Too

More on Shooting of Vehicle That Wouldn't Stop

USMC Surge Marines to be Replaced by (Fewer) Leathernecks - USA Calls on Countries to Chip In to Help Grow ANA

DNK Soldier Injured in Helmand Mine Incident (GoogEng) - Original in Danish - AUS Troops "Acted in Self-Defense" in Firefight that Killed District Governor - NLD Minister Pushes for Investment in Uruzgan

More on WHO Pushing On with Polio Vaccine Campaign

More on Calls for Help to Keep Daykondi Out of Humanitatian Crisis over Winter - Latest UN Map Shows Disarmament Team Busy in Daykondi, Mine Team a Bit Busy in K'Har (.pdf) - USAID Helps Make Bureaucrats Better in Helmand

Taliban Propaganda Watch: "2 tanks of Canadian invaders destroyed in Kandahar" - "1 tank of Australian invaders destroyed in Uruzgan" - "1 vehicle of puppet army blew up in Kandahar"

Opinion: "Complete the Afghan Mission" - "Why isn’t the Afghan mission higher on our election radar?" - "Afghan war success demands action in Pakistan" - "A fight we must take seriously" - "Spinning civilian deaths in Afghanistan"

USA Chair of Joint Chiefs Says Drug Trade Fuels Bad Guys

Interpol Asks AFG to Keep Better Track of All the Terrs Escaping from Jail

"US strikes in Pakistan aimed at stopping the next Sept.11 attack"

19 Sept 08

Prescott (Scott) Shipway, R.I.P.: Laid to Rest - More

CAN DefMin Asks Committee to Review Rules for Sacrifice Medal - More

Opinion: "Campaign with a low-key military message" - "In small but sure ways the military forces believe that they can create a zone of security and help in reconstruction and development." - "Afghan war doesn't sit well with us"

ANOTHER Vehicle Doesn't Stop When Ordered by CF in K'Har, One Civvy Dead - More - more

USA DefSec Calls AFG Situation "Complicated, Dynamic" - USA General Stresses Partnerships - More on USA Considering New Approach - Including Using More UAVs

USA Says UK Sending More Troops - UK DefMin: Uh, Not So Fast.... - More

RUS Warns NATO About Air Link to AFG

District Governor Killed Accidentally by AUS Troops - A "Misunderstanding" - May Have Been AUS SF Involved - More - more - more - more - more - more - AFG, ISAF Looking Into Incident - AUS Looking Into It, Too - AUS Statement - AUS Gunners Busy in Helmand - "Security, surveillance and 'Super Sangars'"

Six AFG Cops Injured in Zabul Attack

US SF NCO Charged with Murder, Desecration of Body

Taliban Propaganda Watch: Taliban Denies Responsibility for Killing of K'Har Infrastructure Deputy (GoogEng) - Original in Arabic - "killed local commander and 5 soldiers in Uruzgan" (GoogEng) - Original in Arabic

"UN agencies urge respect for Afghan children’s rights to life and education"

Analysis: "It will take more than American missiles to bring order to Pakistan’s north-western border region"

18 Sept 08

CF Working on Compensating Father of Two Kids Killed in Taxi-Not-Stopping Incident

UN's First Quarter Report for 2008(.pdf): "The majority of overall attacks have occurred in (Regional Command South). Leadership problems within the opposing militant forces have affected their tactics and procedures. Nevertheless, cohesiveness among the opposing militant forces, and especially the Taliban, is still highest in the southern provinces, compared to the rest of the theatre. This is seen as a contributor to an increased willingness of the opposing militant forces to accept larger numbers of civilian casualties in terrorist-style attacks against public targets..."

Concerns About New CAN Sacrifice Medal

CAN PM OK's Release of Report Showing Cost of AFG Mission - More - more - May Be Out There Before Election Day - More - Parliamentary Budget Officer statement - Early Guesses? - More - Comment: "I don’t see how this particular issue would be advantageous for either the NDP or the Liberals" - Débat sur le coût de la guerre en Afghanistan

AFG ForMin Wants Taliban to Talk to Gov't

Polio Vaccination Program to Continue In South (Even if Taliban Doesn't Want It) - 1.8 Million to be Vaccinated 21-23 Sept 08 - Worries About Attacks on Aid Delivery

USA Wants Sole Command (And Some Allies Worry?)

Do Better Roads ALWAYS Mean Better Security? - More

"Musa Qala: Adapting to the Realities of Modern Counterinsurgency" - Let's Not Forget ANA Casualties - Two Taliban Nabbed in Kandahar - 12 Bad Boys Nailed in Helmand - "Insurgents in Afghanistan show strength, sophistication"

New Police Chief in Nimruz

"British Operations in Helmand Afghanistan" - UK Bringing Out the Jackal - UK DefMin: NATO Must Transform to Win - DNK PM Visits Helmand Governor - DNK Says Their Counter-IED Electronics Do NOT Suck - FRA DefMin Wants to Tour AFG With DEU, AUS DefMin's - More - Blogger Says DNK Troops Really Crack Up the Brits

Taliban Propaganda Watch: "Two explosions in Kandahar have led to victims among enemies" (GoogEng) - Original Arabic - "1 intelligence officer killed in Kandahar" - "10 supplying truck of American destroyed in Kandahar" - "1 tank of British invaders blew up in Helmand" - "17 puppet police killed in Helmand" - "2 tanks of Australian invaders destroyed in Uruzgan" - "Battle with puppet army in Zabul" (GoogEng) - Original Arabic - Embed With the Taliban (video)

Opinion: "Cutting and running: One year ago Stephen Harper was dead against it. What changed?" - "How Canada could take the high road in Afghanistan" - "How the press swallows (UK) MoD propaganda" - "More of the same is not going to help. We must at long last develop a cohesive, unified approach to tackling Afghanistan’s problems." - Letter to editor: "Time to leave Afghanistan"

USA Hits Waziristan Taliban Camp - TUR to Mediate Between AFG, PAK - US Officials in AFG, PAK to Discuss Strategy - More - What AFG-PAK War? - AFG Pres: C'Mon, Guys, What Are You Waiting For? - PAK Army Says They'll Shoot Back - More - Not That That's a NEW Thing... - PAK PM: Stop It, Guys! (.pdf if link doesn't work)

17 Sept 08

CF Probe Clears Clears Soldier of July Shooting of Car Not Stopping on Orders, Killing Two Kids - More - more - Army.ca Discussion of Merits of Compensation, Statements Made by Father

New UAV's Not Available Until After 2011?

Cdr US Forces in AFG Lays Out Future Course of the Fight - Says WAY More Troops Needed - Like, About 15K More

UN Report: Taliban Still Killing More Civvies than ISAF - Report (.pdf) - Alternate download site - More - more - UN Rights Boss Wants Everyone to Work Harder to Avoid Civvy Casualties - Meanwhile, "Afghan Directive Aimed at Eliminating Civilian Casualties"

Aid, Redevelopment in Uruzgan - Bad Boys Nailed in Helmand

US Researchers Looking into How Troops Perform at High Altitudes

UK Inquest Hears Troops Need More Electronic IED Detecting, Jamming Equipment - UK Funding Army of New AFG Flacks to Help Win Propaganda War - Brit Journalist Blogs About Son in AFG - UK Royal Navy Prepares to Run Hospital - FRA (Now) Wants Other Countries to Lift Caveats if Help is Needed

Taliban Alleges IRN Supplying "Dragon" EFP's - "Money and a hatred of foreigners are motivating a new generation of Afghan fighters"

Taliban Propaganda Watch: "The frightened battalions in Iraq, what will be brought to Afghanistan?"

Opinion: "Picking and Choosing from the Afghan Motion" (.pdf version) - Text of 13 Mar 08 CAN Gov't Resolution on AFG - "No government with troops in Afghanistan has explained to its voters that the troops' achievements are so fragile, that safety established in one valley does not imply safety in the next, and that the task of "reconstruction" is so integrally linked to military work." - "This is not the time to 'turn tail' in Afghanistan" - "Why we can't win in Afghanistan"

More on PAK Troops Opening Fire on US Forces - PAK Tribes Threaten to Join Taliban - PAK Looking for Brit Help to Play Nice with USA - Meanwhile, "Defense Spokesman Reaffirms Good U.S.-Pakistan Relationship" - USA Chair of Joint Chiefs Drops By to Try to Calm the Waters - "Covert operations only succeed when they have strong local allies who want outside support"

16 Sept 08

Chadwick James Horn, R.I.P.: Laid to Rest in Calgary - More - more - more - "Photos fail to capture the full picture of what a young man's life could have been"

Joshua Brian Roberts, R.I.P.: Soldier Killed in August Killed by Bad Guys, Not PMCs - More

Taliban Squeezes Father of Child Killed by CF Troops For Seeking Compensation

More CAN Reservists Preparing to Head Over

Cost of War Could be CAN Election Issue - Bean Counter Says All Parties Would Have to Agree to Allow Cost of War to be Released During Election Campaign - CAN Academic Calls 2011 Change in Mission "Bad Military Planning"

Analysis: "The Taliban may think they can persuade Canada to bring its troops home from Afghanistan sooner than planned. But with this foray into Canadian election campaign politics, the insurgents may well have shot themselves in the foot."

Opinion: "Whoever wins the U. S. presidential election, Canadian troops there are about to be subsumed by a surge in U. S. forces far larger than anything the Bush White House has announced so far."

CAN Pashtuns Call for UN, US, Others to Make for Peace in PAK, AFG

CAN Embed Considers K'Har "Under Seige"? - Blogger Counterpoint

"2008 is on pace to become the deadliest year in Afghanistan for allied forces since the Taliban was toppled in 2001"

Helmand Governor: Kajaki Won't Be Enough for Power Needs - Folks in Helmand Have Taliban Worries - Bad Boys "Disrupted" in Helmand - Bad Guys Cutting Off Teachers' Ears in Zabul

2 Para Soldier Latest UK Fallen - UN Rep: Brit Presence in AFG Stoking AQ - ATVs for the Brits - DNK PM Visits Troops in Helmand

Taliban Reportedly Using Skype to Duck Detection - More

Taliban Propaganda Watch: "It's a step that will help save Canadian civilians and soldiers .... We want foreign troops out of our country, and those that insist on staying, we will carry on fighting." - - More - "3 oil tankers of American invaders destroyed in Helmand" - "4 supplying truck of American destroyed in Kandahar" - "1 tank of Australian invaders blew up in Uruzgan"

PAK Taliban Denies Any REAL Talks with UK, Americans

Analyst: "We've Underestimated The Threat, We've Reacted Far Too Slowly"

Dubya Gives OK for Raids into PAK? - More - A Bit of History - White House Not Saying Much About Rules of Engagement - "Implications of US new strategy on FATA" - Analysis: "In authorizing this month's recent raid into south Waziristan, one of seven tribal agencies on the Afghan border, President Bush was testing the boundaries of the new government - and the authority of Mr. Zardari over the army." - PAK Troops Fire @ US Choppers Over Waziristan - More

15 Sept 08

CAN DefMin During Election Campaign: CAN Ending Combat Role in 2011 Not "Cutting and Running"

UN Convoy Bringing Polio Vaccine Attacked near Spin Boldak - ISAF Pissed

UN Uber-Envoy Says More AFG Troops Needed to Improve Security

Taliban Propaganda Watch: "11 puppet police killed in Kandahar" - "Martyrdom Operation 8 foreigner invaders in Kandahar"

13 Sept 08

Andrew Paul Grenon, R.I.P.: Laid to Rest

"Dead soldier's father seeks mission debate"

Opinion: "Stephen Harper's Afghan retreat" - "Harper has done our soldiers - and their sacrifices - a disservice" - "Welcome move on Afghan exit"

Brit EOD NCO Killed in Helmand IED Incident - Brit Para Killed on Patrol near FOB Gibraltar - Brit Troops Back @ Base Following Kajaki Op

Taliban Propaganda Watch: "1 tank of Canadian destroyed in Kandahar" - "31 puppet soldiers killed in Helmand"

Analysis: "Political Tea Leaves in AFG"

USA Pres Gives Order for Troops to Push Into PAK

12 Sept 08

CAN, AFG Troops Fight Off Attack on Roadbuilding Project

CAN Def Min Says CAN Will Still Have a Role in AFG After 2011- More

CAN PM Suspends Aide for Dissing Father of the Fallen

Manley: STILL Not Enought Help Forthcoming for AFG - More

CAN Commander in Chief Handing Out Bravery Awards Next Week

Young CAN Diplomats Fighting Their Fight

Taliban Propaganda Watch: "Does Karzai really have the sovereignty of the country?" - "5 puppet soldiers killed in Kandahar" - "Martyrdom Operation destroyed 2 vehicles of foreigner invaders in Kandahar "

11 Sept 08

Prescott (Scott) Shipway, R.I.P.: He's Home

CAN PM: Troops Home by 2011 - Rules Out Extension? - More - more

Taliban Propaganda Watch: "6 Canadian invaders soldiers Killed in Kandahar" - "20 puppet soldiers killed in Kandahar" - "18 puppet police killed in Helmand" - "Mujahideen of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan military operations 09-09-2008"

US Keeping a Closer Eye on PAK Border

10 Sept 08

Prescott (Scott) Shipway, R.I.P.: Expected Home Today - More

US Soldier in BN Helping CAN Troops Killed in IED in Helmand - Official DoD statement

Taliban Watching CAN Election, Say Next PM Should Pull Troops Out (.pdf permalink) - Army.ca Discussion - Taliban Planning 20 Year War

CAN Anti-IED Team Busy and Keen (But Stuff Still Blowing Up)

USA Cranking Up Number of Troops in AFG - While Cutting Troops in IRQ - Still, Fewer Headed to AFG than Commanders are Asking For - More

BBC's "Who's Fighting Where" Map

Video: USMC Finds Weapon Cache in Helmand

Opinion: CAN PM Should Attend All Repatriations - "The North American media, including the CBC, has strongly supported the U.S./NATO strategy and the administration of President Hamid Karzai. Contrary to the mainstream message, things are not going well."

"Heavy-weapons facilitator" Nabbed in Oruzgan - 16 Taliban killed in S. AFG

Taliban Propaganda Watch: "A vehicle of puppet police blew up in Helmand"

New PAK Pres Aiming at Fresh Start with AFG

9 Sept 08

Prescott (Scott) Shipway, R.I.P.: On His Way Home - More - more

Andrew Paul Grenon, R.I.P.: Funeral Set for Friday in Windsor, Ontario

No Word on CAN Cost of War with Election Campaign Under Way - More on CAN Def Issues in the Campaign

Former CAN Envoy to AFG: Surge Needed to Ensure Development Work Continues

Wanted: Fuel Operations Supervisor @ K'Har Air Field

USMC Hands Over Garmsir in Helmand to AFG Troops & UK Mentors - More - more

NATO Tightens Rules (Further) to Prevent Civvy Casualties

Commander, Combined Joint Task Force 101 Sees "Slow Win" in AFG - Transcript of news conference

Marines Wearing Lighter Body Armour in AFG

K'Har Residents Talk to BBC Seven Years Into Western Intervention

AUS Def Min Says Infantry Could Help SAS in AFG - Call for Mo' Troops, Including from AUS

Taliban Propaganda Watch: Weekly Digest 1-8 Sept 08 - "9 Canadian invaders soldiers Killed in Kandahar" - "In Martyrdom Operations 10 intelligence officers killed in Zabul" - "4 vehicle of puppet army in Zabul" - "2 vehicle of puppet army blew up in Kandahar"

Former EU Envoy: No Plan Apparent for AFG, No Progress Until President Bush Gone

8 Sept 08

Prescott (Scott) Shipway, R.I.P.: CF Statement - Link to Photo - Commander in Chief's Statement - Prime Minister's Statement - DefMin's Statement - Canadian Press - CanWest/National Post - CTV.ca - NewsTalk 650 (Saskatoon) - Agence France Presse - Reuters - Father of Two from Saskatchewan - On Second Tour - Columnist Remembers NCO Saving Officer's Life

Opinion: "The Taliban attack in Kandahar last Wednesday that killed three Canadian soldiers and wounded another five is a shocking example of how brazen the insurgents have become in southern Afghanistan." (.pdf permalink) - "They understand they don't have to defeat us, they just have to defeat the will of the people back home." (.pdf permalink)

PAK-AFG Border Reopened to NATO Traffic - Cut Off Only During Attacks - Like This One - More

Human Rights Watch report: "This chapter examines cases of alleged “shielding” by Taliban forces. In several instances, Human Rights Watch obtained eyewitness testimonies confirming that such shielding was occurring." - "Troops in Contact: Airstrikes and Civilian Deaths in Afghanistan" - .pdf version of report - News release

"Some Taliban commanders in Afghanistan are resorting to attacks against villages they feel are not supporting the Islamic radicals sufficiently."

Story of One of the Civvies Serving Up Tim's Coffee

Boss Cop Survives Double-Homicide-Bomber Attack on Kandahar HQ - More - more (.pdf version) - Taliban's Version of Double Suicide Bomber Attack on K"har Cop Shop - Another Homicide Bomber Tried Same in Zabul Int Office

Taliban, AFG Cops Killed in Attacks on Police Posts in Nimruz - Civvies Killed Hitting IED in Zabul

Taliban Propaganda Watch: "2 vehicle of puppet army blew up in Kandahar" - "9 puppet police were killed in Helmand" - "A tank of Australian invaders blew up in Uruzgan" - Analysis: "On the ground in Afghanistan and across the border in Pakistan, the Taliban and their allies are winning analysts' plaudits for the efficiency and effectiveness of a propaganda machine that increasingly keeps locals sitting on the fence in conflict-prone areas of the country."

NLD Soldier Killed in Uruzgan IED Blast - More - How NLD Troops are Adjusting Logistics, Ops in Uruzgan During Ramadan (Original in Dutch) - GoogleEng: FRA Military Academy Alumni Underwhelmed by Pix of Taliban Wearing Dead Guys' Uniforms (Original in French) - FRA Troops "Assassinated" - AUS Gov't Travel Advisory: "Credible reports suggest terrorists may be targeting journalists, including Australians, in Afghanistan." (.pdf version) - More

Opinion: "Invasion: A Comparison of Soviet and Western Media Performance" - "En Afghanistan, le Canada consacre 10 $ au combat, 1 $ à la reconstruction." (GoogleEng: Comparing CAN, FRA in Their AFG Work)

"Rumors that Afghan president Karzai is on the drug gangs payroll has become more obvious, as he pushes for getting veto power over U.S. and NATO military operations."

"The Guests at Kabul's Garden Parties": "Summer in Afghanistan is the fighting season, and the time for Kabul garden parties. At diplomatic, military, and donor agency receptions it is always interesting to count the number of known and rumored drug lords and human rights abusers in attendance."

Predator Nails Bad Boys in Waziristan

7 Sept 08

Scott Shipway, R.I.P.: Killed in roadside bomb attack - More - more - more

Andrew Paul Grenon, Chadwick James Horn and Michael James Alexander Seggie, R.I.P.: They're Home - More - more more - more - One of the Injured Looks On at K'Har Ramp Ceremony - Seggie Missed by Colleagues

Bittersweet Return for Shilo-Based Troops - More - Others On Their Way Downrange

CAN PRT Troops Expect Shura, Get Haul o' Bad Guy Weapons - More

Two Homicide Bombers Hit K'har Police HQ: CanWest/National Post - BBC - Associated Press - Reuters - Agence France Presse - DPA (DEU) - Voice of America - Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Homicide Bomber Dressed as Beggar Kills 3 in Nimruz Government Office

More on PAK Blocking NATO Fuel Shipments into AFG - Some Confusion Among PAK Ministries Re: What's Allowed, What's Not

CAN Dev Agency Rules Could Make Development Workers Reluctant to Help Out

How 3D Evolved in CAN Military via AFG

Video: CAN Embed in K'har

Worries About Poisoned Tobacco in Eastern AFG?

Uruzgan Governor Says Warlords a Big Problem (Esp. When They Work with the Taliban)

Kidnapping a Big Taliban Money Maker - Analysis: "With anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles the mujahedeen drove out the mighty Soviet army. Why don't the Taliban have them in real numbers now? And what will happen if they get them?"

Taliban Propaganda Watch: "Ramadan: Month of Jihad" - "Weekly Comment: This is the holy month of Ramadan" (GoogleEnglish) (Arabic version)

AFG Pres Blames Brits for Taliban Resurgence? - Brit Amputee Wants to Fight Again

Opinion: "Election must focus on Afghanistan" (.pdf version) - "Wars based on ideas can be more costly than wars based on geography. Afghanistan is such a war, and Canadians, it seems, need to make up their minds about what price today they will put on freedom." - "How a Canuck colonel took the Taliban fight too far" - The Letter - "Charge of the Helmand Brigade"

Kabul Parliament Appeasing the Hardliners?

6 Sept 08

Andrew Paul Grenon, Chadwick James Horn and Michael James Alexander Seggie, R.I.P.: They're Expected Home Tonight - More - Families Wait - "Family says Horn died protecting others" - "From what we know of the Canadians on the front line of this conflict, people like Cpl. Grenon, Cpl. Seggie and Pte. Horn, they are there to ensure Septembers in Canada remain as tranquil and mellow as this one."

More Troops Getting Ready to Head Over - Some Finally Getting Home

CAN Shows Yardstick for Success in AFG: News release - Backgrounder - More - more - more

CAN DefMin Says He Hopes Taliban Won't Crank Up Attacks During Election Campaign - Political Worries

CAN CDS Says Taliban Not Getting Outside Help? - Récents succès des talibans attribués à de la chance

New CAN Envoy: Taliban Stronger, Coalition Adjusting - "L'ambassadeur canadien reconnaît une force revigorée aux talibans" - Quoted Saying "The Taliban statement about targeting Canadians was a very opportunistic piece of propaganda that we are not taking seriously" - Here's the Statement He's (Allegedly) Not Taking Seriously

PAK Stops NATO Shipments into AFG - More - Fuel Supplies Only? - Army.ca: Time to Consider Plan B? - Meanwhile, USA Airstrike Nails AQ Folks in PAK - Opinion: PAK New AFG Battlefield?

AFG AQ Boss Warns of Attacks on West

"School Cornerstone Laid Down in Diakondi "

CAN Embed Learns About Different Timeframes, Approaches in AFG

More on Polling Showing Shrinking Public Support for Mission in CAN

Still More Calls for More Troops

Ten Bad Boys Nailed in Helmand (But Some Say Different) (.pdf permalink) - Homicide Bombing on AFG Int Agency in Nimruz

Taliban Propaganda Watch: "Invasion of Pakistan Has Begun, 20 Civilians Murdered "

UK IDs Latest Fallen - UK Apache Crashes in Helmand - Brit Part-Timers Ready to Head Downrange - More - More Controversy Over FRA Pix of Taliban Wearing Uniforms, Carrying Weapons of Dead Troops

5 Sept 08

Andrew Paul Grenon, Chadwick James Horn and Michael James Alexander Seggie, R.I.P.: ISAF Statement - On Their Way Home - More - more - more - Remembered as Doing What They Loved - More - Grenon Family Statement (Includes Poem by Fallen) - Could This Poem Be His, Too? - Worries About New Tactics? - Or Have Taliban Been Lucky? - How it MAY Have Happened According To "a well-informed Afghan government official in Kandahar with strong Taliban contacts" - (.pdf permalink) - Taliban's Version of Events (in not great English)

One Anniversary Remembered - Another One Remembered

More Troops Return from Their ROTO

"Opération militaire ALTAIR : Imposante et inconnue" - COMFEC Fiche d'information: Opération Altair

"Sending love from Kugluktuk to Afghanistan"

New CAN Envoy to AFG Named - CAN ForMin news release - "Nomination d’un nouvel ambassadeur en Afghanistan"

CAN's "AFG Czar" to Brief Media on Benchmarks to Measure Progress into 2011

"Almost two-thirds of Canadians say Afghan mission too costly, poll suggests"

"NATO, Kabul Agree On Improving Military Coordination" - Especially to Avoid Civvy Deaths

UN Presses NATO to Expand Anti-Narcotic Work in AFG - Meanwhile, AFG Drug Judge Killed in Kabul

ANOTHER Civilian Who Didn't Stop When Ordered in Helmand

Petraeus: Move a 10 Mtn Div Brigade Outta IRQ, Let 'Em Get Ready for AFG

Brit Royal Irish Regiment Soldier Killed on Foot Patrol in Sangin - Brit Officer Faced "Daisy chain of bombs hidden in sleepy village" - Mass Attack on FRA Paras Sign of New Taliban Approach? - Video: FRA Pissed at Pix of Taliban in French Uniforms Following Attack - The Picture - The Article (French) - GoogleEng Translation: "By this attack, we wanted to show the French soldiers need to stop helping the Americans." - USMC in Helmand Need to Lighten Up, Literally - RUS Could Dump NATO in AFG

Taliban Propaganda Watch: "21 Canadian invaders soldiers Killed in Kandahar" - "1 tank of American occupation blew up in Helmand" - "1 checkpoint of puppet army demolished in Helmand" - GoogEng: "Attak on military convoy, killed eight Australian soldiers in Tarin Kot" (original in Arabic) - GoogEng: "Destroying two vehicles of the enemy in Kandahar" (original in Arabic) - "An interview to the spokesman of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Qari Yusuf Ahmadi" (.pdf permalink) - Some Highlights from the Interview - "Why are independent media and human rights silent over the massacre of civilians?"

Opinion: "There are positive things happening in the country and the Taliban is waging a public relations war that we must beat them at to win this long-term battle" - "Development work in Afghanistan cannot wait for complete security" - "Britain scores a military success (with Kajaki dam operation). But it will take much more to beat the Taliban" - "The threat of an endless war and the paralysis of humanitarian aid" - "Price too high in Afghanistan" - Letters Question AFG Mission

WFP Stocking Up on Winter Food Aid for AFG

PAK Media Analysis: "The Americans are now talking of making the Afghan army 120,000-strong over the next few years. What will this mean for Pakistan or for the correlation of forces in the region"