http://www.citizensugar.com/ Breaking News, Together. en http://www.citizensugar.com/2515434 <p>Not everyone in the Bush Administration will be out on their behinds on Jan. 20. Barack Obama is <a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/596576ca-b5c0-11dd-ab71-0000779fd18c.html?nclick_check=1" target="_blank">considering keeping on Defense Secretary Robert Gates</a>. Gates, a former CIA head, has received widespread praise for his work as defense secretary since replacing Donald Rumsfeld. </p> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/47_2008/32c185999f32d818_79585523.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="342" width="550"></span></p> <p>Since he has led the Pentagon since 2006, Gates could be the person best situated to coordinate Obama's plan to withdraw from Iraq and increase troops in Afghanistan. Even so, keeping a Republican who has been leading Bush's war policy may take the team of rivals idea a bit too far. </p> <p>Is Obama responsible and wise to keep on Gates in order to make the transition of power and situation in the Middle East run smoothly, or does a new direction require a new person in such an important cabinet position?</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/2515434#comment Afghanistan Barack Obama Headline Iraq Republicans Robert Gates Secretary of Defense Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:30:00 -0800 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/2515434 http://www.citizensugar.com/node/2469204 <p><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/05/report-us-airstrike-kills_n_141535.html" target="_blank">Report: US Airstrike Kills 23 Children, 10 Women in Afghanistan</a> US-led forces allegedly struck a wedding party in southern Afghanistan yesterday, killing mostly civilians. The Afghan president congratulated Barack Obama and called on him Wednesday to halt civilian casualties as villagers said US warplanes bombed the wedding party, killing 37 people, most of them children.</p> http://www.citizensugar.com/node/2469204#comment Afghanistan aside Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:25:05 -0800 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/2469204 http://www.citizensugar.com/2365558 <p>Following an offensive by Pakistani forces against militants, as many as 190,000 Pakistanis and Afghans <a href="http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/world/2008/10/14/D93QCC282_as_pakistan/index.html" target="_blank">have fled their homes</a>, according to reports given to the UN High Commission Refugees. Most refugees, running from the clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, are staying with host families in either country.<br /> <span class="inline left"><a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/2365526?page=0,0,0" ><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/42_2008/83175833.preview_0.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="367" width="550"></a></span><br /> In the Bajaur region of Pakistan, government jets hit insurgent trenches, killing five, today. Another attack left 12 extremists dead, along with two progovernment tribesmen. Since the offensive began,1,000 rebel fighters and Taliban militants have been killed, <a href="http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jBVscNlqXVfaV_EO8Mwy8hAfzQNg" target="_blank">according to Pakistan</a>.</p> <p>Today's strikes came the same day religious scholars and political parties announced that suicide bombs violate Islam and are illegitimate in Pakistan. Looks like the Pakistani government is going on the military and moral offensive to stop extremists. Hopefully the refugees make it home safely. </p> <p><p><div style="float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:9px"><div id=mask-58493 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}><div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'><a target="gallery4" class="thumb2 active" href="http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/2365526?page=0,0,0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/42_2008/83175833.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" height="100" width="100" /></a></div></div></div><div style="float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:9px"><div id=mask-27125 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}><div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'><a target="gallery4" class="thumb2 " href="http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/2365526?page=0,1,0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/42_2008/83175921.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" height="100" width="100" /></a></div></div></div><div style="float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:9px"><div id=mask-13244 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}><div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'><a target="gallery4" class="thumb2 " href="http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/2365526?page=0,2,0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/42_2008/83209630.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" height="100" width="100" /></a></div></div></div><div style="float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:9px"><div id=mask-23700 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}><div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'><a target="gallery4" class="thumb2 " href="http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/2365526?page=0,3,0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/42_2008/83209936.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" height="100" width="100" /></a></div></div></div><div style="float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:9px"><div id=mask-19849 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}><div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'><a target="gallery4" class="thumb2 " href="http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/2365526?page=0,4,0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/42_2008/83209922.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" height="100" width="100" /></a></div></div></div></p><br clear="all"></p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Srouce</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/2365558#comment Afghanistan Headline Islam Middle East Pakistan Refugees UNHCR Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:30:00 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/2365558 http://www.citizensugar.com/2350044 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/42_2008/83244640.xlarge.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right xlarge" height="206" width="320"></span> <ul> <li><b>Global Markets Rally:</b><br /> Banking stocks in Asia and Europe <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/14/business/14markets.html?hp" target="_blank">jumped this morning</a> after European leaders announced plans to inject capital into banks and guarantee interbank lending. Rising between 5 and 10 percent, the rallying world markets are hoped to have a positive impact on the US market which opened moments ago, up, but with the Dow still in the 8,000s.</li> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/42_2008/Monday.larger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left larger" height="179" width="240"></span> <li><b>Krugman Wins Nobel for Economics:</b><br /> US Economist and <b>New York Times</b> columnist Paul <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7667190.stm" target="_blank">Krugman has won</a> this year's Nobel Prize for Economics. He won for his analysis of trade patterns and new theories that answer questions on free trade and globalization. Krugman says he hopes the $1.4 million prize won't change his life: "I hope it does not lead me into going to a lot of purely celebratory events."</li> <li><b>Afghanistan Commander is Hopeful:</b><br /> The top American commander in Afghanistan said yesterday he wants <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/13/world/asia/13afghan.html?ref=world" target="_blank">doubters to believe</a> that the war against the Taliban can be won. Gen. McKiernan leads over 65,000 troops and said at a conference in Kabul that there have been "too many" reports about losing the war in Afghanistan. He says, “I absolutely reject that idea, I don’t believe it. It is true that there are many places in this country that don’t have an adequate level of security. We don’t have progress as even and as fast as any of us would like. But we are not losing in Afghanistan.”</li> </ul> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/2350044#comment Afghanistan Economy Front Page Nobel Peace Prize Paul Krugman Mon, 13 Oct 2008 06:56:07 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/2350044 http://www.citizensugar.com/2338477 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/41_2008/83207838.xlarge.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right xlarge" height="265" width="320"></span> <ul> <li><b>Nobel Peace Prize Awarded:</b><br /> The 2008 Nobel Peace Prize was <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/11/world/europe/11nobel.html?hp" target="_blank">awarded this morning</a> to former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari. Chosen from a group of 197 people for his decades of cautious diplomatic work, the Nobel committee says he was picked, “for his important efforts in several continents and over three decades to resolve international conflicts," specifically his work to end South African domination in Namibia.</li> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/41_2008/83201238.xlarge.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left xlarge" height="320" width="286"></span> <li><b>Dow Falls Below 8,000 at Opening:</b><br /> Moments after the opening bell this morning, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell below 8,000 amid news that the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/11/business/11markets.html?hp" target="_blank">global markets are in a selloff</a>. European markets fell more than 10 percent at opening and shares in Asia continued to decline amid fears of a huge global recession. One expert says, “We are fighting really dire fundamentals. It will require restoring trust and confidence before a sustained rebound will be possible.” Perhaps addressing that confidence, President Bush is set to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/washington/AP-Meltdown-Bush.html" target="_blank">give an address</a> at 10:25 a.m. ET.</li> <p><br clear=all></p> <li><b>NATO to Attack Opium Labs:</b><br /> NATO has just agreed to allow its troops to <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7663204.stm" target="_blank">attack opium factories</a> in Afghanistan for the first time. According to a NATO spokesman the troops will be acting "against facilities and facilitators" to stop those using the drugs to finance the Taliban. Some NATO members have expressed concern that the crackdown will cause a backlash against the troops. Afghanistan supplies more than 90 percent of the world's opium.</li> </ul> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/2338477#comment Afghanistan Economy Front Page Martti Ahtisaari NATO Nobel Peace Prize the Taliban Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:54:05 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/2338477 http://www.citizensugar.com/2335385 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/41_2008/83184754.xlarge.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right xlarge" height="213" width="320"></span> <ul> <li><b>Study Pegs Afghanistan Crisis:</b><br /> A <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/world/asia/09afghan.html?_r=1&amp;hp&amp;oref=slogin" target="_blank">report by US intelligence agencies</a> says Afghanistan is in a "downward spiral" and injects doubt over the ability of the Afghan government to overcome the Taliban's influence. The strength of the government has been severely compromised by corruption within Karzai's administration. The conclusions of the report indicate it should have been central to the war on terror, an effort now in need of <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/world/europe/09gates.html?ref=europe" target="_blank">more international troops</a>.</li> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/41_2008/Thursday.larger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left larger" height="179" width="240"></span> <li><b>State Ownership of Banks Considered:</b><br /> The White House is <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/washington/AP-Meltdown-Paulson.html" target="_blank">considering ownership stakes</a> in some US banks as a way of stemming the severe global credit crisis. Though no decision has been made, the $700 billion Bailout Bill allows the Treasury Department to get ownership stakes in financial institutions in exchange for the bailout.</li> <p><br clear=all></p> <li><b>Zimbabwe's Inflation Hits Extreme High:</b><br /> The official annual inflation rate of Zimbabwe has hit 231,000,000 percent. The new <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7660569.stm" target="_blank">astronomical number</a> is up from 11,000,000 percent a year ago. The power-sharing deal between Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai did little to reverse the downward spiral of the economy. The UN estimates two million people are in need of food aid, a number that will rise to half the population by early next year.</li> </ul> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/2335385#comment Afghanistan Economy Front Page the Taliban Zimbabwe Thu, 09 Oct 2008 07:00:26 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/2335385 http://www.citizensugar.com/2276096 <p>Since the fall of the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001, a lot has changed. Maybe the most obvious and notable has been the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/06/world/asia/06bamian.html?ref=world" target="_blank">change in women’s roles</a> in that nation. </p> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/41_2008/81842506.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="385" width="550"></span></p> <p>While under the Taliban, women were strictly relegated to traditional, some would say, oppressive functions under pain of death should they refuse. This resulted in staggering illiteracy rates, mortality rates, and no opportunities to play any part in the governing of their nation.</p> <p>But somewhat surprisingly, in the middle of a nation of continuing strife, that is changing rapidly. To see how, </p> <p><a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/2276096">read more</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/2276096#comment Afghanistan Headline Women Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:00:40 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/2276096 http://www.citizensugar.com/2085902 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/39_2008/_45050244_ahmad2_226_0.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left preview" height="231" width="150"></span>A young Afghan journalist, Jawed Ahmad, just spent 11 horrific months in US military detention at an air base near Kabul, Afghanistan. Almost a year ago, a press officer from an American military base asked him to come talk. Assuming it was for business, the reporter went to a base, where he was then surrounded by 15 people, dropped to the floor, and taken to prison. They accused him of having contacts with and supplying weapons to the Taliban. He explained that the contacts were a result of his journalism, but he was still flown to the Bagram air base, where the US holds 600 prisoners defined as unlawful combatants. </p> <p>Jawed <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7635307.stm" target="_blank">sat down with BBC</a> to talk about his experience. Here are some excerpts. </p> <ul> <li>After being flown to the detention base, "they stood me in snow for six hours. It was too cold — I had no socks, no shoes, nothing. I became unconscious two times."</li> <li>"For nine days they didn't allow me sleep. I didn't eat anything — it was a very tough time for me." </li> <li>Guards told him: "you know what? . . . There is no right of journalists in this war."</li> </ul> <p>For more of Jawed's account, </p> <p><a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/2085902">read more</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/2085902#comment Afghanistan Headline Jawed Ahamad Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:15:25 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/2085902 http://www.citizensugar.com/2055783 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/39_2008/82909586.xlarge.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right xlarge" height="222" width="320"></span> <ul> <li><b>Congress May Add Stimulus:</b><br /> Congress is likely to raise the cost of the $700 billion rescue deal by <a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/congress-may-seek-add-stimulus/story.aspx?guid=%7BC107DC6D-03B6-4287-AD0D-5FD67819FC86%7D&amp;dist=msr_25" target="_blank">adding more economic stimulus</a> for taxpayers, according to Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee Barney Frank. The cost of the current plan could reach $1 trillion. Senate Banking Chairman Chris Dodd <a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ioHc80xKMiATnqCpK0cDKJzk_nPQD93BP4O80" target="_blank">urged caution</a> this morning and praised Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson as "the right man."</li> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/39_2008/Monday.larger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left larger" height="179" width="240"></span> <li><b>South Africa's Mbeki Resigns:</b><br /> South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/22/world/africa/22mbeki.html?ref=africa" target="_blank">resigned yesterday</a> after his political party demanded that he step down. He gave a brief speech saying, “I would like to say that gloom and despondency have never defeated adversity. Trying times need courage and resilience.” Mbeki has been <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7628672.stm" target="_blank">temporarily replaced</a> by Kgalema Motlanthe.</li> <p><br clear=all></p> <li><b>Militants Kidnap 155 in Afghanistan:</b><br /> Three buses carrying Afghan laborers were <a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hvWEqwq3CrRvaQCmt21MfoYhjZJQD93BOK980" target="_blank">stopped by militants</a> and all 155 people on board were kidnapped. No one has yet claimed responsibility and the Interior Ministry spokesman says, "What demand might they have from the government? They are poor and innocent laborers who are traveling far distances for work." Though kidnappings and ransoms are routine in Afghanistan, this instance is the first time militants have attempted to abduct and hold such a large group. </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/2055783#comment Abduction Afghanistan Congress Economy Front Page South Africa Thabo Mbeki the Taliban Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:00:38 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/2055783 http://www.citizensugar.com/2020125 <p>Rising <a href="http://townhall.com/news/world/2008/09/08/videos_show_dead_afghan_children_after_us_raid" target="_blank">civilian casualties</a> from US and international attacks, the resurgence of the Taliban, the rising cost of food and gas, and the failure to engage Pakistan, Iran, and India make the situation in Afghanistan the worst since 2001, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/world/asia/15kabul.html?_r=1&amp;ref=asia&amp;oref=" target="_blank">according to an experienced European diplomat</a>.<br /> <span class="inline left"><a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/2020023?page=0,0,0" ><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/38_2008/82734974_0.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="368" width="550"></a></span><br /> Francesc Vendrell, a Spaniard who just stepped down as the EU envoy in Kabul, insisted yesterday that the Afghan government and other countries, too, must follow military actions against the Taliban with concrete humanitarian assistance. Only then, he said, will the local people get behind the government in Kabul and its Western backers. </p> <p><p><div style="float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:9px"><div id=mask-82040 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#e54c4c'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}><div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'><a target="gallery4" class="thumb2 active" href="http://citizensugar.com/gallery/view/2020023?page=0,0,0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/38_2008/82566182.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" /></a></div></div></div><div style="float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:9px"><div id=mask-43412 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#e54c4c'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}><div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'><a target="gallery4" class="thumb2 " href="http://citizensugar.com/gallery/view/2020023?page=0,1,0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/38_2008/82566441.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" /></a></div></div></div><div style="float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:9px"><div id=mask-14612 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#e54c4c'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}><div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'><a target="gallery4" class="thumb2 " href="http://citizensugar.com/gallery/view/2020023?page=0,2,0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/38_2008/82616610.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" /></a></div></div></div><div style="float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:9px"><div id=mask-18036 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#e54c4c'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}><div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'><a target="gallery4" class="thumb2 " href="http://citizensugar.com/gallery/view/2020023?page=0,3,0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/38_2008/82816200.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" /></a></div></div></div><div style="float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:9px"><div id=mask-19393 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#e54c4c'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}><div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'><a target="gallery4" class="thumb2 " href="http://citizensugar.com/gallery/view/2020023?page=0,4,0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/38_2008/82734974.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" /></a></div></div></div></p><br clear="all"></p> <p>Speaking at a conference of international ministers and military officers, Vendrell offered some more specific advice. To find out what that was, </p> <p><a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/2020125">read more</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/2020125#comment Afghanistan European Union Francesc Vendrell Headline Middle East Military Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:00:00 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/2020125 http://www.citizensugar.com/1981567 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/37_2008/80593349_0.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="341" width="350"></span>General David Petraeus will leave his post as commander of US troops in Iraq, taking over US Central Command. As the chief of Central Command, the four-star general will oversee the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.</p> <p>This week, General Petraeus discussed progress in Iraq and the possibility of victory. Check out these highlights from his interview <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7610405.stm" target="_blank"> with BBC</a>, which airs tonight.</p> <ul> <li><b>On whether US troops could withdraw from Iraq by the middle of next year</b>: It's "doable." </li> <li><b> On whether he will ever declare victory in Iraq</b>: "This is not the sort of struggle where you take a hill, plant the flag, and go home to a victory parade . . . it's not war with a simple slogan." </li> <li><b>On his new role of overseeing Afghanistan at US Central Command</b>: "The trends in Afghanistan have not gone in the right direction . . . and that had to be addressed." Afghanistan remains a "hugely important endeavor."</li> <li><b>On progress made by the surge</b>: Petraeus said that recent security gains were "not irreversible" and that the US still faced a "long struggle." </li> </ul> <p>Provincial elections supposed to take place this year, but <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2008/09/iraq-election-w.html" target="_blank">still waiting on parliamentary approval</a>, will test stability in Iraq. If the Iraq war doesn't lend itself to the traditional notion of victory, how will the US know when it's time to leave?</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1981567#comment Afghanistan David Patraeus Headline Iraq Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:45:00 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1981567 http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1970299 <p><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/10/pentagon-afghanistan-mili_n_125397.html" target="_blank">Pentagon: Afghanistan Military Strategy Unsuccessful</a> Improved security in Iraq will give the US military flexibility to do more in Afghanistan in coming months, Defense Secretary Robert Gates told Congress Wednesday, after years of setting a lower priority for the Afghan fight. But even as Gates hinted at possible further troop cuts in Iraq, he said a go-slow approach is justified by several worrisome circumstances, including slow progress on the political front. "I worry that the great progress our troops and the Iraqis have made has the potential to override a measure of caution born of uncertainty."</p> http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1970299#comment Afghanistan aside Military Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:07:54 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1970299 http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1954384 <p><a href="http://townhall.com/news/world/2008/09/08/videos_show_dead_afghan_children_after_us_raid" target="_blank">Videos Show Dead Afghan Children After US Raid</a> The bodies of at least 10 children and many more adults covered in blankets and white shrouds appear in videos obtained by The Associated Press on Monday, lending weight to Afghan and UN allegations that a US-led raid last month killed more civilians than the US reported. The sounds of wailing women mixed with the voices of men shouting inside a white-walled mosque in the western village of Azizabad, where an Afghan government commission and UN report said some 90 civilians — including 60 children and 15 women — were killed.</p> http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1954384#comment Afghanistan aside Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:37:20 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1954384 http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1906913 <p><a href="http://townhall.com/news/world/2008/09/01/killings_of_5_afghan_children_inflame_tensions" target="_blank">Killings of Five Afghan Children Inflame Tensions</a> Foreign and Afghan forces killed five children in two separate incidents Monday, further inflaming tensions in the country over the killings of civilians by troops from the US and other countries. NATO said it accidentally killed three children in an artillery strike in eastern Afghanistan. It said NATO forces fired the rounds after insurgents attacked its patrol in Gayan district of Paktika province and one of the rounds hit a house, killing three children and injuring seven civilians.</p> http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1906913#comment Afghanistan aside Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:45:31 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1906913 http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1889189 <p><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/24/us-strike-kills-78-afghan_n_120908.html" target="_blank">US Strike Kills 78 Afghans, Afghan President Says Most Were Civilians</a> Scores of Afghan civilians who had gathered in a small village for the memorial ceremony of a militia commander were killed when US and Afghan soldiers launched an attack in the middle of the night, officials and villagers said Saturday. President Hamid Karzai condemned the early Friday operation in western Afghanistan and said most of the dead were civilians. The US coalition, however, said it believed only five civilians were among those killed.</p> http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1889189#comment Afghanistan aside Sun, 24 Aug 2008 06:55:23 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1889189 http://www.citizensugar.com/1879478 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/34_2008/82475755.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" width="300"></span> <ul> <li><b>Rice Signs Missile Deal:</b><br /> Against strong opposition from Russia, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signed an agreement with Poland to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/21/world/europe/21missile.html?ref=world" target="_blank">locate a missile defense base</a> on Polish territory. The Kremlin called the act "hostile" though US officials say the defense system is aimed at threats from countries like Iran and will not target Russia. Rice says, “Missile defense, of course, is aimed at no one. It is in our defense that we do this.”</li> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/34_2008/Wednesday.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left preview" width="200"></span> <li><b>Taliban Assaults US Base:</b><br /> Taliban insurgents, in the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/20/world/asia/20afghan.html?ref=world" target="_blank">most serious attack in six years</a>, perpetrated a coordinated assault on one of the largest US military bases in Afghanistan. At least 10 suicide bombers and another 100 insurgents killed 10 elite French paratroopers. It was the single deadliest loss for foreign troops since the Taliban was removed from power in 2001.</li> <p><br clear=all></p> <li><b>Sudan's President Denies Genocide:</b><br /> Sudan's president denied that his regime is responsible for carrying out genocide in the Darfur region. The Hague indicted Omar al-Bashir last month on genocide charges, but he says the <a href="http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/20/europe/EU-Turkey-Sudan-Bashir.php" target="_blank">numbers are exaggerated</a>, "genocide like the International Criminal Court claims is nonexistent." The prosecution said the militia directed by al-Bashir's government killed 300,000 ethnic Africans and displaced 2.5 million.</li> </ul> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1879478#comment Afghanistan Attacks Condoleezza Rice Darfur Front Page Genocide Poland Sudan Taliban Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:57:25 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1879478 http://www.citizensugar.com/1872959 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/33_2008/75926142.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="260"></span>Afghanistan witnessed <a href="http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080817191419.3nxh998c&amp;show_article=1&amp;catnum=0" target="_blank">the country's first mass marriage</a>, yesterday. Thanks to the Islamic charity Comfort Aid International, 50 couples got hitched in the city of Herat. </p> <p>The charity of love covered the big cost of weddings in Afghanistan, which includes dowries and lavish parties with hundreds of guests. The marriages 50 cost $30,000 total, and each set of newly weds walked out with a $600 gift. About 1,500 guests attended, and the brides and grooms were separated for the ceremonies, according to the conservative tradition. </p> <p>While the disadvantaged turn to charity, affluent Afghan couples increasingly <a href="http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iWH_P4ZrlKhWWgVfz1UQB0tBbJWg" target="_blank">enjoy Vegas-style weddings</a> on their own dime, which some signaled as a sign of changing times. Popular Hindi music and neon lights come from wedding halls with names like Kabul-Paris Wedding Hall or Wedding Hall of the Evening Star. Limousines fill their parking lots. During its rule, the Taliban forbid lavish weddings and music. But the industry of lovebirds has made a comeback — there are more than 80 wedding halls in Kabul, compared to four in 2001. </p> <p>Would you give to a charity that helps disadvantaged couples tie the knot? Can a Vegas-style wedding be a sign that better times have come? </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1872959#comment Afghanistan Headline Politics of Love Wedding Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:15:06 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1872959 http://www.citizensugar.com/1873093 <p>According to recent data by the Afghanistan NGO Safety Office, insurgent attacks in Afghanistan <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/17/thousands-of-police-surro_n_119393.html" target="_blank">have jumped 50 percent</a> in the first half of 2008. The stats are prompting more strenuous efforts on behalf of NATO and Afghan police to counter Taliban resistance, the latest of which has claimed 88 lives. In response, 7,000 police have set up checkpoints to secure the nation’s Independence Day celebration in an unprecedented show of force. </p> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/33_2008/82386823.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="389" width="550"></span></p> <p>Taliban violence is rising across Afghanistan including a deadly attack on a NATO convoy, attacks on police, and roadside bombings. The violence indicates that the Taliban is gaining footholds in the provinces surrounding Kabul. Hamid Karzai's government is desperate to "create an environment of trust and prevent any disruptive actions by the enemy," while celebrating the country's 89th anniversary of independence from Britain. </p> <p>Despite the upswing in violence, NATO officials believe that the seven-year effort to stabilize Afghanistan is making progress. Residents however, feel differently — most are afraid to leave their houses after 7 p.m. More than 3,200 people have been killed in insurgency related violence this year.</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1873093#comment Afghanistan Headline Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:15 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1873093 http://www.citizensugar.com/1849850 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/32_2008/80367600.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" width="300"></span> <ul> <li><b>Pakistan Moves to Impeach:</b><br /> The ruling coalition in Pakistan agreed today to <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/feedarticle/7707676" target="_blank">begin impeachment proceedings</a> against President Pervez Musharraf. It's a development expected to heighten political instability in the country. A senior official, and member of the party of the late Benazir Bhutto said, "yes, we have agreed in principle to impeach him," and that the parliament's lower house, is expected to be called next week to begin proceedings Musharraf.</li> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/32_2008/Thursday.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left preview" width="200"></span> <li><b>Jobless Claims Hit 6-Year High:</b><br /> The government has announced that the number of people <a href="http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D92DEQTO2&amp;show_article=1&amp;catnum=0" target="_blank">signing up for unemployment benefits</a> has reached its highest point in more than six years. The Labor Department reported that claims rose by a seasonally adjusted 7,000 to nearly half a million. The government points to a program locating those eligible for benefits as the cause for the rise.</li> <p><br clear=all></p> <li><b>Death Toll in Afghanistan Passes Milestone:</b><br /> The death toll for Operation Enduring Freedom centered in Afghanistan has surpassed 500. As troop levels reached their highest level of deployment in the last month and casualties exceeded those of Iraq, Afghanistan has been brought to the forefront. The <b>New York Times</b> has an interactive feature <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/08/07/us/20080806_AFGHAN_CASUALTIES.html" target="_blank">showing the pictures and names</a> of those in the 500, a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/07/us/07afghan.html?ref=asia" target="_blank">graph of the growing toll</a>, as well as number of deaths by service.</li> </ul> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1849850#comment Afghanistan Economy Front Page Impeachment Jobs Military Pakistan Pervez Musharraf Thu, 07 Aug 2008 07:00:19 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1849850 http://www.citizensugar.com/slideshow/1846388 <a href="/slideshow/1846388?page=0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/32_2008/82183170.xlarge.jpg" alt="A Peek Into Afghan War Front: Operation Southern Beast" title="A Peek Into Afghan War Front: Operation Southern Beast" class="image xlarge inline left" /></a>British Army soldiers conducted operation Southern Beast this week in the Kandahar Province of Afghanistan. Led by the Parachute Regiment of the Third Battalion, the troops worked to create conditions for a <a href="http://www.nato.int/ISAF/index.html">permanent NATO presence</a>, intended to bolster the Afghan National Government's fight against the Taliban. While operating in Kandahar, one of Afghanistan's largest opium producing regions, the Brits seized 70 kilograms of the drug. Check out these revealing and breathtaking photos of the operation. It's not all guns and camo — the cameras also captured scenes of the Afghan people, along with shots of the soldiers interacting with the locals and catching some down time. Take a peek into the battle in Afghanistan. <a href="http://www.gettyimages.com">Source</a><div id='pager' style='margin:25px auto;text-align:center;margin:8px; '><a href="/slideshow/1846388?page=0">Start Slideshow</a></div> http://www.citizensugar.com/slideshow/1846388#comment Afghanistan Opium Picture It United Kingdom Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:00:20 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1846388 http://www.citizensugar.com/1844619 <p>It's not an easy read, to make the understatement of the century; the US Army has just released a book called <b>War Surgery in Afghanistan and Iraq: A Series of Cases, 2003-2007</b>. The book is the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/health/05surg.html?ref=science" target="_blank">first guide for new techniques</a> for battlefield surgeons to be released while the war included in its pages is still being fought. </p> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/32_2008/80729405.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="367" width="550"></span></p> <p>The book includes 83 case descriptions from dozens of battlefield doctors, and though the descriptions are dry and clinically detached, the pictures are the 1,000 words that illustrate the grim horror of war. Most of the injured pictured are US soldiers but some Iraqis and Afghans are included as well. </p> <p>The pictures may be all the more horrifying given the mixed blessing of advancing body armor combined with the fact that in modern wars, more are injured by explosions than bullets — meaning many are left alive, but badly maimed. Because of the graphic nature of the shots, it's a difficult (but not impossible) tome for civilians — even doctors — to get a hold of. To see what one of the book's authors has to say about the secrecy of the book, </p> <p><a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/1844619">read more</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1844619#comment Afghanistan Battlefield Surgery Guide Headline Military Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:45:35 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1844619 http://www.citizensugar.com/1820020 <p>Using a different lens for its Choose or Lose programming this year, MTV will cover the election through the eyes of Americans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. </p> <p><center><embed src="http://www.mtv.com/player/embed/think/" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" FlashVars="CONFIG_URL=http://www.mtv.com/player/embed/think/configuration.jhtml%3fvid=261182&amp;allowFullScreen=true" width="470" height="388" AllowScriptAccess="never" base="." /></center></p> <p>In that spirit, last night Choose or Lose and Kanye West teamed up for the special <b>Homecoming</b>. Kanye surprised three Americans (out of the 1.6 million) who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq. Kanye and Sway Calloway from <b>MTV News</b> listen to the vets discuss concerns like post-traumatic stress disorder and offered them opportunities like internships or debt repayment. The piece is an interesting bookend to <a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/1815934" >HBO's documentary The Recruiter</a>, which also aired last night but introduced us to would-be-vets just signing up and undergoing basic training.</p> <p>According to an MTV survey, 80 percent of respondents 18 to 29 are <a href="http://think.mtv.com/Issues/politics/" target="_blank">closely following the election</a>, which is double the number in 2004. The network has identified the wars in the Middle East as a crucial issue to these young voters, and thus its viewers. Do you agree?</p> <p><a href="http://www.mtv.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1820020#comment 2008 Presidential Election Afghanistan Choose or Lose Iraq Military MTV Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:00:40 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1820020 http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1797970 <p><a href="http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/obama-arrives-in-afghanistan-2008-07-19.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Obama Arrives in Afghanistan</a><br /> Obama arrived in Afghanistan early Saturday morning, according to the Illinois senator’s campaign. Prior to departing from Washington, DC, according to the pool report of one of the reporters accompanying him, Obama said he is “looking forward to seeing what the situation on the ground is.” He added that he wants to “talk to the commanders and get a sense, both in Afghanistan and in Baghdad of what their biggest concerns are. And I want to thank our troops for the heroic work that they’ve been doing.” This is Obama's first trip to Afghanistan.</p> http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1797970#comment 2008 Presidential Election Afghanistan aside Barack Obama Sat, 19 Jul 2008 09:00:23 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1797970 http://www.citizensugar.com/1789968 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/29_2008/81948765.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" width="325"></span> <ul> <li><b>Israel/Hezbollah Prisoner Swap:</b><br /> Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah have <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7508715.stm" target="_blank">completed their prisoner swap</a>: Israel handed over five Lebanese prisoners and the bodies of 200 Lebanese and Palestinian fighters in exchange for the bodies of two soldiers, captured in 2006. Lebanon declared a national holiday to observe the swap, as now Israel holds no more Hezbollah militants. </li> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/29_2008/Wednesday.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left preview" width="200"></span> <li><b>Consumer Prices Balloon:</b><br /> A telling measure of inflation <a href="" >rose last month at its fastest rate</a> in 16 years. The Consumer Price Index, which tracks prices of a batch of common household products, rose 1.1 percent in June; inflation accelerated last month at nearly twice the rate in May, when the index grew 0.6 percent. It was the largest monthly gain in the inflation indicator since June 1982.</li> <li><b>US Troops Abandon Afghan Outpost:</b><br /> US troops have <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/news/news-afghan-violence.html?_r=1&amp;oref=login" target="_blank">withdrawn from a remote outpost</a> in northeastern Afghanistan, three days after Taliban militants tried to take over the base and left nine US soldiers dead. Though NATO has downplayed the withdrawal, Taliban militants and likely to claim victory in the move. On Sunday, the Taliban militants briefly broke through the incomplete defenses of the new post sparking <a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/1784183" >hours of fierce fighting</a> that killed nine US soldiers and many more insurgents.</li> </ul> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1789968#comment Afghanistan Economy Front Page Hezbollah Inflation Israel Lebanon Prisoner Wed, 16 Jul 2008 07:00:01 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1789968 http://www.citizensugar.com/1784183 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/29_2008/81922059.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left preview" width="325"></span> <ul> <li><b>Faster Iraq Pullout:</b><br /> The withdrawal of combat forces from Iraq beginning in September <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/washington/13military.html?ref=middleeast" target="_blank">could be increased</a> under new considerations by the Bush administration, a quicker plan than expected only months ago. The plan for additional troop withdrawals is a striking contrast to the surge in troops during the darkest part of the war in 2006 and 2007, and might lead to an additional 50,000 troops coming home. While the withdrawals will allow more moments like this, captured yesterday at Fort Bragg, the troops are needed for a more pressing concern in Afghanistan. Casualties in Afghanistan we greater than Iraq in May and June, a trend that is continuing this month.</li> <p><br clear=all><br /> <span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/29_2008/Monday.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" width="200"></span> <li><b>Militants Invade Base in Afghanistan:</b><br /> More than 100 insurgents invaded a US post in north-eastern Afghanistan yesterday sparking hours of fighting and <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7504952.stm" target="_blank">leaving nine US troops dead</a>. Using rocket propelled grenades and homemade mortars to bombard the base, they attacked the base from several sides near the border with Pakistan. The attack led to one of the single worst losses of life for foreign troops since operations began in 2001. </p> <li><b>Scramble for Jobs Kills 12:</b><br /> A recruitment drive for the Nigerian Immigration Service has <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7504997.stm" target="_blank">left at least 12 dead</a> after a stampede, when recruiters closed a gate to the government building where candidates were to sit an aptitude test. More than 130,000 candidates applied for 1,260 jobs in a country where there are few good employment prospects for the thousands of college graduates each year. The government jobs that caused the panic are prized for their regular salaries and good benefits.</li> </ul> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1784183#comment Afghanistan Economy Front Page George W Bush Military Nigeria War in Iraq Mon, 14 Jul 2008 06:57:37 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1784183 http://www.citizensugar.com/1782754 <p><b>Time</b> magazine this week has a feature on the bizarre story of <a href="http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1821203,00.html" target="_blank">the mysterious disappearance</a> of Afghanistan's only female, Olympics-bound runner. The 19-year-old Afghan middle distance runner, Mehbooba Andyar, went missing in Italy last week while on her way to the Olympics in China. Friends and co-athletes have not seen her since July 4, when she left her training facility in Formia, Italy.<br /> <span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/28_2008/80220100.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="360" width="550"></span></p> <p>Police are not ruling out any possibilities, although her missing bags and passport do indicate that she may have left on her own. Some believe she's <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/article4304884.ece" target="_blank">seeking asylum in Europe</a> over fear of Muslim extremists in her homeland where she faced constant rumors of prostitution and repeated threats of violence. </p> <p>In a recent interview, <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/athletics/story/2008/07/09/f-olympics-afghan-runner.html" target="_blank">Andyar said</a>, "I'm the model for my country, being a woman in a typical Muslim nation. I'm very proud to say that I will be participating in the Olympic Games. By virtue of these opportunities, many women from my country are participating in many sports, and this will help to develop a better managed country."</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1782754#comment 2008 Olympics Afghanistan Mehbooba Andyar Olympics On the Newsstand Time Magazine Sun, 13 Jul 2008 09:34:19 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1782754 http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1768820 <p><a href="http://www.townhall.com/news/world/2008/07/09/us_says_400_afghan_insurgents_killed_since_april" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">US Says 400 Afghan Insurgents Killed Since April</a><br /> A US Marines commander said Wednesday his troops have killed 400 insurgents in southern Afghanistan since late April. Col. Peter Petronzio, the commander of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, said the figure came from the governor of the southern Helmand province, where his troops have been deployed since late April. Some 2,200 US Marines moved into the town of Garmser in Helmand province to clean the area of insurgents.</p> http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1768820#comment Afghanistan aside Military Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:55:14 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1768820 http://www.citizensugar.com/1762618 <ul> <li><b>Heat Wave to Hit Fires:</b><br /> Firefighters in California brace for an <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN0244472220080707" target="_blank">impending heat wave</a> set to make containing one of the 1,700 fires sparked since June 21, much harder. Cooler, damper weekend temperatures had helped firefighters working to bring the Santa Barbara fires under control are set to end, while 2,600 homes are still evacuated. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said yesterday the fires had burnt over half a million acres and killed one firefighter. Drought conditions combined with human encroachment into forest areas — bringing with them, carelessness, has <a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jJy-7vUqYPL8m5Um_4bQBmWBTrxQD91OTSFO0" target="_blank">stretched the fire season</a> from four to six or seven months. Officials are having to prepare for the longer more intense season.</li> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/28_2008/81839733.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="367" width="550"></span><br /> <span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/28_2008/Monday.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left preview" width="200"></span></p> <li><b>Bombing in Kabul Kills 40:</b><br /> In what's thought to be the deadliest attack in Kabul yet, a suicide bomber has <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/08/world/asia/08afghanistan.html?_r=1&amp;hp&amp;oref=slogin" target="_blank">killed at least 40 people</a> and injured 140 today at the gates of the Indian Embassy in the capital of Afghanistan. The attacker plowed a car into two Indian diplomatic vehicles as they entered the gates of the embassy before detonating. Witness say the blast wrecked several other cars and flung body parts and bloodstained pieces of clothing among the wreckage.</li> <li><b>Injuries in Running of the Bulls:</b><br /> At least nine have been injured and one killed during the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7492914.stm" target="_blank">running of the bulls</a> festival in Pamplona, Spain. Four of the injured were foreign tourists. The nine-day festival that's been held since 1591, began yesterday and the run itself lasted four minutes. It's thought that 13 people have been killed during the controversial tradition since record keeping began in 1924.</li> </ul> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1762618#comment Afghanistan California California Fires fires Front Page Running of the Bulls Spain Suicide Bombing Mon, 07 Jul 2008 06:55:19 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1762618 http://www.citizensugar.com/1750615 <ul> <li><b>Worst Afghanistan Toll:</b><br /> June was the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7483162.stm" target="_blank">deadliest for foreign troops</a> in Afghanistan since the 2001 fall of the Taliban, and it was the second month in a row where the toll exceeded that in Iraq. At least 45 foreign troops were killed compared with 31 soldier deaths in Iraq. The casualty rate is thought to be tied to the Taliban's aim for headline-grabbing attacks that will promote their growing strength. Almost half of the 122 foreign soldiers who have died in Afghanistan during 2008 were killed in June, most by roadside bombs.</li> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/27_2008/81769610.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="368" width="550"></span><br /> <span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/27_2008/Tuesday.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" width="200"></span> <li><b>Cell Phone Law:</b><br /> California's <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-handfeeelaw1-2008jul01,0,5500509.story" target="_blank">hands-free cell phone law</a> goes into effect today. Offenders not using a hands-free headset while driving will be subject to a $20 fine for a first offense, and $50 for subsequent offenses. The law does <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92060364" target="_blank">not outlaw texting</a> while driving, leading some to think the claims of safety are relative. Meanwhile, Sioux Falls, SD, has been named <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Safe-Driving-City.html" target="_blank">the safest driving city</a> in the US.</li> <li><b>Obama to Expand Faith-Based Programs:</b><br /> Barack Obama is announcing plans to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/washington/AP-Obama-Faith.html" target="_blank">expand funding for President Bush's faith-based programs</a>, pointing more Federal social service dollars to religious groups — and he'll announce that he will support some ability to hire and fire based on faith. The plan will be unveiled during remarks at the Eastside Community Ministry in Ohio. Obama is expected to say, ''the challenges we face today. . . are simply too big for government to solve alone. We need all hands on deck.''</li> </ul> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1750615#comment 2008 Presidential Election Afghanistan Barack Obama California Cell Phones Front Page Laws the Taliban World of Faith Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:05:03 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1750615 http://www.citizensugar.com/1733770 <ul> <li><b>Attack Threatens Cease-fire:</b> Two Palestinian <a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jD4YSkDPlclqd9dHvg2f0Ij18zEgD91GF5MG5" target="_blank">rockets struck southern Israel</a> moments ago, prompting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office says the week-old cease-fire has been broken. The first rockets fired since the truce hit an open area leaving no injuries. As of yet, there has been no word as to how Israel will react, nor any claims of responsibility. The attack occurred hours after Israeli troops killed two Palestinians in a West Bank raid. Though the West Bank is not formally included in the Gaza truce, the Israeli raid could be perceived as violating the spirit of the cease-fire.</li> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/26_2008/Tuesday.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image center preview" height="260" width="350"></span></p> <li><b>Clinton Back to Work:</b> US Senator Hillary Clinton is <a href="http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g3yHTaTou7p447cGBJNP-xQyKGfw" target="_blank">heading back to work</a> today, a return to congressional politics for the first time since conceding to Obama nearly three weeks ago. Her return to the chamber today comes before her first joint appearances with White House contender Barack Obama, expected later this week. On Sunday, Clinton told a high-school graduating class in New York that meeting thousands of people across the nation during her primary campaign had been an "extraordinary experience."</li> <li><b>Germany Sending More Troops:</b> Germany is <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7471071.stm" target="_blank">preparing to send</a> 1,000 more soldiers to serve with the NATO-led peace-keeping force in Afghanistan. The US urged Germany to send more troops in February, and NATO allies have pushed for a boost in deployment to southern Afghanistan, the heart of the Taliban insurgency. Most of Germany's 3,500 troops are already based in northern Afghanistan and around the capital, Kabul. The UN has <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7469194.stm" target="_blank">just announced</a> that the Taliban made an about $100 million in 2007 from Afghan farmers growing poppy for the opium trade, producing about 8,000 tons of opium.</li> </ul> http://www.citizensugar.com/1733770#comment Afghanistan Ceasefire Front Page Germany Hillary Clinton Israel NATO Palestine Peace the Taliban Tue, 24 Jun 2008 06:56:44 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1733770 http://www.citizensugar.com/1718947 <ul> <li><b>Baghdad Blast Kills 51:</b> An enormous car bombing shattered part of a busy marketplace and set a crowded apartment building alight in a heavily Shiite district of Baghdad yesterday, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/world/middleeast/18iraq.html?ref=world" target="_blank">killing at least 51 people</a> and wounding 75. As the blast occurred in the midst of a neighborhood where Sunnis had been savagely driven out, some of locals blamed the displaced <a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/984470" >Sunnis</a> for the attack. The bombing was the deadliest attack in 3 months. One man whose wife and child were killed in the blast sceamed, “now the Americans are bringing outsiders to secure our neighborhood, and look what happened! Maybe we should bring back the old days.”</li> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/25_2008/Wednesday.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image center preview" height="260" width="350"></span></p> <li><b>Operation Launched Against Taliban:</b> NATO and Afghan forces <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7460556.stm" target="_blank">begun a joint operation</a> to drive Taliban insurgents from the outskirts of the city of Kandahar. Amid conflicting reports of casualties, troops backed by helicopter gunships are patrolling west of the Arghandab river, revealing "no major incidents so far". One resident says of the patrols, "most of the roads have been closed, there are check posts everywhere, planes are flying and military convoys belonging to the Afghan and foreign forces are patrolling the city." Last Friday about <a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/1712562" >350 Taliban fighters escaped</a> with a total of 1,200 inmates from a jail in Kandahar. Only a handful of prisoners have been recaptured.</li> <li><b>Bush and Offshore Drilling:</b> President Bush will call on Congress today to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/washington/18drill.html?hp" target="_blank">reverse a long standing federal ban</a> on offshore oil drilling. Bush wants to work with states to determine where drilling should occur. The move demonstrates how $4-a-gallon gas will be a major issue in the 2008 presidential campaign, and a growing number of Republicans are lining up in opposition to the federal ban. The Congressional moratorium on offshore drilling was first enacted in 1982, and has been renewed every year since. It prohibits oil and gas leasing on most of the outer continental shelf, 3 miles to 200 miles offshore.</li> </ul> http://www.citizensugar.com/1718947#comment Afghanistan Bombings Front Page Gas George W Bush Iraq NATO Offshore Drilling the Taliban Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:00:30 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1718947 http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1714897 <p><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/16/obama-to-visit-iraq-afgha_n_107416.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Obama to Visit Iraq, Afghanistan Before Election</a><br /> Barack Obama says he is going to visit Iraq and Afghanistan before the November election. Obama has said before he was considering a trip, but his comment to reporters Monday was his first firm declaration that he will be making the trip. He said more details will be announced shortly.</p> http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1714897#comment 2008 Presidential Election Afghanistan aside Barack Obama Iraq Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:40:39 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1714897 http://www.citizensugar.com/1713394 <ul> <li><b>US and UK Join Forces:</b> Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced Britain will <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7456551.stm" target="_blank">send extra troops</a> to Afghanistan, bringing numbers to their highest level yet — the UK surge will bring overall UK numbers in Afghanistan to more than 8,000. Brown spoke at a news conference with President George Bush, said the military presence would be increased to keep up pressure on the Taliban. The two leaders also joined forces to put pressure on Iran. They <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7456081.stm" target="_blank">have warned Iran</a> to accept their "offers of partnership" or receive harsh sanctions and international isolation. President Bush thanked Brown for his "strong statement" saying, "the Iranians must understand that when we come together and speak with one voice we are serious. . . Iranians must understand, however, that all options are on the table."</li> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/25_2008/Monday.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image center preview" height="260" width="350"></span></p> <li><b>Updates to the ADA:</b> The Bush administration is about to big changes that would give people with disabilities greater access to courtrooms, swimming pools, stadiums, and stores. The proposal would update and rewrite federal standards for enforcement of the Americans With Disabilities Act, a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/16/washington/16disabled.html?ref=us" target="_blank">landmark civil rights law</a> passed with large bipartisan support in 1990. The new rules would have more strict requirements and are being put forth in an effort to meet the needs of an aging population and growing numbers of disabled war veterans. More than seven million businesses and all state and local government agencies would need to make changes.</li> <li><b>Saudi Arabia to Up Oil Production:</b> Though President Bush was <a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1635616" >unable to persuade</a> them to do so, Saudi Arabia now plans <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/15/markets/saudi_boost.ap/index.htm?cnn=yes" target="_blank">to increase its oil production</a> by 200,000 barrels a day next month, the kingdom's oil minister told UN chief Ban Ki-moon yesterday. Ban said, "the king believes that the current oil prices are abnormally high, and he is ready to restore prices to their appropriate levels." Saudi Arabia is thought to increase oil production by 200,000 barrels a day from June to July. By July, production should be at 9.7 million barrels a day.</li> </ul> http://www.citizensugar.com/1713394#comment ADA Afghanistan Disabilities Front Page Gas Iran Saudi Arabia United Kingdom United States Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:00:51 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1713394 http://www.citizensugar.com/1712562 <p>Following a <a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1708957" >giant prison break</a> over the weekend freeing 1,200 criminals, Afghanistan has threatened to send troops across the border with Pakistan in an effort to hunt down Taliban leadership, who they blame for the explosion and flood of escapees. The threat did not sit well with Pakistan’s prime minister who responded: [we will] "not allow anyone to interfere in our national limits and our affairs.”</p> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/24_2008/81576667.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="385" width="550"></span></p> <p>Hamid Karzai, the Afghanistan president <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/15/afghanistan.pakistan" target="_blank">delivered the bellicose speech</a> giving many in the region pause: “When [the Taliban] cross the territory from Pakistan to come and kill Afghans and kill coalition troops, it exactly gives us the right to go back and do the same.” Afghanistan does not have the ability to send troops into Pakistan without US military and NATO consent, though it seems that friction is increasing along these lines.</p> <p>The spectacularly bold prison break attack by Taliban forces on a prison near Kandahar Friday evening included two truck bombs, assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades and was thought to be exceptionally planned. After the Taliban <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/14/world/asia/14kandahar.html?em&amp;ex=1213675200&amp;en=9451e4c32cff2e05&amp;ei=5087%0A" target="_blank">blew up the walls</a> of the prison killing fifteen guards, they freed close to 1,200 prisoners. Among which were estimated 350 Taliban members. </p> <p>Soon after the break, US-led coalition forces say <a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i8dGftYb0s4XWdUMRdIVs3vh1CKAD91AB6OO0" target="_blank">they have killed</a> more than fifteen insurgents and captured five militants although it has not been confirmed that they are fugitives from the daring prison break. </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1712562#comment Afghanistan Hamid Karzai Headline Pakistan Prisons the Taliban Mon, 16 Jun 2008 03:00:31 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1712562 http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1708957 <p><a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i8dGftYb0s4XWdUMRdIVs3vh1CKAD919RN202" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">4 Marines Die in Afghanistan; 870 Inmates Escape</a><br /> The <b>AP</b> reports: About 870 prisoners escaped during a Taliban bomb and rocket attack on the main prison in southern Afghanistan that knocked down the front gate and demolished a prison floor, Afghan officials said Saturday. And in western Afghanistan on Saturday, a roadside bomb exploded near a US military vehicle, killing four Americans in the deadliest attack against US troops in the country this year, officials said. One other American was wounded in the attack.</p> http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1708957#comment Afghanistan aside Sat, 14 Jun 2008 09:55:16 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1708957 http://www.citizensugar.com/1704444 <p>Global donors <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/06/12/afghanistan.donors.ap/" target="_blank">pledged $20 billion in aid to Afghanistan</a> today. In Paris, 80 countries met to discuss the current crises facing the rebuilding nation. They <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7449281.stm" target="_blank">demanded that Afghanistan do its part</a> to end corruption and address rising levels of criminal violence and opium harvests. In addition to the fresh dose of $20 billion, Afghanistan has received $15 billion since 2001. </p> <p><span class="inline left"><a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/1704507?page=0,0,0" ><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/24_2008/81535305.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="366" width="550"></a></span></p> <p>Hoping to stimulate otherwise stunted progress, the donors will attempt to coordinate their aid efforts, while putting pressure on Afghan President Hamid Karzai to raise living standards and make Afghanistan's government self-sufficient. Many Afghanis live without proper sanitation and 80 percent have no electricity. The $1.6 billion spent on technical assistance has not been successful in helping Afghanistan stand on its own. </p> <p>In Paris today, Afghanistan, whose domestic revenues are about $1 billion, reminded wealthy countries how much it needs them. Are you happy to see that the world hasn't forgotten about Afghanistan? Will money solve the country's problems?</p> <p><p><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'> <div id=mask-52489 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 active ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/1704507?page=0,0,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/24_2008/81535305_0.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="We are the world... literally." title="We are the world... literally." class="image mediumsquare" width="100" height="100" /></a> </div> </div> </div><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'> <div id=mask-28744 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/1704507?page=0,1,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/24_2008/81535470.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="See that guy? He&#039;s good for at least $600 million." title="See that guy? He&#039;s good for at least $600 million." class="image mediumsquare" width="100" height="100" /></a> </div> </div> </div><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'> <div id=mask-8977 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/1704507?page=0,2,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/24_2008/81535524.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="We&#039;re rich!" title="We&#039;re rich!" class="image mediumsquare" width="100" height="100" /></a> </div> </div> </div><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'> <div id=mask-5561 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/1704507?page=0,3,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/24_2008/81536169.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="French President Nicolas Sarkozy chats with Afghan President Hamid Karzai." title="French President Nicolas Sarkozy chats with Afghan President Hamid Karzai." class="image mediumsquare" width="100" height="100" /></a> </div> </div> </div><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'> <div id=mask-9136 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/1704507?page=0,4,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/24_2008/81536204.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="Laura Bush announced the US pledge of $10.2 billion." title="Laura Bush announced the US pledge of $10.2 billion." class="image mediumsquare" width="100" height="100" /></a> </div> </div> </div></p><br clear=all></p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1704444#comment Afghanistan Drugs France Hamid Karzai Headline Middle East Paris Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:45:00 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1704444 http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1694546 <p><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/08/larua-bush-makes-surprise_n_105893.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Laura Bush Makes Surprise Trip To Afghanistan</a><br /> First lady Laura Bush, on a mission to highlight signs of rebirth in war-weary Afghanistan, ventured outside of Kabul on Sunday to an area that symbolizes both the destruction of war and Afghanistan's attempt at rebirth. The first lady's visit comes ahead of a donors conference in Paris, where the US hopes billions of dollars in international aid will be pledged to help the embattled nation.</p> http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1694546#comment Afghanistan aside Laura Bush Sun, 08 Jun 2008 08:55:15 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1694546 http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1663842 <p><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/27/12-die-in-2-roadside-bomb_n_103643.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">12 Die in Two Roadside Bombings in Afghanistan</a> A roadside bomb hit a bus Tuesday in western Afghanistan, killing eight civilians, while another roadside bomb south of the capital left four Afghan police dead, officials said. The bomb hit the bus in Farah province as it was traveling to neighboring Nimroz province, said Farah deputy governor Younus Rasuli. Eight civilians were killed and another was wounded, Rasuli said. All the casualties were men.</p> http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1663842#comment Afghanistan aside Tue, 27 May 2008 08:55:56 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1663842 http://www.citizensugar.com/1645869 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/21_2008/80834460.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="250"></span>Eying its last chance to pass a spending bill this term, the US Senate has loaded up the Iraq and Afghanistan war funding bill with projects related and unrelated to the wars. Senate Leader Harry Reid's strategy includes separating the two types of funding, while recognizing that it will be difficult to overcome President Bush's looming veto. </p> <p>The tangent projects, added by Senators of both parties, <a href="http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/2008/05/20/D90P7S5O0_congress_iraq_funding/index.html?source=refresh" target="_blank">include</a>:</p> <ul> <li>$50 billion expansion of veterans benefits under the GI Bill</li> <li>$100 million for local law enforcement to fight drug trafficking along the Mexico border</li> <li>$50 million to track down child predators</li> <li>$400 million for rural schools</li> <li>$1 billion for heating subsidies for the poor</li> <li>$350 million to fight western wildfires</li> </ul> <p>The Senate's bill comes out to about $10 billion more than the $183.8 billion requested by Bush. Last year, President Bush was too busy objecting to a withdrawal timetable to worry about add-ons. Now that a timetable is <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10108.html" target="_blank">off the table</a>, the President is less worried about his flexibility and more focused on satisfactory details. </p> <p>Is this a good way to legislate? If this is Congress' last opportunity to address crucial funding needs, like veteran benefits, should the legislative body just let the opportunity to pass because the president doesn't agree?</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1645869#comment Afghanistan Congress George W Bush Harry Reid Headline Iraq Senate Veto Tue, 20 May 2008 11:00:10 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1645869 http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1636380 <p><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/16/us-planning-big-new-priso_n_102216.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">US Planning Big New Prison In Afghanistan</a> The Pentagon is moving forward with plans to build a new, 40-acre detention complex on the main American military base in Afghanistan, officials said, in a stark acknowledgment that the United States is likely to continue to hold prisoners overseas for years to come. It replaces a facility currently housing 630 prisoners.</p> http://www.citizensugar.com/node/1636380#comment Afghanistan aside Sat, 17 May 2008 10:55:21 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1636380 http://www.citizensugar.com/1631027 <ul> <li><b>Army Stealing Aid in Myanmar:</b> Officials from several relief organizations say that <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/15/world/asia/15myanmar.html?ref=asia" target="_blank">the international aid</a> being sent into Myanmar is being "stolen, diverted or warehoused" by the army. The members of the military junta told Thailand's prime minister they were in control of the relief operations and had no need for foreign experts. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon <a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=8bc3faf6-f381-4c74-96ef-69fe405d6724&amp;&Headline=UN+to+send+senior+official+to+Myanmar" target="_blank">wants to send</a> a senior UN official to inspect the relief effort in the ravaged country. To make matters worse, the US military’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center said there was a possibility that “a significant tropical cyclone” — another one — would form in the next 24 hours and head across the Irrawaddy Delta, the already hardest hit region.</li> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/20_2008/Thursday-350x260.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image center preview" height="260" width="350"></span></p> <li><b>Bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan:</b> In an <a href="http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D90M2V2G0&amp;show_article=1&amp;catnum=0" target="_blank">attack claimed</a> by the Taliban, a suicide bomber wearing a burqa detonated by a police patrol at a crowded market in western Afghanistan today, killing at least 12 people and wounding 27 others, officials said. Yesterday, at least 20 people were killed and 35 others wounded in <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7401634.stm" target="_blank">a suicide bombing</a> at a Sunni funeral west of Baghdad. Police said the funeral was for the head teacher of a local school. The bombings occurred hours the announcement that Prime Minister Nouri Maliki was supervising an offensive against Sunni insurgents in the northern city of Mosul.</li> <li><b>House Passes Farm Bill:</b> The House approved a five-year, $307 billion <a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/1611511" >farm bill</a> with a solid bipartisan majority yesterday. Despite a veto threat from President Bush, the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/15/washington/15farm.html?ref=us" target="_blank">House voted</a> 318 to 106 — more than the two-thirds needed to override a presidential veto — with 100 Republicans joining the Democratic majority in favor.</li> </ul> http://www.citizensugar.com/1631027#comment Afghanistan Congress Cyclone Farm Bill Food Front Page Iraq Myanmar Suicide Bombing United Nations Thu, 15 May 2008 06:59:21 -0700 CitizenSugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1631027 http://www.citizensugar.com/1608332 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/19/193328/19_2008/80985856.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="400"></span>The harsh reality that suicides may outnumber combat deaths among those who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq is prompting preventative action. </p> <p>Yesterday, the head of the National Institute on Mental Health offered <a href="http://www.military.com/news/article/fear-that-suicides-may-top-war-deaths.html?col=1186032310810&amp;wh=wh" target="_blank">depressing figures</a> to the American Psychiatric Association. Of the 1.6 million troops deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq, almost 20 percent show symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, or both. They estimate that 70 percent do not seek treatment for these conditions, which can lead to substance abuse and suicide. Mental health professionals, who treat veterans, were urged to proactively recognize and treat such symptoms. </p> <p>In a hopeful move, last week the Secretary of Defense <a href="" http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=4220">announced</a> that military personnel seeking help for PTSD will no longer get that positive action counted against them for security clearance purposes. </p> <p>In addition, some want a PTSD diagnosis to make a servicemember eligible for the Purple Heart, bringing the <a href="http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,166997,00.html" target="_blank">hidden wound out</a> of the shadows. </p> <p>Are you aware of this long-term cost of war? Do members of society have an obligation to support returning veterans? If so, how can we fulfill such duty? Are you happy to see that both the military and mental health professionals are trying to address the psychological scars of warfare? </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.citizensugar.com/1608332#comment Afghanistan Depression Iraq Military PTSD Suicide Tue, 06 May 2008 14:30:41 -0700 LibertySugar http://www.citizensugar.com/1608332 http://www.citizensugar.com/1603970 <!-- no strip poll --><div id="epoll-view-1603970"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/epoll/view/1603970',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var epoll=$('epoll-view-1603970');epoll.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p><p>This morning Prince Harry was awarded a <a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUKL0510488420080505" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">military service medal</a> for his 10 weeks of frontline service in Afghanistan. The 23-year-old prince served in Afghanistan with other members of his Household Cavalry Regiment. British forces have been fighting in Afghanistan for six years — but recently they're struggling to hold out against a resurgent Taliban force — according to US intelligence assessments, the Taliban force now controls at least 10 percent of the country. <span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/19_2008/80988634.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="422" width="550"></span> Harry's job in Afghanistan included flying secret missions working as a forward air controller — he would call in air strikes to let pilots know where their targets were. Until he was <a href="http://www.citizensugar.com/1084039" rel="nofollow">outed earlier</a> this year, Harry was the first member of the royal family to see active war service since Prince Andrew flew helicopters during the Falklands war 26 years ago. <p><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'> <div id=mask-10812 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 active ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/1603996?page=0,0,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/19_2008/80988227.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" width="100" height="100" /></a> </div> </div> <div class='gallery_statistics'> 0 Comments 0 Views</div></div ><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'> <div id=mask-53384 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/1603996?page=0,1,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/19_2008/80988378.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" width="100" height="100" /></a> </div> </div> <div class='gallery_statistics'> 0 Comments 0 Views</div></div ><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'> <div id=mask-41870 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/1603996?page=0,2,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/19_2008/80988459.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" width="100" height="100" /></a> </div> </div> <div class='gallery_statistics'> 0 Comments 0 Views</div></div ><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'> <div id=mask-2061 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/view/1603996?page=0,3,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104169/19_2008/80988500.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" width="100