World-News

Time is running out for US-led forces in Afghanistan and their Afghan government allies to reverse the Taliban insurgency, the United Nations outgoing envoy to Kabul said on Wednesday.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c0b4f3ee-fafe-11de-94d8-00144feab49a.html



Afghanistan a gold mine for security companies

Private military companies are being criticized for profiteering from the conflict in Afghanistan while the number of deadly attacks keeps rising and the local population remains in an insecure environment.

http://rt.com/Politics/2010-01-06/afghanistan-gold-mine-security.html



Blackwater wants $1 billion to train the new Afghan police force

Blackwater, mercenaries known around the world for their brutality, might get the contract to train the Afghan police? In what world does this seem like a good idea?

http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/23043



Afghans Losing Hope After 8 Years of War

According to Bashardost, about 80 percent of the country is without electricity and unemployment is 60 percent. Many families can only afford to eat once a day and corruption is so rampant, "it's practically legal," he said.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/01/10/world/AP-AS-Afghanistan-Losing-Hope.html


From Information Clearing House

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Retired Army General Predicts 300 to 500 Casualties Per Month in Afghanistan

Mary Susan Littlepage, Truthout: "The US could see as many as 300 to 500 soldiers killed and wounded per month in Afghanistan as 30,000 additional troops are sent to the country to launch a major offensive against insurgents, retired Army Gen. Barry McCaffrey said in a recent report."

http://www.truthout.org/0107094



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