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Entries in war on terror (18)

Tuesday
Oct212008

Relationship between Afghanistan and the U.S. will improve under a new American president

The relationship between the United States and Afghanistan will improve under the new American president said Said Tayeb Jawad-Ambassador of Afghanistan to the U.S. at a conference today. Jawad added that Afghanistan is "working hard with our American friends" to help in "not only fighting
terrorism," but helping the economy and well-being of Afghan citizens.

Jawad said he was happy with the recent improvement in the economy in Afghanistan, but there was "further business potential." He said the greatest improvements in Afghanistan's economy have been made in telecommunications and mining. He added that "promoting investment opportunities" in Afghanistan internationally is important as well.

Chairman of the Institute for State Effectiveness, Ashraf Ghani said Afghanistan is at a "fork at the road" between a vicious circle and a virtuous circle. Ghani stated that the vicious circle included an economy that created an atmosphere where "people are forced to embrace the gun." That would also create "new enemies" for the country, according to Ghani. He said that a virtuous circle would mean a
"stable" economy where the poor become "stakeholders in the system."

Ghani added that Afghanistan had five "latent assets" that could drastically improve the economy of the country if used properly. He said they were water, geology, agriculture, location, and money. He
called these assets latent because they were not being used currently by the government. Ghani also said that water specifically was "critical to the region" and would be as valuable as oil in time.
Friday
Oct172008

Extremism in Pakistan higher than ever

Extremists in the Middle East believe the war on terror is "targeted against Muslims" said Former Interior Minister of Pakistan Aftab Khan Sherpao. He added that this belief some have in Pakistan is "misguided."

The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) held a discussion on extremism in Pakistan. Sherpao said that the U.S. must rely on dialogue with native Pakistanis, development of the country of Pakistan, and deterrence against insurgents residing in Pakistan. He added that "winning the hearts and minds of people" in that region is very important.

Sherpao did caution that military action would not accomplish anything in the fight against terrorism, but that Pakistan "needs immediate help." He said that Al-Qaeda and the Taliban are "well resourced" and "highly motivated."

Former U.S. ambassador to Pakistan Wendy Chamberlin said that "extremism is spreading" in that region. She added that the situation is as bad as ever in Pakistan, saying "Anti-Americanism is at its peak" in the country. She said that we must not merely help Pakistan on its Afghanistan border, but "all of Pakistan."

USIP Senior Rule of Law Advisor Alexander Thier said that "Pakistan is in turmoil." She said the extremist movement in Pakistan is "threatening everything." Sherpao agreed, saying extremism in
Pakistan "affects the world as a whole."
Thursday
Sep182008

Terrorists may target transition

As the Bush administration reaches its final days the U.S. will be faced with its first presidential transition since Sept. 11. This period will come with a supposed great deal of risk.

“History-- including the February 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center and the October 2000 attack on the U.S.S. Cole, as well as more recent attacks in Madrid, London, and Glasgow-- suggests that terrorists may target the times shortly before and after governmental transitions,” said Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) during a hearing on the Department of Homeland Security’s post-election plans.

There has been concerns over whether DHS is ready to meet these risks. DHS has been marred with a high turnover rates and numerous vacancies in executive positions and have faced numerous accusations of mismanagement.

However DHS has taken a series of steps to prepare, including a the security clearances for members of the next administration, performing a number of training exercises, and hiring more executive staff.

“We have been able to reduce our vacancy rate from about 20 percent...to about 13 percent. We have another 35 selections pending so with that...we’ll have our vacancy rate under 10 percent for the first time,” said DHS Undersecretary for Management Elaine C. Duke.

Specialist in Terrorism and National Security Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division John Rollins explained that the proximity of the transitional period may have already sparked a terrorist attack.

“Some national security observers suggest that the attacks that took place in Yemen yesterday may have been taken with the desire to seize the U.S. embassy, thus creating a protracted situation that could influence the U.S. election.”
Friday
Sep122008

Dems outline priorities on national security

Democrats criticized the Republicans for being weak on national security at the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) forum. Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) said the Democrats need to develop more allies than the Bush administration has done. Bayh said that the U.S. needs "other people standing by our side in our national security interests."

Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.) said Afghanistan was "strategically, the most important place in the world." She said that because of its lack of resources and structure, many terrorists have gone there to congregate and regroup. Retired Marine Corps Col. T.X. Hammes said the current U.S. mission in Afghanistan will never be successful until we develop a national security strategy. He also said that an influx of troops will not change the situation there if national security options continue to be "knee-jerk decisions."

The Bush administration "has failed to lead non-proliferation," Tauscher continued. There will soon be 500 nuclear power plants, and 40 will be able to make nuclear weapons on short notice, the congresswoman warned.

Reza Aslan, author of the book "No God but God: the Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam," said that the U.S. is asking "Why do they hate us," when it should ask, "Who the hell are they?" A feeling has developed in the Middle East that the "war on terror" is a "war on Islam." He said that U.S. efforts in that region have radicalized the terrorist groups there.
Thursday
Jul312008

Kerry: US in danger of losing in Afghanistan

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) delivered a speech on a new approach to fighting terrorism. Kerry cited a memo authored by Donald Rumsfeld in 2003 that asked if the United States was dissuading more people from becoming terrorists than radical clerics were deploying. Kerry said the United States still is not deterring terrorists, noting al-Qaeda's strength along the Afghan-Pakistani border, the Taliban's resurgence, Hamas's grip in the Gaza Strip, and Hezbollah's influence in Lebanon.

Kerry said the United States should engage in a strategic reorientation already enacted by Saudi Arabia. He stated that the Saudi government has been able to gain the upper-hand in the fight
against terrorism by using counter-indoctrination. According to Kerry, the Saudi government has imams explain Islam's opposition to extremist ideologies to detainees and sponsors messages at soccer matches featuring former terrorists who urge against radical jihad. Kerry said the United States was most successful in the fight against extremism when it provided post-earthquake aid to Pakistan and assisted tsunami relief in Indonesia. Kerry called the Administration's policy of torture and indefinite intention "self-defeating."

To win the global war on terror, Kerry advocated helping Pakistan fight al-Qaeda along the Afghan border and increasing American aid to the Pakistani people, a move he suggested would cause the population to grow tired of extremists' presence. Kerry said "We're in real danger of losing in Afghanistan" and said fixing problems in Pakistan is the only way to prevent a loss from occurring.