http://blogs.sipri.org daily 1 2008-05-13T11:36:38Z http://blogs.sipri.org/propaganda-is-the-taliban2019s-201cstinger201d Amidst more reports of airstrikes going astray and killing many civilians, suggestions that casualty figures are probably being distorted by Taliban elements as an attempt to drive ISAF and US airpower from the skies. No publisher foxley 2008-11-28T08:51:00Z Blog Entry http://blogs.sipri.org/Afghanistan/karzai-again-offers-talks-with-taliban-leader Yesterday: some tough talk from Karzai as he offered a guarantee of safe passage to any Taliban leaders or representatives willing to come to Kabul. The Taliban are reportedly “drawing up a response”. No publisher foxley 2008-11-17T08:24:20Z Blog Entry http://blogs.sipri.org/recommended-report-afghan-opinion-poll The Asia Foundation have conducted their fourth annual survey of the Afghan population. The poll highlights increasing pessimism amongst the populace with security representing the main concern, followed by the economy and then corruption. No publisher foxley 2008-11-13T08:31:15Z Blog Entry http://blogs.sipri.org/Afghanistan/hanif-atmar-at-last-some-good-news-for-afghanistan The Afghan cabinet reshuffle last month saw the move of the efficient and corruption-free Hanif Atmar from the Education Ministry to the Ministry of Interior. His efforts will be resisted but this could prove a crucial boost to police reform efforts and attempts to tackle government corruption generally No publisher foxley 2008-11-13T15:11:17Z Blog Entry http://blogs.sipri.org/Afghanistan/talking-to-the-taliban-slight-return The dilemmas implicit in this notion were highlighted at the Swedish Afghan Committee conference No publisher foxley 2008-11-10T13:37:05Z Blog Entry http://blogs.sipri.org/Afghanistan/obama-and-petraeus-the-comprehensive-surge It seems the next year or two for Afghanistan will almost certainly be characterised by significantly increased levels of US military activity - hopefully there will be a bit more to the approach than merely boots on the ground... No publisher foxley 2008-11-09T22:13:23Z Blog Entry http://blogs.sipri.org/Afghanistan/failure-is-an-option-the-problems-with-nato …as presented by NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General John Craddock. NATO’s mission in Afghanistan seems increasingly to becoming one of extracting itself from Afghanistan with some shreds of credibility intact while maintaining the pretence that it is a viable organisation for the 21st century… No publisher foxley 2008-10-21T08:43:21Z Blog Entry http://blogs.sipri.org/Afghanistan/recommended-websites-part-iii-csis-and-winning-the-war-in-afghanistan The Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, and in particular the work of Anthony Cordesman, continue to provide refreshingly blunt critique of the US Government's prosecution of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan - well worth checking out... No publisher foxley 2008-10-15T11:23:59Z Blog Entry http://blogs.sipri.org/Afghanistan/how-are-we-doing-in-afghanistan-part-ii-new-uk-views-pessimism-or-realism UK senior and experienced diplomatic and military sources claim that the "war" in its current guise, cannot be won. No publisher foxley 2008-10-06T09:55:16Z Blog Entry http://blogs.sipri.org/Afghanistan/taliban-communication-skills-increase-mullah-omar-speaks-with-confidence-and-awareness An object lesson to ISAF in how to communicate a message that will resonate with the target audience. A fascinating address, articulate and inspiring, attributed to Taliban leader Mullah Omar on the occasion of Eid. The growing sense of confidence and the developing understanding of the international community and their difficulties in Afghanistan is tangible - he offers ISAF "safe passage" to withdraw. No publisher foxley 2008-10-01T07:29:00Z Blog Entry http://blogs.sipri.org/Afghanistan/the-canadian-military-commitment-to-finish-in-2011 Is this the start of the slippery slope as Western nations struggle to pull out of a domestically unpopular war with credibility intact...? No publisher foxley 2008-09-26T11:01:03Z Blog Entry http://blogs.sipri.org/Afghanistan/interview-with-a-new-afghan-incarnation-of-the-taliban A Journeyman documentary from this month - interview with the Taliban and an intriguing glimpse of a "former Pakistani soldier" engaged in teaching Taliban fighters small arms skills... No publisher foxley 2008-09-26T10:30:40Z Blog Entry http://blogs.sipri.org/Afghanistan/airstrikes-and-civilian-casualties-in-afghanistan A New Human Rights Watch report highlights the increasingly difficult and emotive subject of civilian casualties caused during the conflict between insurgents and counter-insurgents - the implications of "drop less bombs" would appear to be "send more troops"... No publisher foxley 2008-09-09T12:17:20Z Blog Entry http://blogs.sipri.org/Afghanistan/taliban-attacks-getting-more-effective Two significant attacks were initiated by the Taliban yesterday. One resulted in the death of ten French soldiers and the wounding of 21. Taliban attacks have become larger and more confident in the last two years. Now they are becoming more effective. No publisher foxley 2008-08-22T06:08:49Z Blog Entry http://blogs.sipri.org/Afghanistan/the-taliban-address-to-the-canadian-people-after-killing-female-aid-workers The Taliban send an open letter to the people of Canada following a Taliban ambush which killed three Western civilian aid workers - two of them Canadian women. No publisher foxley 2008-08-18T08:19:44Z Blog Entry