News and Analysis (1/27/10)

With Taliban leadership convinced they can outlast international presence in Afghanistan, a new role for Pakistan emerges …

• Pakistan Seeks Role as Mediator in Possible Taliban-Afghanistan Peace Talks (Washington Post)

Karzai’s time line for training and independently financing Afghanistan troops is upwards of 15 years …

• Training Afghan Forces Will Take Years, Karzai Says (NY Times)

… However, US attempts to ingratiate troops into local politics and gain Afghan trust may expedite the process:

• Afghanistan War: Good Counterinsurgency, like Good Politics, is Local (Christian Science Monitor)

“We have started collecting documents and information which prove that the Israeli occupation has stolen the body parts of martyrs. We intend to prepare a complete legal file to be used in suits against the Israeli government in international courts” -Gaza Minister of Justice Al-Ghoul:

• Hamas Prepares to Sue Israel for Organ Theft (Ma’an News)

Given Iran’s preference for suppressing the opposition, the protesters strategy is best described as “nonviolent guerrilla warfare”:

• Iran Green Movement Promising Big February Protests (Christian Science Monitor)

A reminder that without international support, the situation in Yemen could rapidly spiral out of control:

• Hillary Clinton Urges Yemen to ‘Take Ownership’ of its Problems (LA Times)

Imran

Minaret of Freedom Institute Program Assistant