News and Analysis (7/20/09)

Although he sees victory in Afghanistan as a “long-term project,” …

• Gates: US has One Year to Make Progress in Afghanistan (Christian Science Monitor)

… yet, similarities to Vietnam persist in Afghanistan:

• Marines Face Stiff Taliban Resistance (Washington Post)

“Afghans are arbitrarily detained by police, prosecutors, judges and detention center officials with alarming regularity”:

• Pentagon Seeks to Overhaul Prisons in Afghanistan (NY Times)

In another break from Bush-era policy, US forces will begin focusing on trafficking networks  rather than crop production:

• U.S. Increasing Counter-Narcotics Efforts in Afghanistan (LA Times)

Dealers are exploiting poor Iraqis, taking 2/3 of the profits made from illegally selling one’s organs:

• Poverty Drives Iraq Organ Trade (Al Jazeera)

Exposing the differences of ideology and interpretation with our ally as US forces  play backup to Iraqi forces:

• U.S. Troops in Iraq Find Little Leeway (Washington Post)

The PA will pursue “legal action against the broadcaster ‘for its continuous incitement against the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian National Authority’”:

• Al Jazeera West Bank Ban Revoked’ (Al Jazeera)

Imran

Minaret of Freedom Institute Program Assistant