News and Analysis (10/12/09)

For many reasons, diplomacy was virtually the only option for the Obama Administration:

• Diplomacy in the Lead on Iran Nuclear Issue — For Now (LA Times)

Alienating political Afghanistan from its Islamic heritage is a strategy doomed to failure:

• Can Religion Be Part Of Solution in Afghanistan? (Washington Post)

Baited by Militant attacks on Sunday, the Pakistani military will begin an aggressive offensive in South Waziristan:

• Pakistan Says Latest Deadly Assault Cements Plan to Strike at Taliban Stronghold (LA Times)

Avoiding a exact number, Kai Eide indicated their was “widespread fraud” in the election…

• UN: Afghan Vote Fraud Widespread (Al Jazeera)

…Meanwhile, the “entire system of delivering aid is broken, and very little of the aid is getting to the Afghan people”:

• Civilian Goals Largely Unmet in Afghanistan (NY Times)

Imran

Minaret of Freedom Institute Program Assistant