On the eighth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Afghanistan, President Barack Obama is under more pressure than ever over which course of action to take. Last night, Obama held a meeting of key Republican and Democrat leaders in the White House in which he was urged by Republican congressional leaders to heed General Stanley McChrystal's call for more troops. Obama is expected to unveil a new strategy in the coming weeks. He has made it clear that the administrations policy towards Afghanistan will not entail a significant reduction of troops and a narrower counter-terrorist focus on al-Qaeda, a strategy that been linked with his vice-president, Joe Biden. The president intends to meet his national security team on Wednesday to discuss Pakistan and on Friday to deliberate an Afghan strategy.
The ToD Verdict: Obama's meeting with lawmakers follows a brutal firefight in eastern Afghanistan last weekend in which eight U.S. soldiers died. On Tuesday, NATO forces admitted that militants had breached the perimeter of the military base where the firefight took place, an extremely rare occurance, but claimed that over 100 fighters had been killed as enemy forces were repulsed. The number of US fatalities this year is set to be the highest in the war so far. Aware that the stakes are so high, officials have stressed that leaving Afghanistan is not an option. The U.S. administration's strategy has been coloured by allegations of electoral fraud and concerns about the Afghan government's ability to perform in a way that is not corrupt. Concerns have also been raised about the capacity of the Afghan army and national police force to prevent infiltration by Taliban insurgents.
Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, has appealed for privacy and calm to be upheld after calls for more troops by General McChrystal raised pressure on the White House. Gates cautioned military leaders against making public statements on policy regarding the war. With speculation rife about the course of action to be taken in coming months, skeptics in the Democratic Party have raised concerns that the Afghan war may become ‘Obama's Vietnam.' It is unclear if a surge of troops is likely to have the same effect in quelling insurgency in Afghanistan as many claim it did in Iraq in 2007.
Meanwhile in Britain, the government is expected to send 1,000 troop reinforcements to Afghanistan following a similarly intense controversy. A cabinet sub-committee is likely to meet on Thursday to consider how the Afghan operation is resourced. Meanwhile, a survey conducted by the BBC found that 56% of people in Britain oppose military operations in Afghanistan. Doubts about the Afghan conflict, coupled with the pending strategy of the Obama administration, are likely to shape the political debate ahead of the general election in 2010.
On Wednesday, the Afghan Taliban claimed they pose no threat to the West but will continue to resist foreign forces stationed in Afghanistan until their withdrawal. In a statement posted on the internet, the Taliban claim they have no intention of harming the West and that their sole interest is the establishment of an Islamic state. The statement added that the invasion of Afghanistan for its refusal to hand over al-Qaeda leaders was unjustified. These sentiments echoed those of a video released on Tuesday by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of the Hizb-e-Islami group. Last weekend, in a press conference with a select few tribal journalists in the mountains of South Waziristan, Hakimullah Mehsud issued a stern warning to the new Obama administration. Dispelling rumours of his own demise, he vowed to avenge Baitullah Mehsud's death and oppose the NATO presence in neighbouring Afghanistan.
Pakistan jets strike Taliban in South Waziristan ahead of likely ground campaign
On Tuesday, Pakistani fighter jets bombed South Waziristan killing six suspected Taliban fighters. The bombing follows a Taliban suicide attack at the office of the World Food Program (WFP) in Islamabad. Reports suggest that Pakistan's military is poised to launch a major offensive in South Waziristan. Pakistan has amassed 28,000 troops near the tribal region close to the Afghan border to fight an estimated 10,000 well-armed militants. The assault on South Waziristan is considered vital in curbing cross-border attacks on US and NATO troops and achieving military victory in neighbouring Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's parliament is set to heatedly debate a U.S. aid bill on Wednesday amid concerns that it infringes on the country's sovereignty. The US Congress last week approved the aid package, amounting to $1.5 billion a year for the next five years. The bill stipulates that Pakistan continues its fight against Taliban and al-Qaeda militants and seeks Pakistani cooperation to dismantle nuclear supplier networks. Opposition to the bill has been levelled on the grounds that the stipulations are ‘degrading' and ‘insulting.'
Anti-IMF protests in Turkey turn violent
Hundreds of protestors clashed with riot police on Wednesday, venting anger at the International Monetary Fund. Significant damage to shops, banks and vehicles was caused by demonstrators who also hurled stones at police. Turkish police fired tear gas and used water cannons to disperse the crowd and made a number of arrests. The protests are occurring near a complex where the IMF and World Bank are negotiating a possible new loan agreement with Turkey. Yesterday, the police detained 100 people following a similar protest. Last week, a protestor threw a shoe at IMF Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn at a university in Istanbul. The IMF is unpopular with many Turks who say its demands for spending cuts lead to unemployment and slower growth rates.
Uganda frees Somali minister
After being briefly held by Ugandan authorities, Somalia's defense minister, Shaikh Yusuf Muhammad Siad has been released. Siad was seized by Ugandan security officials on Tuesday, triggering fears that he had been kidnapped. A former member of the Islamic Courts and a powerful Mogadishu warlord who goes by the nom de guerre "White Eyes", Siad is currently a key member of the internationally-backed transition government that is battling Islamic insurgents. The minister's visit to Kampala raised suspicions after he reportedly entered Uganda by road from neighbouring Kenya. Ugandan authorities defended the move by stressing the arrest was not a mistake, adding that Siad had failed to provide notice of his arrival and that the reason for his visit was unclear.
Mugabe seeks better ties with the West
Speaking at the opening of Zimbabwe's parliament, President Robert Mugabe said Zimbabwe was ready for ‘fresh, friendly and co-operative relations' with the West in return for an end to targeted sanctions that have crippled Zimbabwe's economy. He expressed optimism about re-engagement with the EU bloc after a visit by an EU delegation last month, the first of its kind in seven years. Critics however have played down Mugabe's remarks calling instead for further pressure on the president to cooperate with coalition partners the MDC, led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
