A day after Britain marked the death of its 100th soldier in Afghanistan, private government documents have emerged supporting fears that Britain is locked into an unwinnable war. Leaked to the Daily Telegraph, the confidential report by UK diplomats warns that the booming opium trade, and the failure of the Afghan government to tackle corruption, is fuelling a situation that "will provide longevity to the Taliban." It further accuses the Karzai government in Kabul of refusing to take on the drug lords and allowing major players in the opium trade to take up senior government posts.
The toD verdict: Gordon Brown's tribute to fallen soldiers on Monday had all the usual hallmarks, full of references to "sacrifice", and paying the "ultimate price" for a noble cause. Coming at the same time as this leaked report, rarely have such words appeared more like trite mollifications. Now is not the time for stirring speeches about bravery (especially when a quarter of those 100 deaths are due to accidents rather than enemy action). Is it not perhaps time to treat the British public - and the 7,300 soldiers engaged in the conflict - with enough respect to be honest about the scale of the challenge?
Claiming that British forces have turned a "lawless region" into an "emerging democracy" is an outright distortion, and one that can only lead to disappointment and resentment. Today's conflicts involve balancing military victories against the complexities of state-building, human rights, and long-term, global security risks. This is relatively new and desperately complex terrain, which the coalition forces are having to learn on the hoof. Governments need to be more honest about the fact that much of what they learn is from mistakes - a point illustrated by the recent slew of RAND reports on the counter-insurgency. Above all, the public needs to know that there can be no straight-forward victory in these wars - that "winning" is necessarily a drawn-out and uncomfortably compromised affair.
Islamists grow impatient with Hamas
Islamist groups in the Gaza Strip are benefiting from the shelter provided by Hamas control, according to a report by Reuters today. The "Islamisation" of Gaza is evident from the near disappearance of pornography and alcohol, and the blossoming of beards and headscarves. But the report suggests that the slow pace of societal change is leading to increased membership among small, radical groups, such as the Jaysh al-Ummah (Army of the Nation), and increased attacks on the small Christian minority. It is feared that such groups are impatient with Hamas, who have proved unwilling to impose more extreme interpretations of Islamic law. "Hamas does not implement the rule of God," said one al-Qaeda affiliate. "We have seen no one have his hand cut off for stealing. We have seen no one stoned as an adulterer."
Somali truce rejected by rebels
The three-month truce hammered out between warring factions in Somalia looks unlikely to be respected by many in the Islamic resistance. Senior rebel leader, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, rejected the deal, saying, "We shall continue fighting until we liberate our country from the enemies of Allah." The deal, signed on Monday, involves the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops and the entry of UN peacekeepers. Although elements of the Somali resistance were involved in the negotiations, hard-line Islamists such as Aweys refused to participate. He argues that there is no clear timetable for the withdrawal of Ethiopians, who entered the country in late 2006 as part of a US-backed offensive against Islamists from southern and central Somalia.
Minority Muslim group banned in Indonesia
The Indonesian government has acquiesced to protestors' demands for a minority Muslim sect to be banned, reports the New York Times. The Ahmadiyah sect has been the victim of violent attacks by extremist groups because they do not accept Mohammed as the last prophet. Although not technically banning the sect, the decree by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono means they can no longer practice or spread their religion. Around 5,000 members of a group called United for Islam marched on the presidential palace in Jakarta demanding their prohibition. The move comes at a time when the Indonesian president is under increasing pressure to adopt elements of sharia law.
Death tolls and lack of clarity on the rise in Sri Lanka
Recent fighting in the northern region of Sri Lanka has left two soldiers and 18 Tamil Tigers dead, it was announced today. The rebel group responded by claiming they had killed 46 soldiers over the past two days. Speaking to Reuters, one Tamil leader warned the government against further offensives, given the scale of army losses. Restrictions on journalists mean the figures cannot be verified. The Sri Lankan government has been strongly criticised for its use of anti-terror laws against reporters and activists, with some saying it has become "one of the most dangerous places in the world for human rights defenders."
