Al-Qai’da aid project shows the way in Afghanistan

March 24, 2014 Mohammed Abbasi

World View: Corruption has blighted the torrent of dollars poured into the country by America since 2001 An Afghan acquaintance who had worked for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) told me several years ago how an Afghan subcontractor had made a large profit from a contract to build and get running a tractor repair shop in Uruzgan province in southern Afghanistan. Uruzgan, the home province of Mullah Omar, the leader of the Taliban, was then a particularly dangerous place, but the subcontractor cunningly turned this to his advantage. The strong Taliban presence in the area meant that … Continue reading Al-Qai’da aid project shows the way in Afghanistan

Taliban Peace Event In Qatar?

June 9, 2013June 9, 2013 Mohammed Abbasi

Afghan Taliban ‘willing’ to talk to peace council as Karzai begins Qatar visit Afghan government disagrees with certain pre-conditions put forward by Taliban: Source By Tahir Khan Published: June 9, 2013 Afghan government disagrees with certain pre-conditions put forward by Taliban. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE ISLAMABAD: The Afghan Taliban have hinted that they are willing to hold talks with the government-backed peace council, an Afghan official familiar with the development said. US Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan James Dobbins met President Karzai in late May and “informed him about the Taliban’s willingness to talk” to the Afghan High Peace Council in … Continue reading Taliban Peace Event In Qatar?

Drone Sex?

October 1, 2011October 1, 2011 Mohammed Abbasi

DISPATCHES FROM AMERICA Sex and the single drone By Tom Engelhardt In the world of weaponry, they are the sexiest things around. Others countries are desperate to have them. Almost anyone who writes about them becomes a groupie. Reporters exploring their onrushing future swoon at their potentially wondrous techno-talents. They are the pilotless drones, our grimly named Predators and Reapers. As Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director, Leon Panetta called them “the only game in town”. As secretary of defense Robert Gates pushed hard to up their numbers and increase their funding drastically. The US Air Force is already training more … Continue reading Drone Sex?