Search Results for: "Halliburton Camps"
Not Intimidated TSF Returns With Results To Pakistan
Relevance Score: 3.281 2009-08-21 17:13:28
The timeline that reveals the persistent efforts of Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF) to assist is as follows: May 18th, TSF deployed to Pakistan to respond to the emergency in the North Western Frontier Province. Over 2 million people have been displaced since the latest outbreak of the conflict between the Pakistani army and the Taliban last April. TSF partnered with a local NGO called Youth Resources Center (YRC) and trained on site 20 local employees for its humanitarian calling operations. Despite the fact that their team evacuated after the terrorist attack on the Pearl Continental Hotel in Peshawar, TSF offered, from June 8th to the 15th, more than 1500 calls to the displaced population in the Mardan district. The calling operations resumed on July 28th; with the head of the mission returning to Islamabad to coordinate and monitor the mission on the ground that would cover districts other than Mardan, where many IDPs are sheltered, keeping in mind that over 25 refugee camps are installed in the six districts of the region. What is more, there are a number of "humanitarian hubs" set up to deliver help to people who are staying outside of the camps, such as those settled with family, friends or host communities. Currently there are 10 registration centers and 34 humanitarian hubs, which distribute food to IDPs. Ten more distribution points are inside the camps. Six teams (four teams comprised of male members and two teams of female members) are then covering different camps in Nowshera, Swabi and Mardan districts: • Chota Lahore and Shah Mansoor Camp-I & II in Swabi, where the activities began • Jalozai-I and Jalozai-II in Nowshera • Jalala, Mardan, Shankar College and Tarakai Camp in Mardan district An example of help provided: Naheed lives in the village of Tahirabad. She now has a new born 3-day-old baby, and in order to reach Jalala camp, 15 kms far from her village, she had to walk, while pregnant for more than 13 hours. Her feet were swollen and legs were aching, but she was grateful for the phone services as she called her husband who is working in Karachi. She was happy to hear he was safe and sound and could reassure him of their situation. Jalozai-2 is the biggest camp where more than 57,000 people are sheltered. From July 28th to August 1st, using mobile telecommunication equipment provided by TSF, the six teams were able to offer 1,378 calls to the displaced civilians (33 percent of the calls were international). The two teams of female personnel provide phoning services to women displaced in Shah Mansoor, Jalala, Jalozai-I & II and Tarakai camps. TSF is the only organization offering free international calls. Many Pakistanis have relatives abroad in the Middle East, in the UK or in other countries of Asia.
Top 10 World-Wide Defense Contractors
Relevance Score: 2.892 2009-07-01 09:18:32
Below is a list of the world’s top ten defense contractors ordered by greatest to least revenue. The Defense Contractors below provide most of the weapons systems, aircraft, electronic systems, and other military technology we have here at future firepower. Throughout our website you will find references to these defense contractors and the products they supply the Unites States and other Nations such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and other allies of the US with. Top 10 World-Wide Defense Contractors, 2006 Lockheed Martin U.S. 36,465 98.0 Boeing U.S. 30,791 56.1 Northrop Grumman U.S. 23,332 76.0 BAE Systems U.K. 20,935 79.0 Raytheon U.S. 18,200 83.1 General Dynamics U.S. 16,570 78.0 EADS Germany/France 9,120 22.5 L-3 Communications U.S. 8,549 90.5 Thales France 8,523 70.0 Halliburton U.S. 7,552 36.0
Trunz Water Systems - Solar and Wind Power Water Purification and Desalination Systems
Relevance Score: 1.872 2009-05-30 10:11:30
The Swiss-based company Trunz Water Systems manufactures and distributes a sustainable, energy efficient and environmentally friendly solution for water purification and desalination: a complete and ready-to-operate unit which is mobile and independent thanks to its use of solar and/or wind power. Solar and wind-powered water treatment and desalination systems Trunz Water Systems has developed a unique solution for water treatment and desalination. The innovative technology produces clean drinking water from polluted water and salt water solar and / or wind power. An ultra-filtration membrane or a reverse osmosis system (for sea or brackish water) removes all viruses and bacteria (and salts) without requiring toxic chemical treatment. Compact and mobile water purification systems Trunz Water Systems' products are compact, mobile and work without ongoing fuel costs. If necessary, the units can be mounted on a trailer or four-wheel-drive for easy relocation. The systems come complete with a borehole pump, solar racks and wind generator and are ready for installation. All of the Trunz Water Systems products require minimal maintenance – the pre-filtration system as well as the main filter is equipped with an automatic back-flushing system to keep maintenance and service costs as low as possible. The capacity depends on the raw water quality and ranges from 7,000l to 24,000l a day. Purification and desalination systems with renewable energy sources Designed to provide relief to communities and camps affected by the lack of a power supply and safe drinking water, Trunz Water Systems products can purify water from almost any polluted freshwater source, including rivers, creeks, and wells. Moreover, two of the Trunz Water Systems purifiers which are equipped with a reverse osmosis system are able to remove chemicals and salt. A main benefit of the systems is their very low energy consumption and, thanks to the wind turbine, the units deliver additional electricity to power computers or recharge small appliances. This is especially useful for military camps in remote areas where medical clinics need oxygen, sterilization or surgical equipment or refrigeration of medicines. Drinking-water production trailer The Trunz water trailer can provide safe drinking water within minutes. This system is specifically designed to work under harsh conditions and reliably removes of organic contamination from water sources. The system includes high-quality components to ensure that all materials are as durable and robust as possible. The Trunz water trailer can be adhered to any four-wheel-drive vehicle and allows for easy relocation. Thanks to the solar panels the unit operates completely independently. The energy consumption is exceptionally low (approximately 350 W) and in case bad weather conditions do not allow to charge the batteries to be charged with solar power, a generator (included) will secure ongoing operation of the unit. The Trunz water trailer comes complete and can be set up and initialized with minimal effort. The Trunz water trailer is also available for sea water and / or brackish water. About Trunz Water Systems Trunz Water Systems is based in Switzerland and belongs to the Trunz Group which manufactures units in Arbon, Switzerland. With a production area of 18,000m² and modern, high-tech equipment, the ISO certified company guarantees highly professional competence and Swiss quality.
Pakistani Refugees Come Back To Swat's Main Camp.
Relevance Score: 1.782 2009-07-15 02:41:41
Thousands more refugees returned Tuesday to the battle-scarred Swat Valley as Pakistani authorities struggled with transport bottlenecks and the refusal of some of the estimated 2 million people displaced by fighting with the Taliban to leave refugee camps until they obtain promised financial assistance. An army spokesman, Lt. Col. Waseem Shahid, said more than 900 families returned Tuesday to government-approved zones, an increase from the 650 families who went home Monday, the first day of the government-organized repatriation program. Authorities have declared most of Swat cleared of Taliban militants after nearly three months of fighting. The military campaign against the Taliban was strongly backed by the United States, which is eager for Pakistan to crack down on militants blamed for attacks in Afghanistan. The government plan calls for about 200,000 refugees staying in camps to return first. But thousands of others who sought refuge with family or friends have also been rushing back, causing traffic congestion at crossing points into the valley. Authorities decided to ease restrictions but were still trying to keep parts of the valley off-limits, said Mian Iftikhar Hussain, information minister for the North West Frontier Province. That appeared to be a tough task. Hundreds of families, for instance, arrived Tuesday in Mingora, Swat's main town, even though people were not supposed to return there until later this month. Anwarul Haq was among about 1,200 refugees who spent one night under the open sky waiting for security forces to let them return home. Authorities at a major entry point into the valley eventually relented and allowed them to return. "It's great to be back in our own town and home," he said. Authorities also said they were working to fix "technical problems" in disbursing financial aid. Families who request it have been promised about $300 given through so-called "smart cards," but only about half the cards have been issued, Hussain said. One refugee, Kamal Khan, said he had been in a camp for two months but had still not received his card. "I'm not getting sufficient relief," he said. Mohammad Adil, a senior official in Mardan district, said no one would be forced to leave the camps. It is expected to take about 45 days for all the refugees to return home. "We are not putting pressure on anyone," he said. Lt. Gen. Nadeem Ahmad, who oversees the support program for the refugees, urged people to be patient. "This is such a big repatriation, and we expect the people to bear a little discomfort," he said. "This is in the interest of overall security that people go back in some order, with some discipline." Authorities have sought to downplay fears that security remains tenuous in the valley, even though operations against the Taliban are continuing. Officials also say they are working on establishing a stronger police force to guarantee that the Taliban do not re-emerge as a threat. But a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross said security in the valley is "uneven." "You can't generalize the overall situation," Sebastien Brack said. "All measures have to be taken to ensure the safety of the residents and the displaced persons if they want to go back. The main concern is that the return be voluntary and that safety be guaranteed." Violence flared elsewhere in the northwest. Militants clashed with tribesmen in the Mohmand region after the insurgents were asked to leave late Monday, said Syed Ahmad Jan, a senior regional administrator. The militants refused and opened fire, sparking a gunbattle that left 23 extremists dead and four tribal militiamen wounded, he said. Pakistan has encouraged tribesmen along the Afghan frontier to form militias to repel Taliban militants, and the groups have emerged in several regions. In the nearby Khyber region, attackers opened fire on an oil truck and fled when security forces escorting the convoy returned fire, said Fazal Mahmood, a local government official. The truck driver and a passer-by were killed. Taliban militants have frequently targeted U.S.-NATO supply convoys in the region, home to the Khyber Pass. Also Tuesday, Pakistani Taliban operating from the South Waziristan tribal region fired three rockets across the border and the American and Afghan forces retaliated with eight mortar shells, two Pakistani intelligence officials said. A civilian was wounded by the fire from the Afghan side, the officials added, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. An army spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment. It was not possible to independently verify the information because access to the remote, dangerous region is strictly controlled, but cross-border skirmishes are not uncommon. Associated Press Writers Riaz Khan in Peshawar, Habib Khan in Khar, Zarar Khan in Islamabad and Ishtiaq Mahsud in Dera Ismail Khan contributed to this report.
Pakistani Refugees Come Back To Swat's Main Camp.
Relevance Score: 1.780 2009-07-15 02:41:41
Thousands more refugees returned Tuesday to the battle-scarred Swat Valley as Pakistani authorities struggled with transport bottlenecks and the refusal of some of the estimated 2 million people displaced by fighting with the Taliban to leave refugee camps until they obtain promised financial assistance. An army spokesman, Lt. Col. Waseem Shahid, said more than 900 families returned Tuesday to government-approved zones, an increase from the 650 families who went home Monday, the first day of the government-organized repatriation program. Authorities have declared most of Swat cleared of Taliban militants after nearly three months of fighting. The military campaign against the Taliban was strongly backed by the United States, which is eager for Pakistan to crack down on militants blamed for attacks in Afghanistan. The government plan calls for about 200,000 refugees staying in camps to return first. But thousands of others who sought refuge with family or friends have also been rushing back, causing traffic congestion at crossing points into the valley. Authorities decided to ease restrictions but were still trying to keep parts of the valley off-limits, said Mian Iftikhar Hussain, information minister for the North West Frontier Province. That appeared to be a tough task. Hundreds of families, for instance, arrived Tuesday in Mingora, Swat's main town, even though people were not supposed to return there until later this month. Anwarul Haq was among about 1,200 refugees who spent one night under the open sky waiting for security forces to let them return home. Authorities at a major entry point into the valley eventually relented and allowed them to return. "It's great to be back in our own town and home," he said. Authorities also said they were working to fix "technical problems" in disbursing financial aid. Families who request it have been promised about $300 given through so-called "smart cards," but only about half the cards have been issued, Hussain said. One refugee, Kamal Khan, said he had been in a camp for two months but had still not received his card. "I'm not getting sufficient relief," he said. Mohammad Adil, a senior official in Mardan district, said no one would be forced to leave the camps. It is expected to take about 45 days for all the refugees to return home. "We are not putting pressure on anyone," he said. Lt. Gen. Nadeem Ahmad, who oversees the support program for the refugees, urged people to be patient. "This is such a big repatriation, and we expect the people to bear a little discomfort," he said. "This is in the interest of overall security that people go back in some order, with some discipline." Authorities have sought to downplay fears that security remains tenuous in the valley, even though operations against the Taliban are continuing. Officials also say they are working on establishing a stronger police force to guarantee that the Taliban do not re-emerge as a threat. But a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross said security in the valley is "uneven." "You can't generalize the overall situation," Sebastien Brack said. "All measures have to be taken to ensure the safety of the residents and the displaced persons if they want to go back. The main concern is that the return be voluntary and that safety be guaranteed." Violence flared elsewhere in the northwest. Militants clashed with tribesmen in the Mohmand region after the insurgents were asked to leave late Monday, said Syed Ahmad Jan, a senior regional administrator. The militants refused and opened fire, sparking a gunbattle that left 23 extremists dead and four tribal militiamen wounded, he said. Pakistan has encouraged tribesmen along the Afghan frontier to form militias to repel Taliban militants, and the groups have emerged in several regions. In the nearby Khyber region, attackers opened fire on an oil truck and fled when security forces escorting the convoy returned fire, said Fazal Mahmood, a local government official. The truck driver and a passer-by were killed. Taliban militants have frequently targeted U.S.-NATO supply convoys in the region, home to the Khyber Pass. Also Tuesday, Pakistani Taliban operating from the South Waziristan tribal region fired three rockets across the border and the American and Afghan forces retaliated with eight mortar shells, two Pakistani intelligence officials said. A civilian was wounded by the fire from the Afghan side, the officials added, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. An army spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment. It was not possible to independently verify the information because access to the remote, dangerous region is strictly controlled, but cross-border skirmishes are not uncommon. Associated Press Writers Riaz Khan in Peshawar, Habib Khan in Khar, Zarar Khan in Islamabad and Ishtiaq Mahsud in Dera Ismail Khan contributed to this report.
Terrorist Actions Against The U.S.
Relevance Score: 1.652 2009-07-08 01:16:07
Osama bin Laden was born in Saudi Arabia into a family of immigrants to Saudi Arabia from Yemen. His family had a lot of money and well established, but bin Laden was influenced by extremist Muslim authorities who led him to pursue a radical political life that took him to Sudan in Africa, back to Saudi Arabia, and finally to Afghanistan when the Soviets invaded that state. He had become unpopular with the Saudi government, though supported by wealthy Saudis who responded to his extremist Muslim views. In Afghanistan, bin Laden found a country that was consist mostly of rural locations (more than 80 percent), but which was experiencing modern pressures. He, with his wealth, became popular because of money he spent on behalf of the Afghans and his personal fight against the Soviet Union. In 1965, a Marxist-oriented group, the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan, a communist party, caused to existence. Soon, Afghanistan faced considerable political turmoil and finally a PDPA coup in 1978. By December of 1979 the PDPA was in considerable trouble, and the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. Osama bin Laden was soon drawn into that conflict against the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union could never stabilize its power and was driven out in 1988. The United States and Saudi Arabia working through the ISI - Pakistani Intelligence Service - assisted the Afghans in driving out the Soviets. More than 2 million Afghans were killed and more than 6 million fled to Pakistan, Iran and other countries. The United States and the government of Saudi Arabia pumped more than $6 billion into that conflict. Growing out of the conflict and with the presence of Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaeda was formed. Under the leadership of bin Laden the movement grew: a terrorist leadership, training camps for terrorists, and a strategy against any state that was not a “true Islamic” state were established. The United States because of its world prominence was targeted. A second force to contend with, the Taliban was officially established in 1994 under the leadership of Mullah Omar, an Afghan, in response to the heavy activity of the Pakistani ISI in Afghanistan. It seems likely that much of the money that the U.S. and Saudi Arabia spent in the fight against the Soviet Union was used to lay the foundation for the creation of the Taliban. Also, elements in the Pakistani ISI perhaps were helpful in establishing the Taliban. It must be mentioned that other anti-U.S. and anti-government groups were also functioning in Afghanistan. The political environment is complex. The Taliban began its attempt to take over Afghanistan from the five regional armed forces that had developed during the Soviet period. From its headquarters in Qandahar it moved toward Kabul and took control in September of 1996. In a short time the Taliban controlled about 90 percent of the country. The ideology of the Taliban was mixed among sub-groups, but the Islamic extremists were in control. Many Afghans found the Taliban to be oppressive and as a result, many fled Afghanistan, complicating further the refugee problem in Pakistan. While Afghanistan had been Muslim for some time, the Islamic faith generally had not been rigorously enforced. The Taliban changed that, especially with respect to the position of women, forms of dress, and strict application of Islamic law (Shari’ah). The Taliban recruited many men from within Afghanistan and from Pakistan as well as from other Muslim countries. It drew heavily on younger refugees and Pakistani youth who attended the many madrassas in western Pakistan. These madrassas are “schools” for Islamic youth who are heavily indoctrinated in the faith, even to the point of becoming martyrs for the Islamic cause. Out of this new Afghan environment, terrorists were trained and sent out to strike the “evil” world. In the early 90’s the World Trade Center in New York was bombed, and later in the 90’s U.S. Embassies were bombed in Kenya and Tanzania. President Clinton blamed the bombings on Islamic extremists and demanded of Afghanistan that terrorist activities cease and that bin Laden be turned over to the U.S. for appropriate punishment. When the Clinton demand was not responded to, the U.S., in August 1998, hit the bin Laden terrorist training camps, funded by some wealthy Saudis, with cruise missiles fired from U.S. Navy ships in the Arabian Sea. U.N. sanctions were imposed in November 1999 for the same reason, and all military aid to Afghanistan was cut off in 2001. After September 11, 2001 - when the World Trade Center in New York was destroyed and 3000 people killed, the attack on the Pentagon, and endangered White House - the U.S. demanded the surrender of bin Laden, the shut-down of the al-Qaeda by the Taliban, and closing the terrorist training camps. The refusal of the Taliban to cooperate led to the bombing of Afghanistan by the U.S. with the assistance of the British. Efforts to close down the terrorist problem began in earnest with the attacks in the United States: 1) Forces within Afghanistan began to move against the Taliban, 2) the United States moved troops into Afghanistan, and 3) NATO eventually took command of the International Security Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan under a UN mandate. Politics began to change in Afghanistan, and Pakistan began to experience internal political pressures as a result of turmoil in Afghanistan. In spite of the years of effort and use of resources in war in Iraq, the U.S. is still determined to eliminate or greatly reduce the terrorist threats from the Central Asian area. Harold Sare has studied, conducted research and taught university courses focused on the region of which he writes, and has lived and traveled in that area, specifically in India, including Kashmir, and in Pakistan. He now lives in Stillwater. Tomorrow: Part 3, action against terrorism in Central Asia.
Undaunted, Télécoms Sans Frontières Returns to Pakistan, Resuming Assistance
Relevance Score: 1.607 2009-08-03 23:20:07
Five weeks after security concerns forced it to pull out of the country, emergency telecommunications agency Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF) informed it is resuming its humanitarian calling operation in Pakistan. TSF plans to return to areas where the refugee problem is compounded by the absence of reliable terrestrial communications. More than 25 refugee camps have been established, as well as a number of "humanitarian hubs" to support people who have found shelter with family or friends. Free calls TSF spokesperson Myriam Annette said the team hoped to offer free calls to people in several districts, although security conditions are making it difficult to reach some refugees. "TSF is ready to target those areas not covered by local telecommunications networks and to provide satellite-based mobile telecommunications to the humanitarian organizations that will finally reach those areas," she said. TSF pulled out of Pakistan after the attack on the Pearl Continental Hotel on 9 June, which resulted in 17 victims, including two United Nations (UN) employees. TSF's head of mission, Oisin Walton, was among 50 guests who were injured. Displaced people However, having local workers trained on site by TSF, ensured a pre-planned calling operation could continue, with more than 1,500 calls offered to displaced people in Mardan district. TSF reports that Oisin is likely to return to Islamabad soon to co-ordinate the resumption of the telecom mission, in collaboration with the local NGO Youth Resources Centre (YRC). According to the latest registration information available, nearly 3 million people are estimated to have fled fighting in North-West Pakistan since 2008.
How to Survive Military Basic Training
Relevance Score: 1.213 2009-07-06 12:08:23
Can you believe it? Civilian "Boot Camps" are springing up all over the place. Folks are paying hundreds of dollars for the privilege of having someone yell at them while they do pushups, sit-ups, and run an obstacle course. Not quite the same thing as real military boot camp, however --at the end of a couple of hours, they get to go home and shower. By the time they are working on their first cup of carrot juice and granola bar, the real military recruit is several hours into his/her day -- with several more hours to go. Currently, over 40 percent of those who enlist in the military do not make it through the first four years. A significant portion of these do not even make it through boot camp. For many, this is because of unrealistic expectations. The military (and especially Boot Camp) is not what they thought it would be. Sometimes recruiters do too good a job of selling the military as just another occupation. Then, once the recruit wakes up at 0300 with a drill instructor screaming in their face, they say to themselves "Whoa! Where's the 'Condos' and the 'gourmet food?' Where's the NCO Club, and the Gym, and the discount PX items? Where's the job I was told about?" In this multi-part article, we'll examine military basic training. We'll discuss what it is, where it is, what you can expect, what you should bring, how you should act, and some basic tips on surviving 6 to 12 weeks of "Hell." Regardless of what your recruiter told you, being a member of the United States Armed Forces is not just like having a civilian job. You need to understand this right down to your toes before you sign that contract and take that oath. In the military, there will ALWAYS be someone telling you what to do, when to do it, and how to do it -- and you've got to do it. Sometimes they'll tell you to do something that you don't want to do, or tell you in a way that makes you angry. Failing to do it is not an option. The willful disobeying of a lawful order won't just get you "fired," as it would in a civilian occupation, it can get you sent to jail. In the military, you'll work the hours you are told to work, you'll work "overtime" with no additional pay, you'll do the tasks you're assigned to do (even if they don't relate exactly with your "job"), you'll live where you're told to live, and you'll deploy where and when you're told to deploy. If you're not absolutely willing to make these sacrifices, then do yourself and the government a big favor and don't join up. However, if you are willing to put the needs of your country and your service ahead of your own, you'll find several rewards in a military career (or even a short term of service). You'll also be one of the 60 percent who make it to the end of their service commitment and either reenlist, or walk away contented with an Honorable Discharge. Military boot camp is like nothing you've ever experienced. However, the rigid routine and absolute control over every aspect of your life is several times worse than normal military duty -- on purpose. It's the job of the Training Instructors (T.I.'s) and Drill Instructors (D.I.'s) to either adjust your attitude to a military way of thinking (self-discipline, sacrifice, loyalty, obedience), or to drum you out before the military spends too much money on your training. They do this by applying significant degrees of physical and mental stress, while at the same time teaching you the fundamentals of military rules; and the policies, etiquette, and customs of your particular military service. While it may seem sadistic to those who are going through it, the T.I.'s and D.I.'s really do not kill and eat small children in their off-duty time. Nor do they derive any particular pleasure in your pain and miscomfort (Okay, okay, Technical Sergeant Danelack, my T.I. probably did, but few others do). In fact, most of them are pretty nice folks. The training programs are scientifically and psychologically designed to tear apart the "civilian" and build from scratch a proud, physically fit, and dedicated member of the United States Armed Forces. Go into it with a little fore-knowledge, the right attitude, and a few tips, and you'll graduate with no problems. You'll find that boot camp simply gets just a little bit easier each and every day.
Commentary: 3 million and counting
Relevance Score: 1.163 2009-06-11 09:14:11
Stung by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's suggestion the Pakistani army was wimping out against Taliban insurgents, the country's strongest institution swung into action a month ago 60 miles from the seat of government in Islamabad. Unfamiliar with counterinsurgency operations, the army laid down withering artillery fire in the Buner district, quickly followed by more shelling in the scenic Swat Valley, Pakistan's premier tourist destination. Since then some 3 million refugees have fled towns and cities turned to rubble and are now huddling in makeshift shelters in 28 camps where only one in five is under canvass in the broiling heat. One of the senior officials in charge of refugees, speaking not for attribution, said he expects the number to climb to 4 million, the largest exodus since partition from India created the state of Pakistan in 1947. Pakistan can't cope with a refugee crisis of this magnitude. When the last major earthquake hit Pakistan in October 2005, killing 75,000, some 400,000 dwellings were destroyed and the U.S. military played a key role in a major relief effort. The latest upheaval has displaced far more people. Taliban agents, posing as refugees, have already infiltrated the camps where they proselytize to radicalize those who lost their homes in Swat against the government. The head of the U.N. refugee relief operation in Pakistan and World Food Program personnel estimate burgeoning refugee needs for the next seven months at $540 million. No sooner were U.N. personnel installed in Peshawar's only safe hotel for Westerners, the five-star Pearl Continental, than a VBIED -- vehicle-borne improvised explosive device -- crashed through the security gate at 10 p.m., fired at security guards, pulled up in front of the PC, as locals call the hotel, and detonated half a ton of explosives, turning an entire wing to rubble, killing 20 and injuring 70. The suicide bombing was an almost identical replica of the blast that destroyed much of the Islamabad Marriott hotel last Sept. 20, killing 52 and wounding 250. Foreigners are always advised not to take rooms at the front of the hotel. The U.S. State Department had been in negotiations with the PC's owners to either purchase or sign a long-term lease to the hotel to house a new U.S. Consulate in Peshawar. One hotel executive, who didn't want his name to appear, said, "The country has been taken over by terrorists, and they have a free license to harm wherever they want, and the government doesn't seem to exist anymore. Â… What sort of parliamentary system do we have when there is no governance and no accountability while crime, terrorism and unemployment are on the increase?" Every major city in Pakistan has been hit by terrorist bombers at least once since President Asif Zardari succeeded President Pervez Musharraf following the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on Dec. 27, 2007. More than 8,000 have lost their lives in terrorist attacks. On May 27, a few days before Peshawar's PC hotel attack, car bombers armed with AK-47s and hand grenades killed 30 and wounded 250 at police and intelligence headquarters in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province. Army units previously stationed on the Indian frontier, 80,000-strong, pressed on to Bannu, a tribal area just outside the Taliban strongholds of North and South Waziristan, where hundreds of tribesmen, organized by tribal elders, unexpectedly began battling the Taliban fighters they had long appeased. The army plan is to launch a combined operation with the 120,000 soldiers now in the tribal areas on the Afghan border and attempt to crush Taliban and al-Qaida strongholds. They also took on two pro-Taliban tribes -- Jani Khel and Baka Khel -- and closed down their businesses, arresting close to 100. Washington has been pleading with the Pakistani government and military to deprive the Taliban from its safe havens in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The kaleidoscope of FATA loyalties is being given a vigorous shaking. Mrs. Clinton's hint about the Pakistani military command's perceived lack of cojones was mightily assisted by the brazen kidnapping of several hundred cadets and supervisors at a military college in Ramzak in North Waziristan that was training Frontier Corps volunteers. Pro-Taliban tribes were behind the operation. The cadets were released when the army threatened to attack them. Taliban guerrillas are well armed and equipped, much of it stolen from hijacked U.S. supply trucks as they wend their way from Karachi to the Khyber Pass and into Afghanistan. And most tribal elders in FATA are of two minds about both the Taliban and the United States. Four of them paid a below-radar visit to Washington this week. Asked how they viewed America's role in the region, a Mohmand tribal elder told this reporter that America, irrespective of its good intentions, had invaded Afghanistan and they hoped America would leave -- "but not too soon." Many tribal elders have been assassinated by Taliban operatives to consolidate their terror grip on FATA. Those now in Washington said they use their cell phones to call home "every five minutes to make sure our families are safe." By week's end, rival Taliban commanders in North and South Waziristan buried the hatchet and united behind what pamphlets called the wishes of "Mujahedin leaders Mullah Mohammad Omar and Sheikh Osama Bin Laden." They agreed to supply fighters to serve in the "Lashkar al Zil," an al-Qaida paramilitary organization. The army suffered a series of humiliating defeats in FATA between 2004 and 2007. It lost 1,400 killed and some 4,000 wounded. A score of Pakistan's elite commandos were killed in a single firefight. A couple of helicopters were also forced down. This led to a cease-fire of sorts and a peace agreement that, in effect, ceded control to the Taliban. The army has kept out of the two Waziristans -- until now. Pakistan's GI Joes bitterly resented having to fight their own countrymen. They also abandoned several forts in South Waziristan. Now the battle lines have been redrawn. On one side are tens of thousands of well-armed Taliban guerrilla fighters. On the other is a newly motivated Pakistani army. On the outcome hinges the success or failure of the U.S.-NATO war in Afghanistan. As long as the Taliban enjoys privileged sanctuaries in FATA, the Afghan war is unwinnable. Meanwhile, Pakistan, one of the world's eight nuclear powers, is on the brink of civil war.
More Troops required, But Afghans Must Take Fight To The Taliban, Experts Claim.
Relevance Score: 1.121 2009-07-14 00:05:50
Professor Michael Clarke, director of Royal United Services Institute. The west has lacked a coherent international strategy since 2001 until last year so we have wasted seven years. Before Barack Obama came in there were separate national strategies that didn't meld together; now there is an American-led one taking a regional approach (taking in Pakistan), a developmental approach and a reinvigorated military counter-insurgency campaign. Whether it will work is another matter. But there are not enough military units. The west had 60,000 troops for Bosnia and 80,000 for Afghanistan, which is seven or eight times bigger than Bosnia. There is a particularly urgent need for more Afghan troops. The Afghan government is planning for 135,000, 90,000 of which whom have been prepared for battle, but 150,000 are needed. By the British government's own strategy, the earliest that the Afghan army and police can take over most of the fighting will be 2015, so there won't be a significant drawdown at least until then. (G.B has about 9,000 troops in Afghanistan). In terms of equipment, Britain has deployed its best-equipped army ever. The troops are not complaining about the equipment, but there is not enought of it and there is a critical shortage of helicopters. As for talking to the Taliban, we're already talking to them and there has been significant efforts in the last two years to reduce the core Taliban. We can't do anything with the rejectionists but diplomats say there has been an effect from these negotiations. The opinion polls are fairly consistent in showing that the Taliban has no more than 4-5% of popular support. Hamid Karzai 's government in theory should be viable - and there are some bright spots, particularly at the interior ministry - but in pratice he has not done enough to build a competent and representative government. If he wins the election next month – and he should – the onus will be on him to prove he can put together a competent government. Col Christopher Langton, senior fellow, International Institute for Strategic Studies. The ideas are there but the difficulty is matching these ideas with the right type of effort, the right equipment and right skills. There is already a recognition of the lack of civilian capacity to help build Afghan institutions. The military is attempting to bring stability so that the more civilian-based campaign can take root. You need the military campaign to succeed long enough for more long-term development and reconstruction to take hold. The further operations go, the more success that is achieved at the tactical level, the more difficult it becomes to hold on to territory, so you need the flexibility that more troops give you to maintain momentum. Otherwise you allow your opponents to regroup and come back at you. The key thing is not to lose momentum, to suddenly reduce troop numbers in the face of combat. We should keep troops deployed beyond the elections [next month] so that key strategic gains can be made. The goals are achievable with many provisos, particularly if there are enough troops. The commitment is one that is going to have to be open-ended. We can't say we will get out on November 2 because then all the insurgents have to do is wait until then. But the military campaign can't go on forever and we have to build politically on progress in Helmand and the positive effect of Pakistan's military campaign. I'm encouraged by Pakistan's total commitment to its operations against the Taliban on its territory. My concern is not so much whether the Pakistani government will prevail in its tactical operations but whether the public will support it. I'm not optimistic or pessimistic. I am realistic. I don't have the right to be pessimistic as most of the troops serving there are committed to their tasks. We've got to be a little bit more sober in our assessment. This is not be finished tomorow and it is important not to send mixed signals as these will also be picked up by our adversaries. Shukria Barakzai, Afghan MP and president Asia Women organisation. The strategy is not working at all because it is based on not what Afghans people need but on what foreign countries want. But no one is listening to us. War is not the way to achieve peace. Military operations are not the only way to bring security. Security won't come without development or job opportunities. How long do we have to wait for security through bombs and bullets? To those who argue that development is not possible without security I say we had fewer troops in 2003 but more security then. Now we have more troops and less security. The focus should be on training Afghan troops and technical assistance. I would love to see Afghans on the frontline. We Afghans have to fight for our own country and for the values we believe in. The offensive in Helmand will not bring positive results. It is not the first one and will not be the last. As for Hamid Karzai why do people think that Afghanistan equals Karzai. After seven years we are stuck with the same old gang of players. Once they spoke the rhetoric of holy war, now they talk about democracy. The silent democratic majority is missing. Rory Stewart, Ryan Family professor of the practice of human rights, Harvard University Afghanistan's political and strategic significance has been grossly exaggerated. The idea that we are there so we don't have to fight terrorists in Britain is absurd. The terrorist cells and training camps are not in Afghanistan. The people the Americans and British are fighting in Afghanistan are mostly local tribesmen resisting foreign forces. Does al-Qaida still require large terrorist training camps to organise attacks? Could they not plan in Hamburg and train at flight schools in Florida; or meet in Bradford and build morale on an adventure training course in Wales? Those who argue that we have the right strategy provided we have enough troops and equipment were saying not long ago that if we had only had 7,000 troops in Helmand instead of 5,000, we could defeat the Taliban. Then when we had 7,000 they said we needed 9,000. The demand for more troops is ever escalating. As for the argument that security is a prerequisite for development, that has not turned out to be the case everywhere. Where there is relative security, in the north and the centre, there has been very little development and what there has has come from the Afghans themselves. The best Afghan policy would be to reduce the number of foreign troops from the current level of 90,000 to far fewer – perhaps 20,000. In that case, two distinct objectives would remain for the international community: development and counter-terrorism. Neither would amount to the building of an Afghan state. If the west believed it essential to exclude al-Qaida from Afghanistan, then they could do it with special forces. (They have done it successfully since 2001 and could continue indefinitely, though the result has only been to move bin Laden across the border.) At the same time the west should provide generous development assistance – not only to keep consent for the counter-terrorism operations, but as an end in itself. It is impossible for Britain and its allies to build an Afghan state. They have no clear picture of this promised 'state', and such a thing could come only from an Afghan national movement, not as a gift from foreigners. Major General Julian Thompson (retired), visiting professor King's College. The strategy as I understand it is right, although it hasn't been and there is lots of catching up to do. I'm not sure however, that we have the wherewithal in terms of troops and equipment. We need to keep the troops off the roads and transport them by air with helicopters. There is no vehicle built in the world that can withstand explosions. Even tanks are vulnerable. The message from the military is that there are not enough troops and there should be more. The military want more troops and more resources but from the beginning the campaign has been onsistently underfunded and that has been a political decision. During the Falklands war, Margaret Thatcher never had anybody from the exchequer in cabinet decisions on the war because she knew they would say no. There should be no time frame on the Afghanistan operation. That would be hopeless as that would be just giving hostage to fortune. If there is a short deadline, all the enemy has to do is to wait you out. As for Karzai, we're stuck with him, we have to work with him, otherwise we take over the running of the place and I don't think anyone wants that. The idea that we could have a perfect government in Kabul is a pie in the sky hope. There is quite a lot of public support for the war but the thing that bleeds public support is casualties, but you can't fight people without taking losses. There has been a nasty spate of casualties but over a similar period in Northern Ireland there were twice as many.