 RFE/RL Afghanistan Report 02.07.2009 A review of RFE/RL reporting and analysis about Afghanistan.For more stories on Afghanistan, please visit and bookmark our Afghanistan page . |
 U.S., Afghans Launch Major Offensive The operation targets Taliban strongholds in southern Helmand Province, considered by many to be Afghanistan's most insecure region. With thousands of marines and hundreds of Afghan police and soldiers involved, it's seen as a key effort to turn around the deteriorating situation and improve security for the August election. More  What McChrystal Learned From Afghan 'Listening Tour' U.S. General Stanley McChrystal recently assumed his position as the commander of both the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and all the U.S. forces in Afghanistan. In an exclusive interview with RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan correspondent Hamid Mohmand, he said that the "fight is for the Afghan people, it's not with the Afghan people." More  Southern Afghan Police Killed In Clash With Security Guards The provincial police chief and at least four other police officers in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar Province have been killed in a clash with private Afghan security guards. More  Interview: 'Splitting Hairs Won't Help: We Are At War' The death toll is rising for German troops in Afghanistan. A battle with militants this week left three more soldiers dead, raising the total to 35. The mounting body count has prompted many Germans to question their country's "networked security approach," which is meant to favor civil projects over military might. Germans are asking, "Are we actually at war?" For answers, RFE/RL's Bernd Volkert spoke to Hening Riecke, an expert on German foreign and defense policy at the German Council on Foreign Relations in Berlin. More Inspired by "The Atlantic's" mock "World Leaders" Facebook group, RFE/RL presents a Facebook-style summary of last week's events. More  Kyrgyz Parliament Ratifies U.S. Base Agreement Kyrgyzstan's parliament has unanimously approved a deal with the United States to keep open the only U.S. air base in Central Asia. More |
