KORAN VS HADITH

What parts have you guys read that stand out to you?

KOE

NEW YORK TIMES EDITORIAL BY AHMED RASHID, AUTHOR OF "TALIBAN," DISCUSSING AF-PAK WAR

This was on the front page of the opinon section of the Times this Sunday, 9/11. The author, Ahmed Rashid, is also the author of "Taliban," which a third of our class is reading. As a Pakistani himself, Rashid makes some itneresting points, many of which parallel Hoh's Speech at the City Club Forum. It's a long article, but very interesting and very relevant to this class! please read!!!! www.nytimes.com/2011/09/11/opinion/sunday/and-hate-begat-hate.html?scp=1&spq=rashid&st=cse -H

Leaderless Jihad

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/feb/19/leaderless-jihad/

Sageman's book gives an interesting insight on how to best counter extremist Islamic terrorism. It also gives another reason why our current strategy is ineffective.

Af-Pak Communal Timeline and Terms List

This is the link to a Google Doc which everyone should be able to access and edit. It might be beneficial to have a communal timeline and terms list in case we have managed to miss some events or names or whatnot. This will also be a good place to reference events or terms for later tests or projects. Af-Pak Timeline Af-Pak Terms List

NPR: Drone Strikes in Pakistan

Here's a link to a quick 5 minute segment on NPR's All Things Considered, which discusses U.S. drone strikes in Afghanistan. The segment discusses the pros and cons of conducting drone strikes in Pakistan. A variety of security experts and high level defense officials provide quick commentary both supporting and denouncing the strikes.

http://www.npr.org/2011/09/06/140216985/an-open-secret-drone-warfare-in-pakistan

TALIBAN AND ISLAM

Video on the Taliban interpitation of the Koran has been deemed inaccurate by Islamic leaders.

https://webmail.hawken.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=ed79152e8621453e8a4596e56b6be502&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.youtube.com%2fwatch%3fv%3dmHgAVC3UOZw

Recent Developments, an Article by former Taliban Prisoner Jere Van Dyk, and a Video Showing Disabled Vehicles on an Afghan Road

"Missing Germans Found Dead in Afghanistan" "Taliban raid from Afghanistan kills 25 Pakistan troops" "Inside the Jihad: Remembrances from a Former Taliban Prisoner" "From Ghazni to Kabul"

RECENT ATTACKS IN AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN

These articles describe attacks by the taliban and the local militants against both civilians and US military during the past month.

http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=236448
http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=233713
http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=233476
http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=236108
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/aug/06/world/la-fg-afghanistan-chopper-20110807

U.S. Identifies Vast Mineral Riches in Afghanistan

This article discusses the recently discovered mines in Afghanistan. The discovered deposits of minerals may be worth around $1 trillion including possibly the world's largest deposit of lithium. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/14/world/asia/14minerals.html

NPR Clip Featuring Russian Ambassador Discussing Afghanistan

NPR'S Renee Montage asks the ambassador about how the U.S. should proceed in Afghanistan. This interview provides an different perspective to American's involvement in the region. A lot of the points we've covered in class like Helmand Provence and "Little America" are mentioned.

http://www.npr.org/2011/09/05/140148853/russian-ambassador-to-u-s-dont-flee-afghanistan

Joao Silva: ‘This Is What I Do. This Is All That I Know.’

http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/30/this-is-what-i-do-this-is-all-that-i-know/ Here are some pictures taken by a photo journalist. They show photos from both sides of the war and I highly recommend checking it out. Also, along with the photos, if you scroll down, you'll see an article on what it's like being a photojournalist in a war like this. I thought it was pretty interesting.

Post 9/11 War on Terror Strains US-Pakistan Relations

Posted on September 2, 2011, this video describes the current state of Afghanistan and what is to come. A few Afghans express their hopes and fears as the US plans to withdraw. Most pray that Afghanistan becomes a strong country of its own, free from Taliban rule and authority. The US hopes to leave Afghanistan with a strong military and reliable economy. http://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/south/Post-911-War-on-Terror-Strains-US-Pakistan-Relations-129056723.html

Afghan Police Release Taliban Phone Recordings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1l6zJz6f7s

Al Jazeera News aired recording of Taliban Phone calls that had been released by Afghan Security Officials - the phone call is between a Taliban fraction at a Kabul hotel and Pakistani rebel groups. 21 people dies when suicide bombers stormed the hotel in the middle of the night. This is thought to have been executed by the Haqanni controlled Taliban (Al Jazeera News).

Afghanistan, Pakistan, Taliban, Mujahadeen and Al Qaeda: Are they all innner-linked?

This interesting article explains Why al Qaeda is still a threat in Afghanistan and by doing this suggests many links between Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Taliban, the Mujahadeen and Al Qaeda.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503543_162-20101615-503543.html

10th Anniversary of 9/11

As the 10th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, this video and article describe how the US intelligence has been transformed due to the attacks on 9/11 and why the United States was unable to prevent the attacks from occurring.

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/usa/911-Attacks-Forced-Changes-in-US-Intelligence-al-Qaida--128812958.html

9/11 Blowback

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/02/opinion/02iht-edgreenway02.html?_r=1&ref=afghanistan

New York Times reporter, H.D.S. Greenway, speaks to the ways America's reaction to the 9/11 attacks have made them the most successful terrorist attacks to date. The attacks caused fear, caused panic, and forced America to act in a way that is turning out harmful for the country. America's failure to end the two "wars" in Iraq and Afghanistan is simply fueling the attack's power. "...the sad and counterproductive rise of anti-muslim attitudes in both Europe and the United States sinice 9/11 testify that Bin Laden was not entirely unsuccessful in driving a wedge between the Islamic world and the west" (Greenway).

What's Next For Afghanistan?

President Obama's announcement that more than 30,000 troops will withdraw from Afghanistan within the next year has sparked a great deal of concern amongst the people affected most by this decision: the Afghan civilians. Much of what Matthew Hoh stated in his City Club speech is a reality for the Afghan people. Many are skeptical that the national military and the federal government are strong enough to combat the Taliban, given their long history of corruption and tribal loyalty. Additionally, the withdrawal of troops has been predicted to lead to economic ruin. As of now, many foreign businesses have begun their own withdrawal from Afghanistan, fearing the worst as the country slowly creeps towards, what many believe to be, civil war. Some have begun to say that it was a mistake for the United States to enter Afghanistan in the first place, claiming that the Taliban will now take revenge on those who welcomed the foreign intervention. This article features quotes from several local Afghans as they speak about their views on what’s to come. (Admittedly, these views are overwhelmingly dismal). Read the full article here: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jbT7fp4zXJsuk7sYN8oJYQA2Ntgw?docId=29b481f1ca3c44078b81c596137c1271

"Messengers of Death" - The Blood Toll in Afghanistan

"According to partial data collected by the Institute for Conflict Management from open sources, there have been 735 suicide attacks since September 9, 2001, killing at least 3,753 people." The extremist attacks in Afghanistan have targeted not only the Afghan military, government, and police, but have also claimed countless civilian lives. This article is mainly a statistical report that convincingly shows how even in 2011, the attacks have shown no signs of subsiding. While automotive accidents make up the majority of the annual death toll in the United States, this article reports that 49% of civilian casualties in Afghanistan are from suicide bombings. At this stage, there is still much to be done before Afghanistan can be made safe for its people. Even if we ignore the financial support that the Taliban receives from the ISI or corrupt government officials, the logistics of bomb-manufacturing, such as the smuggling of ammonium nitrate, poses a huge problem on its own. Additionally, the article also references the extremist nature of Pakistani madrassas - the indoctrination of children with views of hatred towards the West also needs to be addressed before total stability can be achieved. Read the full article here: http://www.washingtonbanglaradio.com/content/93232811-afghanistan-messengers-death

German Hospital Saving American Lives

With all the sullen and negative reporting coming out of Afghanistan and Iraq now, it's nice to finally hear a story about American survivors rather than casualties. The Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, a US military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, is at the forefront of military medicine. The medical center carries a 99.5% survival rate in its trauma unit, an incredibly impressive feat given the challenges of military injuries. Many injured soldiers actually choose to have their surgeries done at this hospital because of its innovation and success. The full article delves into many specific modernizations that the LRMC is using. I know that this story does not directly deal with what we are/have been studying, but it is an interesting and heart-warming aside, and it's always good to know that, through all of the tumult of war, amazing things are still happening. You can read the full article here.