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The article discusses a suicide bomber, who killed thirteen U.S. troops supporting hastily arranged evacuation operations from Hamid Karzai International Airport. An estimated 170 Afghans also died. August 26 was also not a good day for foreign policy analyst Robert Kagan. On that date, Kagan published a column in the Washington Post in which he offered an upbeat assessment of the ongoing Global War on Terrorism.

The article discusses the social conditions of women in Afghanistan as of March 2013, with a focus on plans of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and women's rights groups for after the departure of the U.S. military. Topics include the exclusion of women from the Afghan government by President Hamid Karzai, the possibility that the Islamic fundamentalist group the Taliban will overthrow the elected government, and examples of the mistreatment of women in the country, including abuse, imprisonment, and rape.

The article examines the situation of women in Afghanistan and the Afghan War. The case of a young woman who was mutilated by Taliban members for leaving an abusive husband is presented as an example of the perilous status of women's rights and human rights in that country. The inability of U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) armed forces to prevent increased Taliban influence in many areas of Afghanistan is considered. President Hamid Karzai's efforts to create a negotiated political settlement with the Taliban to end the insurgency is examined, particularly his stated willingness to put ending the war ahead of protecting human rights.

The article discusses reaction to U.S. President Barack Obama's announcement that U.S. forces would begin leaving Afghanistan in July 2011. The intent was to diffuse a revolt by antiwar U.S. Democrats and put pressure on Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his friends. Topics include the sudden replacement of General Stanley McChrystal as the head U.S. officer in Afghanistan with General David Petraeus and background on the U.S. led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

The article discusses the potential benefits and disadvantages of the U.S. and Afghan President Hamid Karzai working with moderate members of the Taliban to bring about a peaceful resolution to the Afghan War. The author notes that working with the enemy worked in 2007 when the U.S. and Iraqi government convinced large numbers of Iraqi insurgents to lay down their weapons in return for money and jobs. Some Taliban leaders have rejected the idea of working with Karzai and the U.S.

In this article the author discussion the position of Afghan women in light of the U.S. debate over the escalation of the war in that country. The central focus of the article is an examination of the argument that an American withdrawal will lead to a resurgent Taliban and thus a return to the oppression of women. Among other issues the article notes that the U.S. backed government of president Hamid Karzai has not improved conditions for women in Afghanistan.

The author discusses fraud in the presidential election of Hamid Karzai in Afghanistan and the loss of his position as deputy head of the United Nations mission in Kabul. The author claims to have been overruled by his superior Kai Eide when he discussed actions warranted by election fraud that he witnessed. He discusses the so-called ghost vote in areas that prospective voters avoided due to Taliban threats.

The article discusses political advocacy in Afghanistan among its younger citizens who are said to want greater influence in managing the country. It discusses community organizer Muhammad Shafiq Popal who leads the Afghanistan Youth National and Social Organization (AYNSO) whose goal is democracy and human rights. Popal is said to be a sizable opponent of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

The article discusses the progress of the Afghan War and the role of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Commander, U.S. Army General Stanley McChrystal. An immediate objective of McChrystal's command is to reduce the number of civilian casualties. It describes the high degree of vengeance that these killings foment toward the allied forces and the administration of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

The article discusses how the Taliban is targeting Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, and its surrounding towns and cities. The article says the Taliban is trying to emulate the insurgency seen in Baghdad, Iraq, in order to have a psychological impact on the rest of the country. According to the article, the offensive is effective; the Taliban have killed high-profile foreign visitors and assaulted a military parade involving Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

The article reports on the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan. The Taliban is easily winning recruits and emerging out of hiding. Long established on the periphery, Taliban fighters are coming back to Afghanistan's center. The group is not swayed by the light military presence of 40,000 U. S. and NATO troops, or by the weak leadership of President Hamid Karzai. Opium trafficking is fueling the insurgents.

The article focuses on Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan, and the challenge of instability that his country faces. The nation suffers from the continuing Taliban insurgency, opium harvesting and trafficking, shortages in electricity, water and jobs, and corruption in the ranks of the government. Afghanistan has seen some improvements in human rights and development since Karzai's election. The President's position is tenuous, but vital for the fledgling democracy.

This article reflects on recent history and the context of current events in Afghanistan. There was Taliban rule in the country after the regime captured Kabul in 1996. The Taliban was defeated by the U.S.-led invasion, following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, which backed Afghanistan's Northern Alliance. Hamid Karzai was elected president on October 9, 2004, and in December 2004, Amirzai Sangin took up the position as the Minister of Communications. Afghanistan's population is 29.9 million, with 47% less than 15 years old. An estimated 80% works in agriculture. Due to the wars the country has been left in poverty with a lack of educated workers, poor infrastructure, and many residual land mines. Afghanistan's first telephone network was installed by Siemens AG in 1957 in Kabul with a capacity of 5,000 lines. In 1999, the cost of an international call was $1.20 per minute, it decreased to 80 cents a year later. Afghan-American entrepreneur Ehsan Bayat established the Afghan Wireless Communication Co. with support from the interim government, only a month after the Bonn agreement.

The article looks at how Afghanistan's drug trade is threatening the country's stability. The author reviews how the rule of law is under attack by an organization of warlords and drug smugglers that spans the country and transcends its ethnic divisions. Statistics related to drug trade's influence on the Afghan economy are reviewed. Opium addiction has become widespread. The anti-narcotic efforts of President Hamid Karzai are discussed.

Focuses on the situation in Afghanistan, where, four years after the Taliban was ousted from power, there is still much insurgency. Plans of Hamid Karzai to extend the authority of his government beyond Kabul with an army of 20,000; Control of much of the country by warlords who filled the vacuum created by the Taliban's demise; Observation that Taliban forces have launched more attacks on U.S. armed forces in the past several months than any other time since 2001.

Looks at the issue of poppy cultivation in Afghanistan. Review of forthcoming government crop eradication; Increase in international counter-narcotics aid pledges; Discussion of how opium production in Afghanistan more than tripled last year from a near record level the year before; Question surrounding the commitment to poppy eradication with the Afghan and United States governments; Views of Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, who stated that international aid aimed at breaking down Afghanistan's drug trade is half-hearted; Suggestion that increased pressure from Washington on the drug trade would result in uprisings among powerful warloads within the country.

Reflects on the Presidential elections in Afghanistan on October 9, 2004. Peaceful and optimistic attitudes of Afghan citizens at the polls; Investigations into claims of unethical vote counting by candidates who oppose incumbent President Hamid Karzai; Efforts of United Nations-led peacekeeping forces to disarm militants and warlords; Speculation on the ability of a new government to disarm, stabilize, and rebuild Afghanistan.

Reports on the upcoming election in Afghanistan. Consideration of an 18 year-old women's view of the election; Details of the election which is the first held in the country and is underwritten by the United States and other donors; Expectations and fears about the elections; Characterization of the government of President Hamid Karzai as being weak and corrupt; Attacks made against United Nations staffers by Taliban and extremist forces; Security measures taken to prevent attacks during the election; Fears of voter intimidation; Description of the political situation in the country.

This article describes the efforts of Afghan President Hamid Karzai as he seeks re-election. During Karzai's first campaign outing two weeks ago, an enemy rocket whizzed by his U.S. military helicopter and slammed into the camelback hills where he was supposed to land. Karzai brushed off the near miss, but his American guardians insisted on returning to Kabul. U.N. officials say a third of the country is still in the grip of either Taliban fighters or lawless warlords, making it nearly impossible for Karzai and other candidates to campaign freely.This election is being closely watched in Washington. During his campaign, President George W. Bush has repeatedly touted Afghanistan as a success story, in part to counter the horrific news coming out of Iraq. Alarmed by the possibility that Karzai might not win in the first round (experts say he would win a runoff against any single candidate), the President's supporters--including the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad--are scrambling to shore up votes. Senior Afghan officials, U.N. representatives and Western diplomats all claim that Khalilzad, an energetic Afghan American, is trying to induce several candidates--including the President's main rival, Qanooni--to drop out and throw their support behind Karzai. To win decisively, Karzai needs support from his Pashtuns, many of whom are facing the threat of marauding Taliban and al Qaeda fighters. It is a measure of the desperation of Karzai's supporters that a pro-Taliban tribal chieftain, Naim Kochi, was released two weeks ago from American custody in Guant&xe1;namo Bay, Cuba.

This article discusses the current state of affairs in Afghanistan. Significance of Afghanistan for the Bush administration in the war on terrorism; Details of president Hamid Karzai's seclusion and rule; Expected offensive of the Taliban this spring against the U.S. and its allies; Details of an offensive planned by the U.S. against the Taliban and an effort to capture or kill Osama bin Laden; Importance of upcoming elections; Rise of warlords as obstacle to progress.

Examines how Taliban forces continue to pose a threat to the U.S.-backed Afghan government of Hamid Karzai. Efforts of Taliban fighters to attack U.S. troops and their Afghan allies; View that Taliban forces are re-energized and determined to avenge their defeat; Overview of the deteriorating situation; How Taliban fighters are able to find a haven in Pakistan; Reasons for the Taliban's revival; Frustration of U.S. officials over Pakistan's role in apprehending Taliban fighters; Establishment of Taliban cells; Why the Taliban's revival means trouble beyond the region; Outlook for more violence.

The article reports on the situation in Afghanistan under the presidency of Hamid Karzai. There are positive changes in Afghanistan such as children attending school and homes being reconstructed, but still, there are things that remain unchanged. Businesspeople still complain about police officers and soldiers harassing them. Doctors and medical clinics are still far from villages. Diseases like polio and measles are once again spreading. International aid given by agencies and the United Nations did help but only had a number of results.

Reports on the need in Afghanistan for an army to combat warlords. Involvement of U.S. Green Berets commissioned to build an Afghan national army; Training and recruitment of Afghan civilians; Difficulty in getting weapons for training; Reaction of Mohammed Qasim Fahim, Minister of Defense in Afghanistan; Challenge to President Hamid Karzai's government by warlords; Outlook for the Afghan military.

Focuses on life in Afghanistan following the fall of the Taliban government. Meeting of Afghans in a loya jirga, or council, where they chose Hamid Karzai to be president for two years; Ways that Afghans celebrate freedom, including dancing and their clothing; Training of soldiers to form an Afghan national army.

This article presents the author's views on the political situation in Afghanistan. At the conference of international donors in Tokyo the representatives responded with pledges totaling more than $4.7 billion, over time spans ranging from a year to the next three to five years, after Hamid Karzai, leader of the interim government in Afghanistan presented his case before them. The war, now winding down, that resulted in the ouster of the Taliban regime and the smashing of Al Qaeda bases in Afghanistan can be called a success in terms of the US-led coalition's initial goals, although Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar have eluded capture. The tempest of high-tech ordnance loosed on the land drove thousands of Afghans from their homes, and many of them languish in refugee camps on the brink of starvation.

The article reports that the Afghan Supreme Court has pushed Afghanistan into an updated political quagmire by making another controversial decision: extending the term of President Ashraf Ghani. It mentions that in order to crack the Northern Alliance from inside, Hamid Karzai, the Former President of Afghanistan, and the U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad struck a deal with Abdul Rab Rasool Sayaf, a Northern Alliance leader and a fundamentalist Mujahideen.

In this article the author comments on Wikileaks, a whistle blowing web site, and its release of a significant number of documents relating to U.S. diplomacy. The author sees great value in the leaking of documents. The central focus of the article is on revelations revealed by the leaked documents including Saudi Arabia's funding of terrorism, corruption in the government of president Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, and the extent of sectarian violence in Iraq and the degree to which the U.S. department of defense covered it up.

The article focuses on long-term strategic efforts by the U.S. to stabilize Afghanistan. It states that North Atlantic Treaty Organization coalition troops have driven the majority of Taliban troops from the Zhari district of Kandahar province in 2010, resulting in improved relations with local tribal leaders and requests by local elders for infrastructure improvements such as paved roads and cold storage facilities. It comments on how U.S. officials are encouraging Afghans to grow pomegranates and wheat to replace the opium poppy crop. It talks about U.S. President Barack Obama's intent to reduce U.S. troop levels by 2012 and on Obama's relations with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. It mentions how strained relations between Pakistan and India have resulted in instability in the region.

The article discusses Hamid Karzai, the president of Afghanistan. It focuses on the question of whether he will be able to successfully lead the country during the ongoing Afghan war. Afghanistan is described as an impoverished and marginal nation which has nevertheless managed to embroil several of the world's great empires in bloody and extended wars. The article asks whether Karzai's vanity, emotional volatility, and corruption outweigh his political acumen and coalition-building skills. U.S. policy in Afghanistan is also critiqued.

The article focuses on the war in Afghanistan and explores prospects for a solution. The author describes the progress that has been made and the political and security challenges faced by the United States and the Afghan government. He discusses how U.S. Central Command General David Petraeus and Afghan president Hamid Karzai are exploring possibilities for reconciliation with some Taliban members.

The article offers a look at economic advancement made in Afghanistan since the beginning of the War on Terrorism in 2001. Included are quotes by President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai. Although economic growth in Afghanistan is due to business deals such as the $25 million Coca-Cola bottling plant outside Kabul, it also has to do with the manufacturing of drugs such as heroin.

Focuses on the October 9, 2004 elections in Afghanistan. Threat issued by the Taliban that Afghans who turned up to vote would be attacked; Report that women filed to the polling centers to vote on election day in Afghanistan; Popularity of candidate Hamid Karzai for president; Reference to a report entitled "Free, Fair, or Flawed: Challenges for Legitimate Elections in Afghanistan," by the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit; Statement that Afghans have hopes that the elections will bring about positive political change; Disappointment of many Afghanis that the elections were flawed.

Focuses on the security given by the U.S. government to the Afghan President Hamid Karzai due to assassination attempts. Provision of American Special Forces to act as bodyguards for Karzai; Views of the author about the use of private military corporation (PMC) in the country; Growth in the use of PMCs; Decline in the number of active duty U.S. military personnel; Problems with using PMCs as soldiers; Dogma of the Republicans.

Profiles Afghan leader Hamid Karzai. Topic of the instability of Afghanistan; The rise in warlords; How the promise of foreign aid to Afghanistan helps to keep peace in the country; The realization that although Karzai is the Afghan leader, the real power lies elsewhere; Why Karzai refers to himself as the pauper king; Karzai's health; Background information on Karzai.

It is informed that Sima Wali, president and chief executive officer of Refugee Women in Development and driving Force behind the Afghan Women's Summit, originally envisioned the event as a way to promote women's involvement in the peace process in Afghanistan. But with the Taliban crumbling faster than anyone had imagined, by the time the Summit opened on December 4, the peace process was already wrapping up in Bonn. It is further informed that the Afghan government headed by Hamid Karzai, only three of the thirty cabinet positions went to women. Suhaila Seddiqi, a Tajik surgeon from Kabul, was named health minister in the new interim government.