Obama: More Aid, Troops for Afghanistan; Stewart: Don’t Put in More Troops

Juan Cole — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:09:00 +0000

President-Elect Barack Obama talked to Afghan President Hamid Karzai by telephone on Saturday. Late that day, Karzai's office issued a statement about the conversation:

' "Obama said America will increase its commitment to bring security and stability to the government and people of Afghanistan . . .

"Obama also emphasized that combatting terrorism and bringing security to Afghanistan, the region and the world would be a priority of his government . . ." '

Reuters says that 4,000 persons have been killed in political violence in Afghanistan this year, about one third of them civilians.

Former British diplomat Rory Stewart, who runs a philanthropy in Kabul now, warns President-elect Obama against sending more troops to Afghanistan to fight the Taliban. Stewart argues that Afghanistan is just not that important to US security. Stewart writes in the NYT

' President-elect Obama

Bill Gates no longer world’s richest man

admin — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 05:59:16 +0000

The number 13 has long been considered unlucky by superstitious people around the globe. How fitting, then, that Bill Gates’ reign as the world’s richest person ends after his 13th year at the top. Despite being worth $58 billion, $2 billion more than last year, Gates is now the world’s third-richest person, ceding the top spot [...]

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Obama: More Aid, Troops for Afghanistan; Stewart: Don’t Put in More Troops

Bill Gates no longer world’s richest man