U.S. Army and Afghan National Army soldiers prepare for a CH-47 Chinook helicopter to land so they can board it after conducting a patrol in the village of Akbar Kheyl, Pole-Elam district, Logar province, Afghanistan, March 18, 2010. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Russell GilchrestIn Afganistan The Final Battle Begins -- Paul Wells, MaCleans
Paul Wells: This time the tactics are different and backup has arrived
“This is the edge of the moon,” Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie told me as we dismounted from our armoured vehicles at the foot of the Soviet-built mountain fortress of Sperwan Ghar. He pointed westward. “If you go 100 m that way, you will die.”
For now, this little outpost, only 30 km from Kandahar City in the rolling farmland of the Panjwayi district, marks the outer edge of the territory Canadian troops control and patrol. It’s impenetrable: a steep man-made hill with heavy guns, a moat, and a tethered balloon whose cameras allow the 200-odd Canadian Forces soldiers there to monitor and sometimes target insurgent activity in every direction.
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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials
Losing the North: South Korea needs a Nordpolitik. -- Aidan Foster-Carter, Newsweek
India’s Downtrodden Muslims -- Sanjay Kumar, The Diplomat
Hizbollah's silence over Scuds speaks volumes to Israel -- Robert Fisk, the Independent
U.S. Diplomacy Between Dictators and Democratic Activists -- Max Boot, Commentary Magazine
Hopeful Signs on U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Accord — Finally -- Max Boot, Commentary Magazine
Is Barack Obama finally going to 'impose a solution' on the Middle East? -- Stephanie Gutmann, The Telegraph
The 'Dear Leader' nuclear arms company -- Yuriko Koike, Daily Star
The U.S.' Iran Problem -- Melik Kaylan, Forbes