Part I of President Barack Obama’s major policy speech on Afghanistan, Pakistan and al-Qaeda on Friday, 3/27:
Full text of prepared remarks available here.
A Guardian Television report suggests that 75% of the 80,000 Afghan army troops are regular marijuana users. Many are alleged to be village juvenile delinquents who were kicked out. Discipline and tactical know-how is limited. They are facing old-time guerrillas like the Hizb-i Islami of Gulbadin Hikmatyar.
Will 4,000 additional US trainers, promised by President Obama on Friday, be enough?
For background, see Chapter Six of
End/ (Not Continued)