Monthly Archives: August 2009



Germany

Germany arrests suspect in plot to attack US targets






Pakistan

Security forces killed six Taliban fighters in Malakand and detained seven Turks, three Swedes, a Russian, and an Iranian as they attempted to enter Pakistan. The Taliban beheaded five people in Khyber, killed a tribal leader and kidnapped another in Mohmand, wounded another in Bajaur, and also kidnapped eight Christians in North Waziristan. AQ Khan […]


Waziristan op out, peace deals in

This should not come as a surprise to readers of The Long War Journal. From TIME: But after initial promises to launch a ground offensive in South Waziristan, the Pakistanis have backed off. A top Pakistani general, Nadeem Ahmed, recently said preparation for such an operation could take up to two months. Now, there will […]




Iran

The UN urged Tehran to reveal the “military dimensions” of its nuclear program. The IAEA claimed Iran is slowing production of low-enrichment uranium. President Ahmadinejad claimed that allegations of prisoner abuse were part of a foreign “enemy plot.”


Algeria

Algeria provides Mali military aid against al-Qaeda-linked group


Iran

Iraqi official’s top aide linked to Shi’ite terrorists


Afghanistan

Afghan forces killed seven Taliban fighters and captured four members of the al Qaeda-linked Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan in Kunduz province. Coalition and Afghan forces captured six Taliban fighters in Kandahar province. A US solider was killed in an IED attack in eastern Afghansitan.



India

Key witness in Mumbai terror attacks case "missing&quot





Looking out for broad revenge (and fixed elections) in Iraq

A legion of analysts are trying to discern Iraq’s future stability since American forces have (mostly) pulled out of cities and the ultimate Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) withdrawal deadline draws closer. Of all the potential flashpoints – Arab-Kurd haggling over Kirkuk, possible reanimation of criminal Shia militias, insidious meddling by Iran, remnants of Al […]


Another ‘grim milestone’

We’re consistently told that counting the number of dead Taliban, al Qaeda, or other terrorists is an inaccurate metric to gauge success. And I agree; a focus just on the number of dead enemy fighters does not tell the story, only a small part of it. Analyzing casualties alone is highly misleading. So why does […]



Al Qaeda

In a tape released on the Internet, Ayman al Zawahiri called for Pakistanis to “back the jihad and mujahideen with your persons, wealth, opinion, expertise, information and prayers and by exhorting others to help them and preach their message.” He also described the fighting in the tribal areas and Swat as an “integral part of […]


Indonesia

ICG: Noordin Mohammad Top’s network is large and extensive


Authorities examine connections between Southeast Asian terrorist groups


Philippines

Philippine military needs larger budget to modernize, says Defense Secretary


Russia

Two more suicide bombers detonated their vests while held up in a house in Grozny. Three police officers and three civilians were injured. The bombers have been identified as Adam Ustarkhanov and Saikhan Ospanov; both were members of Khusein Gakayev’s gang. Three more insurgents were killed in a shootout with police in the capital of […]


Saudi Arabia

A suicide bomber lightly wounded Prince Muhammad bin Nayef, the assistant interior minister, at a public Ramadan gathering in Jeddah. Nayef is responsible for Saudi Arabia’s counterterrorism program. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula took credit for the attack.