Global Report 29 dec. 2009

Change in Wests Afghan war strategy 'Winning hearts and minds' is the new Western strategy in Afghanistan as proclaimed by the Top western diplomats and military minds. However, it isn't as easy as it has been perceived. The incident of Uzbeen valley, located just 40 miles away from the Capital is a clear example of how hard it is to enter the insurgents space of power for talks with the locals. As reported, "the French Foreign Legion launched one of their biggest operations of the eight-year war -- to open the road to a key village in northern Uzbeen and hold a meeting with local elders. Within hours however the mission ran into trouble. Officers found out that 50 insurgents had gathered at Qaleh Eh Ye Kalan, the village where they had planned to arrive in triumph to consult the elders. But the people in that village were not told in time. And then the commanding officer took a wrong turn and was delayed even longer. The Operation, which mobilised 1000 crack troops from US Special Forces, the French Foreign Legion and Afghan police ended without achieving its objective". Aid to Gaza Strip faces Egyptian hurdles Exactly one year after the Israeli war on Gaza, aid convoys still find it hard to get through into the strip. The most recent convoy is one led by the British George Galloway. Entrance through the red sea port was mediated by Turkey, but stopped by Egypt, hence the convoys current stay in Aqaba's port in Jordan. The convoy is reported to include around Two hundred ...