Seek news on
InfoAnda
powered by
Google
Custom Search

Last text search :
2016 wso 2.5 rw-r
2017 #1 smp wso rw-r

wso-drwxr-xr-x-smp.php-(writeable).php
2017 #1 smp wso rw-r
wso-drwxr-xr-x-smp.php-(writeable).php
wso-drwxr-xr-x-smp.php-(writeable).php
wso-drwxr-xr-x-smp.php-(writeable).php


Sunday, 2 May 2010 - US Army captain becomes king in Afghanistan
  • Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
    Monday, May 24, 2010
    ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
    They
  • Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
    Thursday, August 6, 2009

    AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
  • Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
    Thursday, September 3, 2009

    By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

    BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German
  • Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
    Wednesday, December 16, 2009
    ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who
  • Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
    Wednesday, March 18, 2009

    By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an
  • Court fines organisers of Moscow exhibition | 12 July 2010
  • On Palm Sunday, pope urges end to migrant deaths | International | | 5 April 2009
  • North Korea plans new rocket launch as leader asserts power | | 2 December 2012
  • Gregory Peck's widow Veronique, an arts supporter, dies at 80 | | 19 August 2012


    Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

    Read more with google mobile : US Army captain becomes king in Afghanistan

    Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Australia China India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Philippines Thailand Vietnam US Army captain becomes king in Afghanistan By SEBASTIAN ABBOT,Associated Press Writer - Sunday, May 2 Send IM Story Print HUTAL, Afghanistan – In the U.S. Army, Casey Thoreen is just a 30-year-old captain. Around here, he's known as the "King of Maiwand" district _ testimony to the fact that without the young captain and a fat international wallet, local government here as in much of the insurgency-ravaged south could not function at all. Setting up effective governments at the district level is key to U.S. strategy. U.S. officials hope that providing basic services will draw support away from the Taliban, especially here in the Islamist group's heartland of Kandahar province. But in this dusty farming community 40 miles (60 kilometers) west of Kandahar, Thoreen has discovered that bolstering the authority of a district governor, who relies on him almost completely for financial resources and credibility, is a delicate balancing act. He also knows the effort is unsustainable without greater support from the central Afghan government in Kabul. "We are putting a big gamble on this," Thoreen said. "Any of this stuff we're doing here, not just at our level but the $800 billion we have spent so far in the country, is contingent on the government being effective." For now, Thoreen and Maiwand's district governor, Obaidullah Bawari, are working with what they have _ which isn't much. The 49-year-old Bawari, who has occupied the post for a year, has no staff except his personal assistant and no government budget except for the average $500 monthly salary that district governors receive from Kabul. He is responsible for civilian government operations in the district, including water, power and schools, and he mediates disputes. There are about 150 Afghan police deployed in Maiwand, but they report to both the chief of police in Kandahar City as well as the provincial governor. "Everything you see here is from the coalition forces," said Bawari, sweeping his hand toward the center of the district capital, Hutal, where the Army has paid for a new government headquarters, an agricultural center and various other projects. It's a picture repeated across the country, including the ethnic Pashtun heartland of southern Afghanistan where opposition to the government and support for the Taliban run deep. The Afghan government recently launched a new program backed by the U.S. to increase support to 80 key districts in the country, many of them in the south and east. But Kandahar's provincial governor, Tooryalai Wesa, visited Maiwand for the first time recently and said he didn't have any additional resources to offer the district. "That kind of blew my mind," said Thoreen, a West Point graduate from Seattle, Washington. "After nine years in Afghanistan we're still at this point." When the troops from 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment first arrived in Hutal in September, Bawari basically had no authority within the district because he doesn't come from a powerful family and isn't well-educated. "He was very intimidated, very helpless and had no sense of his responsibilities," Thoreen said. The troops, who live in a small base in the middle of Hutal, have tried to boost Bawari's standing by encouraging him to take credit for development projects the U.S. military funded. They have also set up a series of traditional meetings with tribal elders, known as shuras, in an attempt to enlist their support. "Through the district leader and us, the elders are involved in laying out the ideas for these projects and actually implementing them," Thoreen said. "All that has enhanced and empowered the district leader as well." But the dynamic gets more complicated when Thoreen and the district governor disagree on an issue. That presents the captain with the difficult choice: either overrule Bawari and damage his authority or give in and accept a decision he believes is bad for the mission. Such a situation arose at a recent shura when 25 farmers showed up to demand the return of more than 300 pounds (135 kilograms) of opium that Special Forces had seized from a car. Thoreen refused to return the opium or compensate them for it, saying U.S. forces have been clear that while they will not seize drugs from individual farmers, they will target smugglers. He sidelined Bawari during the debate because he knew the district governor disagreed with him and wanted to return the opium. "I knew he would go that way in the shura if I opened it up to him, so I intentionally did not ask his opinion on it," said Thoreen. Afterward, Bawari complained that the captain's decision damaged his credibility. "The coalition forces didn't give the farmers a good answer and they walked away angry with us," he said. But Thoreen said there have been other times when he has caved to the district governor's wishes, including agreeing to release three insurgents who had been caught with weapons just before they were about to attack a NATO supply convoy. He freed them after significant pressure from Bawari and a large number of tribal elders, who promised to prevent the men from engaging in future insurgent activity. "It may not have been the greatest thing to do since we arrested one of the guys again doing something similar, but we created value in the district leader for the people through that decision," Thoreen said. The district governor certainly appreciates Thoreen's efforts and says he is worried about what will happen when the captain leaves this summer with the rest of the 5th Stryker Brigade. "We need the next person who comes to be exactly like Capt. Thoreen, patient and very smart," said Bawari. "If we get that kind of person, we won't have any problems." Thoreen is flattered by the compliment, but adds a word of caution. "I think that's all right as long as other people don't see that and think he's dependent on me," Thoreen said. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Nepal Maoist leader calls strike at anti-govt protest AFP - Sunday, May 2 Shanghai World Expo throws open doors AFP - Sunday, May 2 US Army captain becomes king in Afghanistan AP - Sunday, May 2 Chinese city goes on defense after school attack AP - Sunday, May 2 May Day protestors rally across Asia AFP - Sunday, May 2 News Search Top Stories Hundreds gather for US May Day immigration protests EU sugar companies big winners from CAP subsidies Bolivia nationalizes electricity companies Obama says US economic heartbeat 'growing stronger' Putin proposes merging Gazprom, Ukraine gas firm More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended Lady Gaga, Bill Clinton, Lula top Time's influence list Australia plans world-first plain cigarette packets Obama says US economic heartbeat 'growing stronger' Spain jobless rate tops 20%, adding to debt worries Disaster looms as oil slick reaches US coast More Most Viewed » Aliens may exist but contact would hurt: Hawking Apple engineer loses iPhone prototype French driving veil row escalates Airlines want compensation as Europe's skies reopen More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos World Cup 2010 Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

    Other News on Sunday, 2 May 2010
    Arab League gives backing to indirect Mideast talks
    EU sugar companies big winners from CAP subsidies
    Bolivia nationalizes electricity companies
    Governments, businesses to discuss cybersecurity threats
    Fresh poll blow to British PM as papers turn against him
    Hundreds gather for US May Day immigration protests
    Soldiers kidnapped in south Yemen, U.S. embassy warns staff |
    South Africa's Zuma promises laws curbing casual labor |
    Papal envoy to run scandal-plagued priestly order |
    Syria warns U.S. on accepting Israel scud claims |
    Nepal Maoist leader calls strike at anti-govt protest
    US Army captain becomes king in Afghanistan
    Chinese city goes on defense after school attack
    May Day protestors rally across Asia
    Suicide bomber in Pakistan's Swat kills 5
    Taiwan China flight diverted after explosive claim
    Maoists rally in Nepal, announce general strike
    Arab League backs resumption of Middle East talks
    Eurozone set to endorse Greek bailout plan Sunday
    Thai PM talks tough, red shirts refuse to give in |
    Privacy vs profit at Facebook
    Arab League backs resumption of Middle East talks |
    Deadly blast overshadows Russia's May Day events
    Weather hampers oil spill efforts in Gulf of Mexico
    Spain April unemployment fall leaked to press |
    Obama jokes about his ratings and nationality
    Colombian rebels kill five soldiers in coca field |
    Greek crisis to dominate ECB Lisbon meeting: analysts
    US oil production, shipping unaffected by spill so far
    Japan PM to meet mayors of proposed site for US base
    NY car bomb threatened 'very deadly event': officials
    S.Korea minister vows retaliation over sunk warship
    Maoist strike shuts down Nepal; gov't urges talks
    NY's Times Square evacuated in car bomb scare
    Australian racer McFarlane dies in crash
    Mass. water main break affects Boston, suburbs
    NY's Times Square evacuated in bomb scare
    Thai premier says no plans for martial law
    Ark. tornadoes kill woman, gov declares emergency
    Poor man's Gatorade saves Bangladeshi kids
    Anger over Ariz. immigration law drives US rallies
    Myanmar's junta prepares ground for elections
    Ancient treasures set for auction in Indonesia
    China steps up security at schools after attacks
    Obama to visit U.S. Gulf as oil slick threatens
    Shanghai Expo giant opportunity for big business
    U.S. Hispanics decry Arizona law at May Day rallies
    India weighs capital controls with rupee on rise
    Spielberg, Scorsese call for release of Iran film-maker
    China's cinemas set for record box office in 2010
    Heavy metal dinosaurs rock the kiddie crowd in Finland
    US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
    Tourists in Copenhagen lament loss of Little Mermaid
    Spielberg, Scorsese call for release of Iran film-maker
    Shroud of Turin 'mirrors' human suffering: pope
    Factbox: Turkey's constitutional reform
    Palestinian leader says to meet Obama in Washington
    Magnitude 5.8 quake hits Chile, no damage reported |
    Greece agrees painful cuts in return for bailout
    Police open fire in Darfur investment protest -witnesses
    Police open fire in Darfur investment protest: witnesses |
    Baghdad cafe waitresses break down barriers
    New York police foil Times Square car bombing
    Iran says develops short-range missile defense |
    One dead, 80 hurt in Iraq bus bombing
    Greece secures unprecedented bailout: PM
    Threatening Note Found On Philadelphia-Bound Plane
    UK election gets personal |
    Police Kill Charging Bull On Texas Interstate
    Pakistani jets target Taliban positions, kill 19 |
    Illinois Congressman Arrested During Arizona Immigration Law Protest
    Storms kill 15 Bangladeshis, thousands homeless |
    Authorities Start Man-Hunt In Attempted New York City Carbombing
    NY City Dodges A Bullet After Car Bomb Found In New York's Times Square
    Palestinian leader says to meet Obama in Washington |
    Somali insurgents seize pirate haven |
    U.N. says investigating LRA massacre of 100 in Congo |
    Bangladesh sentences 9 border guards for mutiny
    Thai cabinet holds emergency meeting on crisis
    Iran to propose reforms at US nuclear talks
    Thai premier says no plans for martial law
    Israeli, Palestinian talks 'within days'
    Car bombing foiled in New York's Times Square
    Afghan civilian deaths are rising, government says
    5 killed in heavy flooding across Tennessee
    Maoist strike shuts down Nepal; gov't urges talks
    Car bomb scares Times Square, but fails to explode
    Obama to visit scene of US oil spill
    New Delhi on alert as embassies warn of attack
    Small fire spreads smoke at US Embassy in Pakistan
    Officials: At least 5 dead in Tenn. flooding
    Thai PM talks tough, "red shirts" refuse to give in
    China raises bank reserve ratio to rein in lending
    US-Taiwanese man held after bomb hoax on plane
    Shroud of Turin 'mirrors' human suffering: pope
    'Demjanjuk: a Holocaust cabaret' hits German stage
    Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
    Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
    Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
    AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
    The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
    AMD to Start Production of piledriver
    Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
    Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
    Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
    ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
    Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
    What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
    AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
    Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
    Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
    Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

    [InfoAnda] [Home] [This News]



    USD EUR - 1 year graph

    BlogMeter 1.01