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Afghanistan Needs a New Plan

Editorial, The New York Times | June 23, 2008

Despite the presence of over 50,000 NATO troops and some 140,000 Afghan troops and police, the Taliban and al-Qaeda have gotten stronger over the past two years. ++ The Pentagon invested about US$16.5 billion in Afghanistan, but it still lacks a “sustainable strategy” for the development of an Afghan Army and the country’s police force. ++ Only two of 105 Army units, and not a single police unit, are judged to be “fully capable.” ++ A new plan for the creation of an effective Afghan security force is needed.