Afghanistan Current Event
Current and Projected Threats to the National Security of the United States
Chairman Roberts, Vice Chairman Rockefeller, members of the committee: I am pleased to have the opportunity today to present INR’s [Bureau of Intelligence and Research] views on current and projected threats to the United States. Rather than repeat the threats enumerated by DCI [Director of Central Intelligence] Tenet and Admiral Jacoby, I would like to highlight the threat to U.S. interests posed by al-Qaida terrorists, especially in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and Iraq. I will conclude with a brief statement on the wide array of other issues on the Secretary’s agenda. ... [Read More]
World Support Urged for Women's Rights in Iraq, Afghanistan - US Department of State
USINFO delivers information about current U.S. foreign policy and about American life and culture. This site ... Iraq’s Othman said the January 30 voting for Iraq's Transitional National Assembly was an historic event in which women played a vital role in getting out the vote and in capturing 31 percent of the parliamentary seats. She said the next step in securing women's rights will take place in the writing of the constitution. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Text: U.S. Humanitarian Assistance for Afghanistan
At this time, all expatriate staff of USAID/OFDA grantees have left Afghanistan. Some grantees are attempting to continue programs with local staff. USAID/OFDA is working with its grantees to determine the status of programs. Operational difficulties are currently preventing the provision of assistance to Afghanistan. ... UNOCHA reported on September 19 that relief activities continue in Herat, where there are currently an estimated 200,000 IDPs, most of whom are displaced by the drought that has ravaged the surrounding western provinces of Badghis, Herat, Farah and Ghor. Recent relief activities included a WFP distribution of 733 MT of wheat for IDPs in four of Herat's six camps from September 12 - 18. Although UNHCR has reported that some people have begun to leave Herat, it is unclear how many people are moving. ... [Read More]
Iraq and Afghanistan: Accomplishments and Next Steps
USAID's first objective in Afghanistan, as in Iraq, was to staunch the bleeding: to prevent a major humanitarian crisis. By the spring of 2001, pre-famine indicators were beginning to appear in many areas of the country. Programs were put in place immediately to ensure sufficient supplies of food and shelter, especially for returning refugees and displaced persons, and to prevent the outbreak of epidemic diseases related to rising rural malnutrition rates. Despite the challenges, the massive humanitarian relief program launched by the U.S. government in cooperation with the U.N., non-governmental, and other bilateral aid agencies worked effectively, preventing a relief crisis. As an example of the scale of the humanitarian effort undertaken since September 11, 2001, more than 400,000 metric tons of Food for Peace commodities have been delivered to Afghanistan. ... [Read More]
Afghanistan Freedom Support Act of 2002: Cover Notes and Definitions
USCENTCOM is the data source for the document on ANA donations. This document, dated November 2003, was the most recent data available at the time of this report. Should a more current version become available, it will be posted on the State Department website. ... The March 31 - April 1, 2004 International Conference on Afghanistan held in Berlin, Germany showed a strong renewal of commitment by donors to Afghanistan's long-term future. In Berlin, donors pledged $4.5 billion for Afghan FY 1383 (March 2004 - March 2005), exceeding the GOA’s pre-conference budgetary requirements for the current fiscal year. In addition, the three-year figure pledged by donors amounted to $8.2 billion, or 69 per cent of the GOA's three-year target of $11.9 billion. This total significantly exceeded the amount raised at the first Afghan donor conference in Tokyo in January 2002 ($4.5 billion total). ... [Read More]
Democratic Afghanistan - US Department of State
USINFO delivers information about current U.S. foreign policy and about American life and culture. This site ... MM/DD/YYYYTITLE06/24/2005 U.N. Official Says More Funding Needed for Afghan Elections12/27/2004 [Read More]
Rule of Law - US Department of State
Bush pledged to choose a nominee “that Americans can be proud of” to replace her on the nation’s highest court. (complete text) Egyptian Female Lawyer Works to Reform Divorce, Citizenship LawsMona Zulficar speaks at Middle East Institute in WashingtonProminent Egyptian female lawyer and human rights activist Mona Zulficar hopes to strengthen the legal rights of Egyptian women by advancing different interpretations of Islamic law. (complete text) [Read More]
Afghanistan (04/05)
The main source of income in the country is agriculture, and during its good years, Afghanistan produces enough food and food products to provide for the people, as well as to create a surplus for export. The major food crops produced are: corn, rice, barley, wheat, vegetables, fruits, and nuts. In Afghanistan, industry is also based on agriculture, and pastoral raw materials. The major industrial crops are: cotton, tobacco, madder, castor beans, and sugar beets. The Afghan economy continues to be overwhelmingly agricultural, despite the fact that only 12% of its total land area is arable and less than 6% currently is cultivated. Agricultural production is constrained by an almost total dependence on erratic winter snows and spring rains for water; irrigation is primitive. Relatively little use is made of machines, chemical fertilizer, or pesticides. ... [Read More]
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