afghanistan

Taylor Berman · 10/15/15 10:41AM

President Obama just announced that he’s abandoned his plan to withdraw most U.S. troops from Afghanistan by 2017. At least 9,800 troops will remain in the country through next year, after which the number will, Obama claims, drop to about 5,500.

John Oliver: Shitty U.S. Visa Process Traps Translators in Afghanistan

Jay Hathaway · 10/20/14 09:10AM

The U.S. military relies on local interpreters in Afghanistan to do important, possibly life-saving things like translating warnings about IEDs. And, in return, the Afghan translators get targets on their backs and the chance to live in fear of the day NATO pulls out and insurgents capture and behead them. John Oliver broke down this not-so-sweet deal on the most recent Last Week Tonight.

Afghanistan Finally Elects a New President

Zara Golden · 09/21/14 09:08PM

Drawing the curtains on a drawn-out and dramatic election season, today the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan named Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai as the winner and the next president of Afghanistan. Meanwhile, an American-brokered power-sharing agreement signed by the two leading candidates dictates that runner-up Abdullah Abdullah will serve as his chief executive officer. Together they will share control over who leads key institutions such as the Afghan army and other executive decisions.