Christian Aid: US Strategy for Afghanistan 'Missed Opportunity'

(06 Dec 09 - RV) Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced today that he will unveil his new cabinet within days, adding that efforts to start talks with Taliban insurgents and implementing
anti-corruption measures were underway.


Also today US Defence Secretary Robert Gates rejected claims that President Barack Obama’s target date for withdrawing U.S. forces will embolden the Taliban.

Serena Di Matteo is director of programs for Christian Aid in Afghanistan.


She says US President Barack Obama’s new strategy for Afghanistan launched this week has missed an opportunity to focus on long-term development for some of the world’s poorest people: