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'''Afghanistan''' (افغانستان), officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,<ref>http://www.president.gov.af/</ref> is a landlocked country in southern [[Asia]] which borders [[Pakistan]] to the south and east and [[Iran]] to the west. Afghanistan was the scene of a Soviet invasion in 1979 that turned into a humiliating defeat fore the Soviets--President [[Ronald Reagan]] made the [[Soviet-Afghan War]] into theSoviet Vietnam War. In the 1990s an extremist Islamic [[Taliban]] movement took control and allowed Osama bin-Laden and his Al-Qaeda to operate there and plan the [[September 11, 2001]] terrorist attacks. An international invasion led by the U.S. overthrew the Taliban in 2001, but they have rebuilt strongholds in the south, along the Pakistan border, and have escalated the insurgency.  

'''Afghanistan''' (افغانستان), officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,<ref>http://www.president.gov.af/</ref> is a landlocked country in southern [[Asia]] which borders [[Pakistan]] to the south and east and [[Iran]] to the west. Afghanistan was the scene of a Soviet invasion in 1979 that turned into a humiliating defeat fore the Soviets--President [[Ronald Reagan]] made the [[Soviet-Afghan War]] into theSoviet Vietnam War. In the 1990s an extremist Islamic [[Taliban]] movement took control and allowed Osama bin-Laden and his Al-Qaeda to operate there and plan the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]] on the U.S. An international invasion led by the U.S. overthrew the Taliban in 2001, but they have rebuilt strongholds in the south, along the Pakistan border, and have escalated the insurgency.  

Elections for a new government held in summer 2009 were clouded by serious charges of irregularity.  In September 2009 the issue was whether to expand the American military presence to engage in more nation building.

Elections for a new government held in summer 2009 were clouded by serious charges of irregularity.  In September 2009 the issue was whether to expand the American military presence to engage in more nation building.

In Aug. 2009, General Stanley A. McChrystal, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, said the Afghan government was riddled with corruption and NATO was being undermined by tactics that alienate civilians. He called the Taliban insurgency "a muscular and sophisticated enemy" that uses modern propaganda and systematically reaches into Afghanistan's prisons to recruit members and even plan operations. He said official corruption is as much of a threat as the insurgency to the mission of the '''International Security Assistance Force''', or ISAF, as the U.S.-led NATO coalition is widely known. The weakness of state institutions, malign actions of power-brokers, widespread corruption and abuse of power by various officials, and ISAF's own errors, have given Afghans little reason to support their government," McChrystal reported.  

In Aug. 2009, General [[Stanley A. McChrystal]], the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, said the Afghan government was riddled with corruption and NATO was being undermined by tactics that alienate civilians. He called the Taliban insurgency "a muscular and sophisticated enemy" that uses modern propaganda and systematically reaches into Afghanistan's prisons to recruit members and even plan operations. He said official corruption is as much of a threat as the insurgency to the mission of the '''International Security Assistance Force''', or ISAF, as the U.S.-led NATO coalition is widely known. The weakness of state institutions, malign actions of power-brokers, widespread corruption and abuse of power by various officials, and ISAF's own errors, have given Afghans little reason to support their government," McChrystal reported.  

McChrystal told Washington that he urgently needs more forces within the next year; without them, he warned, the eight-year conflict "will likely result in failure."<ref> [Bob Woodward, "McChrystal: More Forces or 'Mission Failure'' [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/20/AR2009092002920.html ''Washington Post,'' Sept 21, 2009] </ref>  

McChrystal told Washington that he urgently needs more forces within the next year; without them, he warned, the eight-year conflict "will likely result in failure."<ref> [Bob Woodward, "McChrystal: More Forces or 'Mission Failure'' [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/20/AR2009092002920.html ''Washington Post,'' Sept 21, 2009] </ref>