 Areas of Taliban presence in Afghanistan, January-August 2009
Locations of violence and levels of Taliban-criminal presence in Kabul, January-November 2008
Somalia - April 2008
Sons of Iraq - Areas of operation, June 2008
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 NORINE MACDONALD, February 8th 2010
We should be asking some critical questions about the now, much-publicized NATO and Afghan forces operation to take Marjah district in Helmand. For starters: How does this operation fit into the overall strategy for Afghanistan -- why Marjah and why now?
One can argue that U.S. and NATO forces have not had significant military success in Afghanistan since the initial invasion, despite the expansion of ISAF's mandate across the country between 2004 and 2006. And one can argue further that the reverse is true: The Taliban's military strategy has been successful and their territorial influence has in fact increased dramatically in recent years, as they now dominate the south and east, and are rapidly increasing their presence in the north...
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Licensing poppy cultivation for the production of essential medicines
An integrated counter-narcotics, development, and counter-insurgency initiative that seeks to introduce village-based development projects in rural Afghan communities to boost employment and rural development, stimulate rural diversification and connect Afghan poppy cultivation with those in need of essential painkilling medicines.
> Poppy for Medicine
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 Baghlan Taliban stopping an Afghan police patrol and stealing their equipment in the northern province of Baghlan.
Taliban at the Gates Kabul is witnessing dire levels of security as the Taliban break through the city's gates.
Three Doors Shut in Kabul A noticeable increase in suicide attacks has deeply worsened the security situation in Afghanistan.
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NORINE MACDONALD, February 2nd 2010
What really happened at the London Conference on Afghanistan? Sadly, not much. There was a real sense of déjà vu -- much the same has been said in Bonn, Tokyo, Kabul, Berlin, London, Rome, Paris, and the Hague -- and these conferences all seem divorced from the real facts on the ground.
These events are, of necessity, political pep rallies for Western domestic audiences who are anxious to see their governments "doing something" about Afghanistan and addressing their concerns about the Karzai "government."
During the conference, President Karzai unveiled a six-point "Action Plan" designed to turn around the situation in Afghanistan. But how much "action" is really behind the political façade of his six-point plan?
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The Rome Consensus for a Humanitarian Drug Policy is a framework for dialogue and cooperation that commits 119 National Societies of Red Cross and Red Crescent from Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe to promote and implement humanitarian approaches to drug policy.
Latest event: Drug Prevention, Treatment and Harm Reduction: Scaling-up of Red Cross-Red Crescent Best Practices, Rome, 14-15 December 2009
December 15th - Cyprus join the Rome Consensus
November 23rd - The Maldives join the Rome Consensus
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Press Release: Afghanistan’s election stalemate shows no sign of abating amid fraud and recount controversy
Podcast: Jorrit Kamminga, Director of Policy Research, on ICOS' Poppy for Medicine project
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NORINE MACDONALD, October 23 2009
With the Afghan election run-off just sixteen days away, much hangs in the balance. The good news is a resolution to the Afghan election standoff has been reached -- a true success story for the domestic political agendas of the West. Whether or not the international community and the Afghan government can, in just two weeks, pull off a clean and legitimate election is another matter.
Huge efforts were made to tackle the many challenges posed by operating thousands of polling stations in a rural and unstable country for the first presidential vote, held on Aug. 20, and still the election was marked by poor turnout, hundreds of Taliban attacks, and extensive fraud. Now, with winter fast approaching in many parts of the country, it is difficult to see how the required ballot papers...
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Based in Rio de Janeiro, the Centre of Excellence on Public Security provides innovative research, advocacy and policy analysis to promote pragmatic responses, supporting states to solve public security crises and pave the way for social and economic development. The Centre facilitates dialogue and innovation on public security between key actors, encouraging a multi-sector approach that incorporates development and social policy with law enforcement strategies.
> New Approaches to Public Security and Drug Policy - Presentations from the International Symposium on Public Security and Drug Policy, Rio de Janeiro 25-27 February 2008
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