Written by Edward Girardet Friday, 20 March 2009 00:00
The recent US-led Coalition-Afghan offensive in Marjah, Helmand Province, has been heralded as a success by some. The reality, however, may be far different. As Edward Girardet shows, the Soviets faced very similar problems during the 1980s and ultimately failed.
Written by Edward Girardet Saturday, 22 December 2007 17:51
FRANCE
CESSY -- Christophe de Ponfilly, the 55-year-old French film-maker, writer, and Afghan aficionado died on Tuesday, 16 May, 2006 by his own hand in a forest – one of his favourite walking haunts - outside
Written by Edward Girardet Tuesday, 10 June 2008 11:19
American film director Michael Moore’s documentary “Sicko” on health care in the United States – 50 million people without insurance or access to proper treatment – may have engaged in a bit of hyperbole to make its case. But the film was convincing on one point. You don’t want to be sick in America if you have no money. The fact that two billion other people, mainly in the developing world, also have no adequate health care should shame Americans. Journalist and writer Edward Girardet draws on a recent personal tragedy which shows how lucky many Europeans are to have such access…even if we do complain about the inadequacies of National Health in the United Kingdom, the high premiums of Switzerland’s health insurance cartels, and overstretched facilities in French hospitals.
Written by Edward Girardet Thursday, 20 August 2009 18:00
The sad reality of the Afghan elections is that the results really do not matter. Seventeen million Afghans were registered to vote - and many did, including women determined to have an impact on the future of their country - but the extraordinary optimism that existed during the first presidential polls in 2004 is lacking. People have become disillusioned and are losing confidence. And many feel that no matter who comes to power there will be no real change. Edward Girardet reports from the Afghan capital.
Kabul -This morning, I strolled around to check out some of the heavily protected polling stations. It was all very quiet, the weather very hot. Most shops are closed and there are very few people in the streets. The BBC, Al Jazeera and some of the Afghan television stations have been reporting modest voter turnout (I don't bother any more with CNN), which is perhaps more than some expected, given the security threats and three bombs as well as other attacks earlier this week. Street security is tight with armoured vehicles on each corner. Flak-jacketed police and soldiers with Kalashnikovs linger along the main roads and outside banks, government offices and other key points.
Written by Edward Girardet Wednesday, 10 October 2007 08:09
The 2007 Nobel Award to former US Vice President Al Gore and the 3,000 scientists of the UN Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) recognizes the need for advocacy and established fact as crucial for getting the world to take impact of global warming and other forms of climate change seriously. In his global blog, Coward in Kabul, journalist Edward Girardet, underlines the critical importance of also ensuring that the public-at-large be properly informed.
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