Sr. Writer Tom Evans

In today’s AMANPOUR., we will be examining the U.S. use of armed drones in Afghanistan and Pakistan to attack Taliban and Al Qaeda targets. Are the drone attacks effective at killing terrorist leaders or are they counterproductive because of the number of civilians who have also been killed? And are the strikes a legitimate form of warfare even when conducted by the CIA or are they targeted assassinations as critics assert? There is also some other news on Afghanistan to tell you about this morning. Here are my perspectives on that and other stories making headlines this morning.

Tom Evans; Sr. Writer, AMANPOUR.

AFGHANISTAN – Has U.S. President Barack Obama finally made a decision on a troop increase?

-          White House says an Obama announcement will come “within days”

-          W.H.: president has all the information he wants and needs to make his decision

-          U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, has asked for as many as 40,000 additional troops

-          But call for big troop increase has met with strong opposition in some quarters of the Obama Admin., reportedly including Vice President Joe Biden and the U.S. ambassador in Kabul

QUESTION: Will the U.S. Congress and public support any increase in U.S. troop strength in Afghanistan, if that’s what President Obama proposes? FULL POST