Morning Brief: Discussing the future of Afghanistan

Top Story

As an international conference on the future of Afghanistan kicks off today at The Hague, all the concerned parties are establishing their positions.

In the wake of last week’s Af-Pak strategy review, the United States is pledging a major troop build-up, increased funding for Afghanistan’s upcoming elections, a ramped-up effort to fight drug trafficking, and an overhaul of foreign aid to the country, which Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says has “very little credibility” after years of mismanagement. Clinton has also not ruled out a direct meeting with the Iranian delegates at the conference.

Iran’s representatives vowed to help in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, but predicted that increased U.S. troop levels would “prove ineffective.” NATO’s Jaap de Hoop Scheffer urged members to contribute more troops in order to prevent the “Americanization” of the war.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who was just granted three more months in office by his country’s supreme court, welcomed the involvement of Afghanistan’s neighbors and expressed support for Obama’s plan.

World Economy

The OECD predicted double-digit unemployment for nearly all the G8 countries.

World Bank president Robert Zoellick says the dollar will remain the world’s reserve currency.

Global stocks are set for their best performance in six years this March.

Americas

Barack Obama has given General Motors 60 days and Chrysler one month to enact major changes or face bankruptcy.

Mexico’s Felipe Calderon said his security forces would share information on drug trafficking with their U.S. counterparts but ruled out joint border patrols.

Haiti is emerging as a poster child for the need to keep international aid flowing despite the financial crisis.

Asia

Pakistani Taliban leader Baithullah Mehsud says his group was behind Monday’s police academy attack in Lahore.

For the first time, a former member of the Khmer Rouge has expressed remorse for his actions at a trial in Cambodia.

North Korea plans to put the two U.S. journalists it has captured on trial for espionage.

Middle East

Arab leaders have embraced Sudanese president Omar al Bashir at their summit in Doha, Qatar. Marc Lynch has more summit coverage.

Former government officials say no significant information was gained for the torture of al Qaeda leader Abu Zubaida. 

A U.S. army sergeant pleaded guilty to the murder of four Iraqi prisoners in 2007. 

Europe

Barack Obama has left for an eight-day, five-country trip to Europe.

Russia has begun a second trial for imprisoned former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

London police are planning one of their most complex operations ever to maintain order at the G20 summit.

Africa

More than 300 African migrants are thought to have drowned off the coast of Libya.

A former Somali government minister was killed by gunmen in Mogadishu.

African government are worried about fading into the background at the G20 as rich-country governments address their own troubled economies.

ROBERT VOS/AFP/Getty Images