Unama

As the debates unfold over whether or not an international mediator might be required to support the Afghan peace talks, many in and out of Afghanistan have considered whether the UN might serve in this capacity.

The government wants to take over shelters that house women who have suffered abuse and violence, while human rights organizations are trying to prevent the takeover of the only asylums.

There is virtually no data that shows strategically significant security "progress" in Afghanistan since the start of the latest escalation.

The United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan reports that the number of civilians killed in the first six months of 2010 spiked by 25 percent compared to the same period last year.

Numbers of Afghans killed by insurgent attacks are way up (59% of casualties). It's not just the number of those killed; the overall number of IEDs and suicide attacks has jumped.