10 BEST WAYS ON HOW TO MAKE SAVINGS

PERSONNAL FINANCE

By Our Financial Expert

The World economic Crisis hit almost everyone both the poor and the rich; small income earners, middle income earners and high income earners of all currencies. Like any economic hardship, it hit hard those with little or no knowledge on saving habits. Nile Fortune however gives you tips on how you can be able to save money.

It should be noted that saving money and being more frugal is neither a science nor an art; rather it is somewhere in between and requires your commitment and hard work. Saving money takes time to develop, needs to be learnt, and brings benefits that will endure for the rest of your life.

Begin saving money today. Do not put it off. Saving money is within your control and can bring you huge benefits. You will reap the rewards of saving money for years to come. Below are the

1. Spend Less:

This is not over simplifying the best way to save money! It is essential if you are serious about being a long term money saver. Review what you spend and look at ways you can save money. Consider making telephone calls for instance only at off-peak times. Do you really need to have newspapers and magazines delivered? Can you do without those coffees you buy at break time everyday - would a flask of coffee taken to work save you money? What about using the public lending library instead of buying books or music CDs? Once you start looking for ways to spend less you will quickly become an expert and really save money.


2. Establish a personal budget:
This is essential for families and individuals. You will not be able to save money unless you know how much money you have coming in, and how much money you have going out. Once you have prepared a budget of incoming money and outgoing money, you will be able to identify areas where you can save. It is MUCH more difficult to save money over a long period of time (the rest of your life?) without a budget.

3. Make a list and stick to it – planning is important:
You can make the list based on what you need plus what is on sale by looking at the circulars for where you are going.

4. Buy in bulk/buy ahead, but not more than you’ll use:
Bulk is good. Think about shopping and buying in bulk. You can also save money by cooking in bulk. This is a real way you can save money with little preparation and almost no extra outlay. Always purchase generics when you can. Prepared foods and convenience foods will always be much more expensive than the generic ingredients needed to make the food. Preparing food in bulk and in advance also gives you the opportunity to plan ahead and be more accurate in your budget. Save Money by buying in bulk whenever you can. If you buy in bulk, make sure that this should not be on items that can easily expire as it can be wasteful. Buying in bulk is not only a good way to save money it is also a good strategy for coping with and surviving emergencies.

5. Do Price research:
Make sure a sale is a sale. By this I mean do your price research before you commit to making an expensive purchase in a retailers money-off sale. You have to be sure the sale really is a sale and not a creative marketing strategy of the store to encourage you to spend your money without thinking. Once you have researched the true price of a product (any product) you are in a good position to take advantage of a sale, special offer or discount and really save money. "Buy one get one free", "50% off", and "Huge Discount" will only help you save money if the actual price you pay is lower than you would pay somewhere else for exactly the same product.

6. Buy used:
Buy used. Sure, we all like to buy new. But there are huge money savings to be made in buying used. Typically cars lose one-third of their value in the first 24 months from new. Why not buy a car 24 months old? Other items such as clothes can be worth even less just the day after new. Look for ways to buy "as good as new" items and save money. Typical products you might consider buying used to save money include: cars, clothes, electrical goods, garden items... tools and sheds, household items... pots and pans, the list of used goods where you can save money is endless.


7. Save Money:
No, I mean really save some money. Each week or each month get into the habit of putting an amount, however small into your savings. You could start by saving a very small fixed amount each time and then move to putting in larger amounts once you begin to save money from your other money saving strategies. You will find that by saving money on a regular basis you will quickly build up a store of reserve money and also feel motivated to save more. The hardest part is to take the first step and start saving money - so START TODAY and save some money NOW! If you find it impossible to save money once you have it, consider having money deducted from your paycheck direct each month. This can be a great way to save money rapidly as once it is set up you will not notice it is being collected and your savings will grow with no more effort from you.

8. Shop Wisely:
Consider markets, superstores, farmer's markets, local shops, marts and stores. Anywhere is worth checking out to see if you can save money. Farmer's Markets can be particularly good places to save money. Typically you are buying direct from the producer of the product so the savings are passed on to you. Use your bulk buying strategy here - farmer's markets often offer opportunities to save money by buying larger quantities of staples, for instance potatoes, rice or corn. Save money and shop wisely.

9. Eat in rather than out:
This is a huge area where you can save money. A cup of coffee taken out could easily cost you TWENTY times (or more) what it would cost you to make it at home. So think before you drink when you are out. Eating is the same. Fast food restaurants are counting on you eating food that you perhaps don't really need at that time but buy just because it is quick. Why not wait until you get home and have a more nutritious meal and save money at the same time.

10. Use less:
This money saving tip is a lesson we all need to learn. We live in a consumer society where waste is a huge problem. If we could all use and consume less there would be less waste, less power consumption, and the benefits for you are SAVING MONEY. Consider using less shampoo when you wash your hair, this may not mean washing your hair less effectively it means not flushing the excess shampoo and your money down the drain. What about saving on heating? Turn the thermostat down or put on extra clothes when you are cold. Turn off lights, the TV and the computer when they are not in use. Each little saving you make will build up and enable you to save money. Huge savings in energy can be made which will save you money and be good for our planet and the other people on it.

There are other ways how you can be able to save large sums of money which include never go to the grocery store on an empty stomach, not to be afraid to make substitutions and going alone- avoiding going places with friends, children as they may influence you to but what you would have otherwise avoided.

Wherever you are, what ever you do, no matter how much money you are earning; if you do not discipline yourself and start making some savings-NOW, you will live to regret. It is important to make savings when you are now making money because you never know what may befall you, it could be the only last chance you are having for saving some money.

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Rwanda the Switzerland of Africa

By Mugume D. Rwakaringi

Rwanda is always referred to as ‘the Land of a Thousand Hills’ or the “Switzerland of Africa”. This is because its beautiful hills the country harbors. Despite its proximity to the equator, the climate in Rwanda is cooled by the high altitude. It is warm throughout most of the country but cooler in the mountains.

The Gorillas and Birds:

Interestingly the three countries of Rwanda, Uganda and the Republic of Congo commonly have a share of the rare mountain gorilla whose main sanctuary is the Virunga

. The Virunga Conservation Area, on the upper slopes of the Virunga volcanoes form three neighboring national parks namely, Parc National des Volcans in Rwanda, Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, and Parc des Virungas in DR Congo. Over 350 mountain gorillas (half of the world population) live in this region.

Genocide Memorials:
Genocide Memorials also form one of the Tourism attractions. The Gisozi memorial site is located in Kigali City. There are two other memorials south of Kigali, both accessible as a day trip. The church at Nyamata, about 30 km from Kigali, was the scene of a horrific massacre and Ntarama church, about 5 km down a right-hand fork, which branches off the Nyamata road roughly 20 km outside Kigali. There are other genocide sites in the Country such as Kabgayi Church Museum and the National University of Rwanda Museum.

Nyungwe Forest:
Among the major sources of attraction is Nyungwe Forest which protects the largest single tract of montane forest remaining anywhere in East or Central Africa. It is a remarkably rich center of biodiversity, harboring, among other things, 75 mammal species, 275 birds, 120 butterflies, and more than 100 varieties of orchid. The main attraction of Nyungwe Forest is its primates. Chimp tracking can be arranged at short notice and relatively minor expense. Several other monkeys are readily seen.

Akagera National Park:
Akagera national park is named after the Akagera River which runs along its eastern boundary. It is relatively warm and low-lying, and its undulating plains support a cover of dense, broad-leafed woodland interspersed with lighter acacia woodland and patches of rolling grassland and other mammals such as buffalos and hippos.

Best time to visit Rwanda:

Rwanda can be visited at any time of the year. The long dry season, June to September, is the best time for tracking gorillas and hiking in Nyungwe, since the ground should be dry underfoot and the odds of being drenched are minimal.

Rwanda recognizes her potential in tourism and steps up to consolidate her position in Tourism.

Last Month, the Country launched the Standards Criteria for Classification of Accommodation, Restaurants and other tourist facilities in conformity with the newly approved East African Community (EAC) standards.

The classification helps also tourism sector administrators to maintain an inventory for policy and planning purposes.

The efficient organization Rwanda has in her Tourism industry has paid dearly with the Country winning major international Tourism and Travel awards.

Rwanda recently was the only African country to be honored with one of the seven outstanding awards at the World Travel Market (WTM) Exhibition in London as Best Stand Personnel award beating other 600 selected exhibitors. This award was attributed to the excellent Customer service, professionalism and doing business atmosphere at the stand.

"This is a tremendous achievement for the country coming six years after Rwanda was re-launched at the same expo”, confirms the enthusiastic Rosette Rugamba, Deputy CEO of the Rwanda Development Board- Tourism and Conservation.

For the third time in a row Rwanda also emerged as The Best African Exhibitor at the world’s premier tourism trade fair, Internationale Tourismus Börse (ITB-Berlin) 2009.

Tourism revenues have consequently increased by 50% to an estimate of USD 209M compared to USD 138M, in 2007. International visitor arrivals in 2008 increased by 18% to 980,577 visitors from 826,374 visitors in 2007.

Rwanda was named among the hot top 10 travel destinations for 2009 by Lonely Planet (one of the worlds most credible travel guides).

It is thus not surprising that Tourism is the number one foreign exchange earner for Rwanda. Rwanda recorded 120,809 international visitors during the first quarter of 2009.

EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL IN SOUTH SUDAN

Some of the diplomats who attended the Launch

Leisure/Diplomacy/South Sudan
Our reporter

Various new Movies and documentaries were available at Nyakuron cultural center courtesy of European Film Festival from 7th-11 December 2009.

Talking to Nile Fortune during the launch of the Festival, Ms Monika Neuman (Sweden) explained that the European festival was also brought to Juba so as to allow people of South Sudan to get to know about the European lifestyle.

“These festivals have been taking in Sudan but only in Khartoum, now it’s a chance for people of Juba to share with us”, Neuman noted.

Showing at Nyakuron, Viewers had a chance to have some of the award winning films and documentaries which include; Krabat (German), Seraphine (France), Non Pensarci (Italy), La Flaqueza (Spain), Let the right one in (Sweden), Love is all (Netherlands), Slumdog Millionaire (UK) and Fighter (Denmark).

The Festival is a selection of most creative and entertaining films coming out of Europe recently. “It’s a chance to reconnect with European filmmaking and at its best” said H.E Carlo De Filippi, Ambassador, Head of Delegation of European Commission to Sudan and H.E Mr. Jan Sadek, Ambassador of Sweden, in a joint statement.


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IMPACT OF STRONG CURENCY AGAINST DOLLAR

Strong shilling hits local tax revenue
Kampala-Uganda
THE strong shilling has hit customs revenue collections, resulting into an estimated loss of sh39.39b in the first quarter of the financial year, a Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) report shows.

The revenue body had projected tax collections based on a weaker shilling against the dollar.

“Using the annual estimated average exchange rate for 2009/10 of sh2,292.9, customs tax revenue will have been sh193.77b, sh181.79b and sh180.53b for July, August and September 2009,” noted the report.
However, due to fluctuations in the exchange rate, customs revenue was lower than predicted.

“Therefore, the estimated revenue loss as a result of the appreciating shilling was sh9.27b, sh13.99b and sh16.13b for July, August and September.

“Therefore, the exchange rate coupled with other factors affect tax revenue.”
Contrary to URA’s projections, the shilling has since June appreciated against the greenback, trading at 1,860/1,870 to the dollar after shedding off over 35% of its value between August 2008 and May 2009.

It traded around 1,945/1,950 rate around the same period last year.
The central bank attributed the appreciation to a combination factors including dollar inflows from offshore investors who have returned to the market, remittances from Ugandans abroad, increased export receipts boosted by improved regional trade and commercial banks unwinding their long dollar positions.

But the governor Tumusiime Mutebile announced recently that the central bank was planning more frequent interventions in the foreign exchange market to minimise the negative impact of a fast-appreciating shilling on the economy.

“In addition to intervening to smoothen out volatility, we will until further notice intervene to stop excessive appreciation of the exchange rate,” he said.

Mutebile said the central bank was determined to ensure that the appreciation of the exchange rate would not lead to an unnecessary reduction in aggregate domestic demand.

“I have said before that we are not committed to a particular exchange rate in the economy, but because of the problems that are happening now which lead to a reduction in domestic demand, Bank of Uganda will for some time now attempt to ensure that the appreciation of the exchange rate does not worsen the situation regarding aggregate demand,” he explained.

Following these comments, the shilling shed some of its gains to trade at a three-month low of 1,935/1,940 per dollar over the weekend.
The shilling depreciated due to US currency purchases by offshore investors and telecom companies. Commercial banks also made purchases to cover their short dollar positions.

Dealers said the central bank intervened on Tuesday, buying an estimated $10m from the market. The local unit had opened trading at 1,914/1,919 to the dollar but the central bank action pushed the rates to 1,925/1,930.

“Following the central bank previous comments on frequent interventions, their action to buy dollars is sending a signal that the local unit will head lower,” said Denis Mushabe, a trader with Standard Chartered Bank.
Market sentiment is for a weaker shilling trading in the 1,950-2,000 range.

While a strong shilling favours importers, exporters suffer because for every dollar earned, they get fewer shillings.

The dollar is one of the major currencies that affect Uganda’s trade with the rest of the world and resultant fluctuations in foreign exchange market impact on trade and tax revenue.

URA, however, expects the impact of the stronger shilling to boost import trade since importers bring in more goods at lower prices.

“Assuming all factors remain constant, a strong shilling is expected to lead to increase in the volumes of imports and subsequently tax revenue from international trade in the short-run, while these gains will also be felt in the domestic taxes after trade in the domestic market has taken place.”

Performance of imports
Importers have brought in more goods in the run up to the festive season with home consumption goods for the August to October 2009/2010 financial year up at sh1,897.05b compared to sh1, 466.95b over the same period last year.

However, on a month-on-month basis, imports have been in a declining trend.
For example, imports for August were at sh515.76b before declining to sh480.20b in September and to sh469.33b in October.

URA said the top 17 imports were classified as raw materials, plant and machinery and petroleum.
Some of the major raw materials imported included wheat and melsin for the milling and bakery industry, palm oil for the edible oil industry as well as cane or beet sugar for the beverage industry.

Indicating increased activity in the services sector, plant and machinery imported over the same period included base stations, electrical transformers and drilling equipment, structures as well as telecommunication and transmission machinery.

Vehicle imports dip
Data shows that the total number of motor vehicles imported between August and October was 8.8% lower at 11,280 compared to 10,283 imported over the same period last year.

“This decline was reflected in all the classes of motor vehicles with the exception of trucks and trailers, whose growth could be attributed to incentives on importation of goods vehicles,” said the report.

However, the month-on-month figures, show that the number of motor vehicles for August and October were less by 1.3% and 11.2% respectively compared to the same months last year.

On the other hand, September car imports were higher by 21.6 % compared with 2008.

The vehicles imported included tractors, passenger service vehicles, saloons, trucks, special purpose vehicles and trailers.


Adopted from New Vision

SSBL OPENS INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY IN SOUTH SUDAN

BUSINESS
• Invests USD 50 Million

By Mugume D. Rwakaringi

INVESTMENT/JUBA-SOUTH SUDAN, DEC 2009

The managing Director for South Sudan Beverages Limited (SSBL) a subsidiary of SABMiller plc, Mr. Ian Alisorth has praised South Sudan as a conducive Country for investment noting the existence of virgin market, Nile Fortune has reliably established.

With less than one year since SSBL started production, the sales and production has more than doubled.
Mr. Ian said that SSBL will benefit the government through taxes and citizens directly by providing employment opportunities to citizens.

“We directly employ in our factory over 1200 workers who include 200 factory technicians and 500 distributors and stockers”, noted Mr. Ian.

SSBL has also promised to encourage farming in a bid to have food security in South Sudan in particular for those communities neighbouring the factory.

He added: “We give the factory waste inform of manure to the farmers such that they can be able to improve their livelihoods”.

The community has been advised to invest in agricultural products which will fetch ready market for this factory.

Soghurm, Cassava and Sugar Canes have been earmarked as the mostly needed raw materials for SSBL.

SSBL makes about 3000 litres of beer per hour when operational which generates a growth income of at least 2.5 Million SDG per month. SAB Millers through Southern Sudan Breweries Limited (SSBL) a looping Fifty Million worth of United States Dollars ($ 50 M). The factory donates 0.50 Sudanese Pounds (SDG) from each Litre of beer sold by SSBL as a sign of giving back to the community.

“Our production has now more than doubled within this short time”, said a seemingly happy Mr. Deng Mading Mijak, SSBL Corparate Affairs Director in an exclusive interview with Nile Fortune as he shows me around the factory.


Tasked whether these investors are not scared by similar products especially those imported from other Countries and other Companies with related products, SSBL Managing Director Mr. Ian expressed confidence since he believes that they (SSBL) stand a comparably bigger advantage by providing quality products at an affordable price.

“We are a multinational company thus have a comparative advantage”, noted Mr. Ian quickly adding that they also lobby from GoSS to protect them especially protection against dumping.

SSBL started with White Bull lager (Beer) but has now started producing soft drinks (Club Minerals) and plans are underway for bottled water (commonly known as Mineral water). It also supplies other SAB millers plc products from her sister companies from other countries such as South Africa, United States and South Africa a move aimed at providing quality.

SSBL becomes a Largest manufacturing Investor in South Sudan with fifty Million United States Dollars ($ 50 M USD) and is optimistic to making profits after pioneering a beer factory in South Sudan.

“We have as international standard laboratory in South Sudan”, noted Bismark Oroma, SSBL Quality control Manager (QCM) while pointing at a $ 200.000 Alicoliser Beer Plus (ABP)which is used to control the level of alcohol in beer.

Mr. Deng Mading noted that SSBL should be credited for coming at this time to invest such amount of money in South Sudan. “This becomes a good example for other intending investors in South Sudan”, he explained.

SSBL donates 0.5 SDG from each litre sold to benefit the surrounding community as a give back to the community.

It also provides safe drinking water for the community and pays different taxes to both Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) and Central Equatoria Government (CES).

“We allow students and other experts to use our laboratory facilities”, noted Mr. Wadada Davidson. Adding that Students and other researchers in Sudan should feel free to come and do their experiments in SSBL Factory without any costs.

SABMiller plc, is one of the world’s leading brewers with operations and distribution agreements across six continents with group revenue including the attributable share of associates’ and joint ventures’ revenue of US$4,509 million as per September 2009 unaudited report.

In Africa, SABMiller has brewing or beverage interests in 32 countries in addition to South Africa. This includes 18 countries through a strategic alliance with the Castel group, and several countries where SABMiller is a Coca-Cola bottler, including Angola, Botswana and Zambia.

South Sudan has had a relative stability after the signing of Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005 which brought an end to over two decade war between mainly Sudanese People’s Liberation Army/Movement and the Khartoum government. South Sudan remains depending on imported goods especially from her neghbouring Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia and others from Khartoum.

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UN OFFICIAL CALLS ON PROTECTION OF CHILDREN

LAW AND SOCIETY

it is everyone responsibility to act

By Mugume D. Rwakaringi, JUBA/SOUTH SUDAN

Ms. Radhika Coomaraswami, UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict has reaffirmed United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNHCR), United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) and other UN agencies commitment to sensitise all the stakeholders in Southern Sudan in an effort to have Child abuse eliminated.




Ms. Radhika Coomaraswami, UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children, girl Children are the most vulnerable during armed conflicts

Radhika whose mission last month addressing Journalists at UNMIS headquarters on her trip to Sudan where she had a number of meetings in Khartoum, Darfur and Juba, focusing on issues pertaining to children and armed conflict on the invitation from the Government of Sudan.

Ms Radhika added that UN and other agencies are however affected by targeting of humanitarian workers and the denial of humanitarian access by rebels such as Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), SLA-Free Will, the JEM Peace Wing, the SLM-Abdulgassim and inter-tribal conflicts in Southern Sudan.

She however expressed optimism in combating the situation saying that this will be possible because UN has managed to get key commitments from parties. “The Action Plan calls for the release of children, for the verification of that release by United Nations agencies, and the reintegration of children according to that”, noted Ms Coomaraswami.

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict also added that Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), Uganda army who are fighting the LRA get many children, has accepted to enter into a protocol on immediate release of these children once they rescue them. They will enter into a protocol with UNICEF and the Ministries of Social Welfare in Yambio and other such affected areas.

She was also pleased with Ministry of Justice commitment that there would be no executions of children in Sudan.

Consequent from inter-tribal conflict, 370 children have been abducted in the last few months.

She also applauded The Southern Sudan Child Protection Act 2008 saying it will help the protection of Child rights in Southern Sudan.
“This is a positive move but this (Child Act) to be effective, there must be cooperation of all stakeholders including Media”, Ms Radhika noted.
Ms. Speaking on the same occasion, Ms Silivia Pasti, UNICEF Child Protection Officer said that UNICEF will be working closely with other UN agencies to ensure that the rescued children immediately start receiving help.

Coomaraswam has a long-standing history as a human rights advocate, with a particular focus on advocating for children and women issues and has occupied human rights positions both in Sri Lanka and internationally.

She was appointed by Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-moon as Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict.

Her visit to Sudan was mostly concerned with child soldiers; rape and sexual violence and killing and maiming of children.

An estimated 300,000 child soldiers - boys and girls under the age of 18 - are involved in more than 30 conflicts worldwide. Child soldiers are used as combatants, messengers, porters, cooks and to provide sexual services. Some are forcibly recruited or abducted; others are driven to join by poverty, abuse and discrimination, or to seek revenge for violence enacted against themselves and their families.

The 2002 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict outlaws the involvement of children under age 18 in hostilities.

During armed conflict, girls and women are threatened by rape, domestic violence, sexual exploitation, trafficking, sexual humiliation and mutilation. Use of rape and other forms of violence against women has become a strategy in wars for all sides. Investigative reports following the 1994 genocide in Rwanda concluded that nearly every female over the age of 12 who survived the genocide was raped. During the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, more than 20,000 were estimated to have been sexually assaulted.

Of the 25 countries with the highest proportion of children orphaned by AIDS, about one-third have been affected by armed conflict in recent years. Of the 10 countries with the highest rates of under-five deaths, seven are affected by armed conflict.

Children in armed conflict also routinely experience emotionally and psychologically painful events such as the violent death of a parent or close relative; separation from family; witnessing loved ones being killed or tortured; displacement from home and community; exposure to combat, shelling and other life-threatening situations; acts of abuse such as being abducted, arrested, held in detention, raped, tortured; disruption of school routines and community life; destitution and an uncertain future.

The Writer is also a Law Lecturer at IMS-Southern University, Juba.

Tel: +249-955003929
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U.S. forces missed chance to get bin Laden in 2001

The U.S. military could have captured or killed Osama bin Laden in 2001 if it had launched a concerted attack on his hideout in Afghanistan, according to a report prepared for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The report, written by staff working for the Democratic majority on the committee, said the al Qaeda leader's escape was a lost opportunity that altered the course of the war and paved the way for insurgencies in Afghanistan and in Pakistan.

"Removing the al Qaeda leader from the battlefield eight years ago would not have eliminated the worldwide extremist threat," the report said.

"But the decisions that opened the door for his escape to Pakistan allowed bin Laden to emerge as a potent symbolic figure who continues to attract a steady flow of money and inspire fanatics worldwide."

U.S. soldiers and Afghan militia forces launched a large-scale assault on the Tora Bora mountains in 2001 in pursuit of bin Laden, believed to be hiding in the region with supporters after the Taliban government was removed from power.

U.S. military leaders allowed Afghan militiamen to spearhead the assault and bin Laden managed to escape.

The report said U.S. commanders rejected requests for more troops to launch a rapid assault in the area, relying instead on air strikes and the Afghan militias to lead the attack and Pakistan's Frontier Corps to seal off escape routes.

"The vast array of American military power, from sniper teams to the most mobile divisions of the Marine Corps and the Army, was kept on the sidelines," it said.

The report was especially critical of military leaders under former President George W. Bush, including former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and his top military commander, retired General Tommy Franks.

Democratic Senator John Kerry, the chairman of the committee, has argued the Bush administration missed a chance to get bin Laden and his top lieutenants in Tora Bora just months after the September 11 attacks on the United States.

Kerry lost the 2004 presidential election to Bush.

The report was issued just days before President Barack Obama was expected to announce the United States would send about 30,000 more troops to secure population centers and train Afghan security forces.

There are about 68,000 U.S. troops and 42,000 allied soldiers in Afghanistan.
Source: Reuters