The Obama administration played down comments from Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta that the U.S. could end its combat role in Afghanistan by the end of 2013, saying the original policy has not changed. “This was an assessment of what could happen within the context of the stated policy of NATO, which is to transfer [...]
Pakistan dismissed renewed accusations that elements of the Pakistani government are aiding the insurgency in Afghanistan, claims made in a leaked “highly classified” U.S. military report on the war. “It seems to be a report that is detached from reality,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit. “Pakistan’s commitment to end the insurgency along the Pak-Afghan [...]
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told reporters Wednesday that the U.S. would end its combat role in Afghanistan by next year and switch primarily to a support and training role, reiterating the administration’s longstanding timetable. While the media is treating the announcement as something new and a sign that the U.S. is beleaguered in their fruitless [...]
Taliban Leadership: No Talks With Karzai Govt. | US officials confirm Gitmo releases possible
Karzai’s Taliban Talks Mean Courting Pakistan | Afghan govt. hoping Pakistan can introduce them to some Taliban
US Meets With Taliban as Karzai Govt. Looks to Start Own Talks | Taliban, US negotiators not actually beginning talks yet
Sarkozy to Speed French Pullout, Urges NATO to Step Up End of Afghan War | Sarkozy, Karzai agree to push 2013 ‘handover’
Afghan Army Preps for Its Own Night Raids | ‘Don’t give them a chance to raise their heads’
The Pentagon has a practice called “condolence payments.” This is when U.S. commanders pay surviving family members thousands of dollars for every civilian they’ve killed. After a night operation in 2009 killed 15 civilians, U.S. commanders visited the village and handed out $40,000 in cash - $2,500 for each death, $500 for two wounded men and [...]
US Envoy Confirms Meeting With Haqqani Network | Urges Taliban to ‘denounce’ terrorism
