24 June, 2009

Obama Reduces Bombing in Afghanistan
TPMCafé – New York,NY,USA
The new US commander in Afghanistan says he will sharply restrict the use of air strikes in an effort to reduce civilian casualties in the fight against …
tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/rutabaga_ridgepole/
2009/06/obama-reduces-bombing-in-afgha.php?ref=reccafe

U.S. Revisits Afghan Battle Rules
Wall Street Journal – USA
By YOCHI J. DREAZEN WASHINGTON — The new US commander in Afghanistan is finalizing a far-reaching change in tactics that will generally require US troops …
online.wsj.com/article/SB1245712818
04038963.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Italy still hopes Iran will help stabilise Afghanistan
Africasia – London,UK
Rome said Wednesday it still hopes Iran will help in the stabilisation of Afghanistan despite snubbing an invitation to attend a Group of Eight foreign …
www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.php
?area=mideast&item=090624135645.5rcec1ec.php

Germany Says Won’t Back Down In Afghanistan After Troops Die
EasyBourse.com – Paris,France
BERLIN (AFP)—Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung Wednesday said German troops wouldn’t back down when attacked in Afghanistan, a day after Germany lost three …
www.easybourse.com/bourse-actualite/marches/germany-says
-won-t-back-down-in-afghanistan-after-troops-die-690903

New directive to restrict US airstrikes in Afghanistan
CNN – USA
WASHINGTON (CNN) — The new US commander in Afghanistan plans to issue a directive that will restrict the use of US airstrikes in areas where civilian …
www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/06/23/afghanistan.airstrikes/

Russia accuses Kyrgystan of treachery over US military base
Telegraph.co.uk – United Kingdom
But after the United States agreed to triple its rent for Manas, an important re-fuelling and re-supply base for US forces across the border in Afghanistan, …
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/kyrgyzstan/5624355
/Russia-accuses-Kyrgystan-of-treachery-over-US-military-base.html

Suspected US drone attack in Pakistan’s tribal area, 6 killed
Xinhua – China
ISLAMABAD, June 23 (Xinhua) — A suspected US drone fired missiles in Pakistan’s tribal area bordering Afghanistan on Tuesday, killing six people, …
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/23/content_11589864.htm

US adviser: No preferred candidate in Afghan poll
The Associated Press
KABUL (AP) — President Barack Obama’s national security adviser insisted Tuesday that the US does not support or oppose any candidate in Afghanistan’s …
www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5
hvWEqwq3CrRvaQCmt21MfoYhjZJQD990HE9G0

Pak’s action in Swat has impact in Afghanistan: US commander
Indian Express – New Delhi,India
Pakistani military’s offensive against Taliban in the Swat Valley and adjoining areas is having a definite impact on militant activities inside Afghanistan, …
www.indianexpress.com/news/Pak—s-action-in-Swat
-has-impact-in-Afghanistan—US-commander/480710

Winder unit soldier killed in Afghanistan grenade attack
Online Athens – Athens,GA,USA
A soldier from Calhoun who was killed in Afghanistan over the weekend served with the 1st Battalion of the 121st Infantry Regiment, an Army National Guard …
www.onlineathens.com/stories/062409/new_453898839.shtml

US Commander: Swat Valley Offensive Helping in Afghanistan — News …
By Jason Ditz
Colonel John Spiszer, the US commander for troops in northeastern Afghanistan, today praised the Pakistani military’s offensive against the Swat Valley, claiming it was ‘sapping money and weapons’ from the conflict in Afghanistan. …
news.antiwar.com/2009/06/23/us-commander
-swat-valley-offensive-helping-in-afghanistan/

23 Taliban fighters killed in Afghanistan | Sindh Today – Online News
By SindhToday
Kabul, June 24 (Xinhua) Afghan troops killed 23 Taliban fighters in Uruzgan province, a senior military commander said Wednesday. Acting upon intelligence report, Afghan troops backed by the US-led Coalition forces pounded Taliban …
www.sindhtoday.net/news/1/23340.htm

German soldiers die in Afghanistan attack – The Local
Three German soldiers have died after being attacked while on patrol in the Kunduz region of northern Afghanistan.
www.thelocal.de/national/20090623-20143.html

23 June, 2009

New US orders in Afghanistan aim to reduce deaths
Reuters – USA
By Peter Graff KABUL, June 23 (Reuters) – The new commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan will issue orders within days requiring troops to disengage …
www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSISL515487

US, Kyrgyzstan Reach Deal on Airbase
Voice of America – USA
… and Kyrgyzstan have reached a deal that will allow the US to continue using a Kyrgyz airbase to transport supplies for the US military to Afghanistan. …
www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-23-voa14.cfm

After Reporters’ Escape From Taliban, Media Weigh Ethical Questions
NewsHour – USA
JIM LEHRER: Next tonight, two stories on the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan: a journalist’s escape and the drug war. JEFFREY BROWN: After seven months …
www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/asia/jan-june09/escapetaliban_06-22.html

Dennis Ross Expands His Portfolio
Washington Post – United States
Douglas E. Lute, a three-star general who was overseeing both Iraq and Afghanistan. Now Lute will just do Afghanistan — where he’ll be working closely with …
voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/06/23/
dennis_ross_expands_his_portfo.html?wprss=44

Afghanistan: Coalition troops launch massive assault on Taliban
CNN International – USA
KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) — Coalition troops launched a massive assault on a Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan and were able to push militants out …
edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf
/06/23/afghanistan.airstrike.taliban/

German troops die in Afghanistan
BBC News – UK
Three German soldiers have been killed during a clash with insurgents in Afghanistan, the German defence ministry has said. The soldiers were on a joint …
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8115068.stm

Kyrgyzstan Allows Limited US Access
New York Times – United States
By MICHAEL SCHWIRTZ MOSCOW— Kyrgyzstan, which four months ago said it would close an American air base central to the NATO mission in Afghanistan, …
www.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/world/asia/24base.html?hp

US and Kyrgyzstan sign new air base deal: MP
Reuters – USA
US officials, eager to press ahead with plans to more than double its presence in Afghanistan by year-end, were banking on the ex-Soviet republic reversing …
www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE55M0XM20090623

Put the Taliban on the terror list, already
New York Daily News – New York,NY,USA
While ruling Afghanistan, the Taliban sheltered Osama Bin Laden and his minions, they destroyed the country’s education system in favor of schooling by …
www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/06/23/2009-
06-23_put_the_taliban_on_the_terror_list_already.html

Pakistanis Flee Tribal Zone as Army Prepares Assault on Taliban
Bloomberg – USA
By Khalid Qayum and Michael Heath June 23 (Bloomberg) — Thousands of Pakistani civilians fled a tribal zone bordering Afghanistan as the military prepared …
www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=ak3skBJ7nECY

Top Obama aide in Afghanistan to assess war plan (AFP) | enUws
AFP – US national security adviser James Jones has arrived in Afghanistan, a US official said Tuesday, on a visit aimed at monitoring implementation of a…
enuws.com/top-obama-aide-in-afghanistan-to-assess-war-plan-afp/

Can the US Congress succeed in demanding an Exit Strategy from …
By aliphbay@aol.com (Rupee News)
Obama’s “Vietnam”. Pakistan’s Eminent Domain- “The best way to get out of Afghanistan fast is (for) people to think we’re staying.” Sen. John McCain of Arizona. WSJ AfPak countercurrents beyond the Oxus to AfPakAzUzbKazTurkKyr-istan …
rupeenews.com/2009/06/23/can-the-us-congress-
succeed-in-demanding-an-exit-strategy-from-afghanistan/

Stop dancing with dictators, Zardari tells US | World Latest News
By Muhammad Awais
‘And once the Soviets were defeated, the Americans took the next bus out of town, leaving behind a political vacuum that ultimately led to the Talibanisation and radicalisation of Afghanistan, the birth of Al Qaeda and the current …
www.easenews.net/?p=1473

THE TENSION: OEF Summary, June 22, 2009: Bagram Airfield Attack …
By Steven Moyer
WASHINGTON, June 22, 2009 — Two U.S. servicemembers were killed and at least six other personnel were wounded yesterday during an early morning indirect-fire attack on Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, officials said. …
thetension.blogspot.com/2009/06/oef-
summary-june-22-2009-bagram.html

MD soldier killed in Afghanistan | Inside Charm City: Baltimore …
By Jeff Quinton
WBAL.com The Pentagon says a soldier from Maryland has been killed in Afghanistan. Twenty-seven-year-old Spc. Rodrigo A. Munguia Rivas of Germantown died.
insidecharmcity.com/2009/06/22/md-soldier-killed-in-afghanistan/