07 February 2011
, The New York Times, 6 February 2011
EXCERPT: "As part of the Obama administration's campaign to subdue a sprawling insurgency and create a durable Afghan government, the military sent thousands of soldiers last year into rural areas under the influence, if not outright control, of the Taliban. One of those task forces, the Third Battalion of the 187th Infantry Regiment,...
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07 February 2011
, CNN // Afghanistan Crossroads, 7 February 2011
EXCERPT: "Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Sunday that a critical phase in the transfer of security authority from international to domestic forces would begin March 21, a precursor to a planned full handover three years hence. Karzai made the announcement during a speech at the Munich Security Conference, an annual gathering...
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Fourth Suicide Bombing This Year Hits Kandahar
07 February 2011
, The New York Times, 7 February 2011
EXCERPT: "Evading security checks, a suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest entered the Customs office compound in Kandahar and detonated himself on Monday as several American soldiers were emerging from their armored vehicle in the office's courtyard. The blast killed an American and Afghan civilian and wounded five other people including two...
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Afghan Local Police Program Complicated by Local Feuds, Rivalries
07 February 2011
, The Washington Post, 6 February 2011
EXCERPT: "The former Afghan insurgent is despised by the head of the provincial council, who calls him 'a thief, a kidnapper and out of control.' He is disparaged by police, who view him as a dangerous fighter and dissolute hash smoker. But to the U.S. military, Noor ul Haq's past means less than his willingness to fight the Taliban....
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Engagement with Taliban Best Strategy to Isolate Al Qaeda: Report
07 February 2011
, The New York Times, 6 February 2011
EXCERPT: "The Afghan Taliban have been wrongly perceived as close ideological allies of Al Qaeda, and they could be persuaded to renounce the global terrorist group, according to a report to be published Monday by New York University. The report goes on to say that there was substantial friction between the groups? leaders before the attacks of...
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