Afghanistan War News Updates -- February 7, 2013

U.S. soldiers depart a village after a meeting with Afghan border police leaders near Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, Jan. 24, 2013. The soldiers are assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment and Security Force Assistance Team 8. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Shane Hamann

Interview With Gen. John R. Allen On Leaving Afghanistan -- New York Times

The New York Times interviewed Gen. John. R. Allen on Sunday, a week before his scheduled departure from Afghanistan after 19 months as the commander of the American and allied forces.

Following are some of General Allen’s comments. Brief explanations have been provided in brackets.


On his relationship with President Hamid Karzai:

“I wanted him to understand that he was always going to have my loyalty and I was always going to work with him. In fact, I said a number of times, ‘I’m proud to have served you at the same time I served my own leadership, whether it’s a NATO leadership or U.S. leadership.’ Now, I wanted him to believe it because it happened to be true. I think our personalities meshed in that regard.”

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More News On Afghanistan

ISAF Joint Command operational update, Feb 7 -- ISAF
Afghanistan: Taliban 'Shot Down' US Helicopter -- SKY News
US helicopter crashes in Afghanistan -- The Telegraph
Afghanistan: NATO Helicopter Crashes In Eastern Province -- Huffington Post/AP
Officials Report No Fatalities in ISAF Helicopter Crash -- US Department of Defense
Bomb kills four in Afghan north: officials -- Global Post/AFP
Four detained in Kabul attack -- UPI
8 police officers poisoned in Afghanistan’s Ghazni Province -- Press TV
Taliban spokesman dismisses London talks on Afghan war -- The Nation/AFP
Will the $55B Invested in Afghan Forces Pay Off? -- Defense News
Afghanistan bribery cost 'increases sharply' -- BBC
UN: Cost of Afghan corruption rose sharply last year, with half the population paying a bribe -- Washington Post/AP
UN: Half Of All Afghans Paid Bribes In 2012 -- Business Insider/AFP
So, this is the office that will investigate Afghanistan's Kam Air? -- Christian Science Monitor
No end in sight to state torture in Afghanistan -- Public Service Europe
Welcome to Kabul! Here’s some brass knuckles -- Salon