Afghanistan War News Updates -- March 4, 2009

U.S. Army Spc. Raul Martinez stands guard outside the provincial governor’s compound in Paktia province, Afghanistan, while Paktia Provincial Reconstruction Team members meet with local leaders, Feb. 7, 2009. Martinez is assigned to 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment. DoD photo by Fred W. Baker III

Afghan Panel Rejects Karzai Decree for Early Elections -- New York Times

KABUL -- Afghanistan’s elections commission on Wednesday rejected a decree by President Hamid Karzai that moved presidential elections forward to April or May, insisting that they should be held in August.

The commission based its ruling partly on Afghanistan’s security situation -- a consideration underscored dramatically on Wednesday when a bomb exploded outside the main American base at Bagram, and three Canadian soldiers were reported killed in the south of the country.

The bomb at Bagram injured several people but caused no apparent fatalities, The Associated Press quoted an American military spokeswoman, Capt. Elizabeth Mathias, as saying. An Afghan official, Abdul Jabar Takwa, said a suicide bomber in a car killed himself after setting off explosives near a checkpoint. The Taliban took responsibility for the explosion, the A.P. said.

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More News On Afghanistan

Afghan Election Commission Says Early Vote Not Possible -- Voice of America
Afghan vote won't be moved up, commission rules -- Globe And Mail
NATO welcomes Afghan decision to hold presidential poll in August -- China View
NATO welcomes Afghan ruling on August 20 vote -- Reuters
Afghan Chief: Summer Elections Safer -- Associated Press
PM offers condolences to families of 3 soldiers -- CTV
Three Canadian soldiers killed in Afghan blast -- Reuters
Timeline: Canadian deaths in Afghanistan -- Canada.com
Bomber Strikes Outside Main US Base in Afghanistan -- Voice Of America
Afghanistan: U.S. airbase attack wounds 3 -- CNN
Blast hits US base; Afghan vote set for August -- AP
Blasts target main US Afghan base -- BBC
'Impossible' to set date for Afghan withdrawal: Gates - -AFP
Washington unable to name date of troop withdrawal from Afghanistan -- Financial Times
Gates: Impossible to Set Date for Afghan Withdrawal -- Voice Of America
Afghans Face Obstacles In Securing Pakistan Border -- NPR
Avoiding Pakistan, New Supply Route to Afghanistan Opens -- New York Times
US Afghan Supplies Cross Russia -- BBC News
Rival Pakistani Taliban groups unite in Afghanistan -- The Age
US Takes Fight to Taliban Leader -- Washington Times
US Strategy in Afghan War Hinges on Far-Flung Outposts -- Wall Street Journal
U.S. Using Drones to Target Taliban Leader in Pakistan -- FOX news
Biden to consult NATO on Afghanistan and Pakistan -- Reuters
Avoiding Disaster in Afghanistan -- American Spectator