Afghanistan War News Updates -- June 1, 2009

Afghan National Army soldiers sit in the back of a pickup in the village of Bazaar e Panjwai, in Kandahar. Reuters

Fighting Taliban — If US Patrols Can Find Them -- Yahoo News/AP

TATAR, Afghanistan – Lt. Eric Schwirian speaks softly, smiles a lot and shakes many wary hands during his platoon's three-day trek deep into an Afghan valley, looking for a fight with the Taliban.

But while thousands of extra troops have poured into Afghanistan this year in an escalating conflict, this unit in the central Afghan province of Wardak has barely had a sighting of its quarry.

It's frustrating for these infantrymen to feel as though they're chasing ghosts among the villages and terraced fields, but their daily routine — patience, presence, tea-drinking and handshakes — is central to America's counterinsurgency strategy.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

248 insurgents killed, dozens hurt in Afghan operations -- Dawn
U.S. and Taliban to Redouble Afghan Efforts -- New York Times
Fighting Taliban _ if US patrols can find them -- AP
Extra U.S. troops in Afghanistan by mid-July -- Reuters
Twelve militants killed in Afghanistan -- AFP
Afghan battles leave 12 insurgents, 6 police dead -- China View
Afghan troops kill 6 Taliban insurgents, wound 8 others -- China View
Militants storm prison in E Afghanistan -- China View
More British troops needed in Afghanistan 'to safeguard reputation with US' -- The Telegraph
Army fury at refusal to bolster Afghan campaign -- Independent
Two British soldiers killed in Afghanistan: ministry -- AFP
Two British soldiers die in Afghan explosion -- Reuters
Afghans protest against civilian deaths in firefight -- Reuters
Afghan Valley Offers Test for Obama Strategy -- New York Times
No sacrifice of human rights, democracy in Taliban talks: Afghan ambassador -- Canadian Press
Karzai Consolidates Power as NATO Troops Seek Afghan Stability -- Bloomberg
Afghan presidential hopeful vows to create PM post -- Reuters
Afghan vote deal-making coming to a head -- AFP
Army Deploys Old Tactic in PR War -- Wall Street Journal
Afghanistan demands return of Guantanamo prisoner -- AFP