Afghanistan War News Updates -- June 19, 2009

Col. Steven L. Kwast, commander of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, flies above Afghanistan in an F-15 fighter jet. Fighter pilots and air controllers at the main U.S. air base near Kabul say that even the most comprehensive safeguards can fail under the stress and confusion of combat. Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times

In Afghanistan, Halting Civilian Deaths In Strikes Is A Tough Mission -- L.A. Times

The U.S. has made the goal a top priority. But the nature of the war calls for split-second life-or-death decisions, almost guaranteeing more accidental casualties.

Reporting from Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan -- When Afghan parliament member Obaidullah Helali went to visit his constituents in the village of Garani last month, they confronted him with clubs and stones.

It was three days after a U.S. airstrike killed dozens of civilians in the remote settlement in the western province of Farah. Enraged villagers threatened to beat Helali and other officials and asked why the Afghan government couldn't protect them -- not from the Taliban, but from the U.S. military.

Read more ....

More News On The Afghanistan War

US military debates release of Afghan air strike probe -- AFP
Mullen: U.S. responsible for civilian deaths in Afghan battle -- CNN
Punishment for Afghan raid unlikely: U.S. military head -- Washington Post
Afghan civilian deaths big problem in war -- AP
Gates: Civilian deaths strategic problem in war -- AP
Afghan police: 16 Taliban killed in battle -- Yahoo News/AP
Bombs kill 5 police, 2 civilians in Afghanistan -- AP
Violence kills 11 in Afghanistan -- AFP
Twenty-Three Taliban, Afghan Policemen Killed -- Nasdaq
US trains reluctant Afghan police to fight Taliban -- Yahoo News/AP
Afghanistan: Foreigners Fighting Foreigners -- Strategy Page
Afghan President's Alliances With Warlords Raise Concerns -- Radio Free Europe
KABUL - NATO to send up to 10,000 troops in Afghanistan ahead of election -- China View
US agencies eye coordinated Afghan 'civilian surge' -- Reuters
Armor for Afghanistan -- Ares Blog/Aviation Week
Civil engineers plan Afghanistan’s future foundation -- Defense Talk
U.S. Pursues a New Way To Rebuild in Afghanistan -- Washington Post
Reporters in Afghanistan face restrictions -- L.A. Times
Afghanistan aims to put itself back on the tourist map -- L.A. Times
Prince William wants to fight on the front line in Afghanistan -- The Telegraph
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 633 -- AP