Afghanistan War News Updates -- September 19, 2009

Italian soldiers stand by the body of a comrade killed after a suicide bomber hit an Italian ISAF convoy, killing six soldiers. Paula Bronstein / Getty

Will Italy Pull Its Troops out of Afghanistan? -- Time Magazine

There was barely time to mourn the dead. Less than 12 hours after a suicide attack in Kabul killed six Italian paratroopers, clear signs were already emerging in Italy that the country may no longer be willing to commit to the long haul in Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told reporters late Thursday, Sept. 17, "We must bring our boys home [from Afghanistan] as soon as possible." Speaking at a European Union summit in Brussels, he cautioned that there was no fixed timetable for the pullout of the 3,100-strong contingent and that any withdrawal must be worked out with the other NATO allies present in Afghanistan.

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MORE NEWS ON AFGHANISTAN

Italy's Afghan debate highlights NATO pressures -- AP
Italy mourns six dead soldiers but rejects any Afghan withdrawal -- Irish Times
Debate Over Italian Troop Withdrawal from Afghanistan Heats Up -- Voice of America
Italians support shift in Afghan strategy -- AP
Italy to hold national mourning for soldiers killed in Afghanistan -- China View

Danish soldier killed in southern Afghanistan -- AP
Bombs kill Canadian, US troops in Afghanistan -- AP
Fallen soldier thought Afghan mission 'useless': family -- Canadian Press
Canadian Charged in Killing of Afghan -- New York Times

U.S., British generals lay out complex Afghan picture -- Reuters
British general: Time not on NATO's side in Afghanistan, harder focus needed -- Canadian Press
Time running out to tackle Taliban in Afghanistan, British general warns -- The Guardian
British Afghanistan commander Major General Nick Carter: 'Time is not on our side' -- The Telegraph
Taliban has got stronger warns General Petraeus -- The Telegraph
Afghan commandos try persuasion in strategic towns -- AP
CIA Adding Bases in Afghanistan as Taliban Gains, Panetta Says -- Bloomberg
Taliban leader tells 'invaders' to study history -- AP
Why Anti-Taliban Efforts Have Failed -- Time Magazine
U.S. Civilian Role In Afghanistan -- Voice of America editorials
Japan mulls Afghan role after dropping naval mission -- AFP
Macedonian troops prepared to serve in Afghan war -- AP

US Military Deaths in Afghanistan Region at 764 -- New York Times/AP

AFGHANISTAN'S ELECTION

CIA chief says Karzai likely victor -- AFP
CIA Chief: Karzai Apparent Afghan Election Winner -- Gary Thomas, Voice of America
New evidence of widespread fraud in Afghanistan election uncovered -- The Guardian
Fraud Allegations Upset Delicate Balance in Afghanistan -- U.S. News And World Report

COMMENTARIES, OPINIONS, AND EDITORIALS

The Nightmare Scenario in Afghanistan -- Foreign Policy
Rebuilding Afghanistan: Q&A with James Dobbins -- Greg Scoblete, RCW
Why Efforts to Disarm the Taliban Have Failed -- Tim McGirk, Time
The Afghanistan Problem: Why Are We in Helmand? -- Joe Klein, Time opinion.
No Time to Cut and Run -- Ed Feulner, Washington Times opinion.