Afghanistan War News Updates -- October 28, 2009

October Marks Deadliest Month For U.S. In Afghanistan -- Wall Street Journal

KABUL -- Eight American soldiers were killed in two roadside bombings in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday, the U.S. military said, making October the deadliest month for American troops since the 2001 invasion.

The deaths come as the Obama administration is considering whether to send tens of thousands more soldiers to the U.S.-led international force, which now numbers 65,000 American troops and 40,000 allied soldiers, drawn mostly from Europe and Canada. Rising casualties have made the war increasingly unpopular in the U.S. and among its allies.

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More News On Afghanistan

Bombings push US toll to worst month in Afghan war -- Reuters
Eight more US troops dead in Afghan war's blackest month -- Yahoo News/AFP
Bombings Kill 8 US Soldiers in Afghanistan -- Washington Post

Gunmen storm UN guest house in Kabul, 12 dead -- Yahoo News/AP
Militants Attack UN Guest House in Kabul, Killing Nine -- Voice of America
Insurgents Attack Hotels Housing UN Workers in Kabul -- Wall Street Journal
Taliban attack UN Kabul guesthouse in attempt to upend Afghan runoff -- Christian Science Monitor
UN defiant after Kabul killings -- BBC
Afghanistan attack shakes vibrant centre of Kabul -- Ottawa Citizen
Kabul Under Attack: Taliban Target U.N., Luxury Hotel -- ABC

Dangers Increase as Afpak Decision Nears -- Washington Post
US eyes 'compromise' strategy in Afghanistan: report -- Yahoo News/AFP
US to Protect Populous Afghan Areas, Officials Say -- New York Times
Afghan strategy to focus on major centers: report -- AFP
Obama's Afghan strategy hit by deaths and dissent -- The Independent
Service Members: It's Time to Get War Strategy Right -- CBS

Obama meets with Joint Chiefs on Friday over Afghanistan -- USA Today
Obama Redefines White House Relationship with Top Field Commander -- L.A. Times

US to pay Taliban to switch sides -- BBC
U.S. defense bill would pay Taliban to switch sides -- Reuters
Brother of Afghan Leader Is Said to Be on CIA Payroll -- New York Times
‘Af-Pak Hands’ Strives for Continuity in US Mission -- U.S. Department of Defense
U.S. official resigns over Afghan war -- Washington Post
Obama to meet military chiefs on Afghan policy: WHouse -- AFP

FACTBOX-Military deaths in Afghanistan -- Reuters

Commentaries And Analysis

Afghanistan Votes, the UN Dithers -- Peter W. Galbraith, New York Times
Troop level in Afghanistan is the easy part -- Doyle McManus, L.A. Times
So, Uh. How Much CIA Money Inadvertently Funds The Taliban? -- Attackerman
Give McChrystal A Fighting Chance -- Max boot, CBS News
Don’t Build Up -- Thomas Freidman, New York Times
Obama legacy defense gets early start -- Politico
Analysis: Taleban attack is bid to force UN out of Afghanistan -- Times Online