Afghanistan War News Updates -- November 11, 2009

U.S. Army Pvt. John Stafinski fires his M-249 squad automatic weapon during a three-hour gun battle with insurgent fighters in the Waterpur Valley, in Kunar province, Afghanistan, on Nov. 3, 2009. Stafinski is an infantryman, with Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. DoD photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller, U.S. Army. (Released)

Obama Receives New Afghan Option -- Wall Street Journal

'Hybrid' Compromise Would Combine Troops, Trainers to Hold Back Taliban and Boost Local Military

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama on Wednesday will consider a new compromise plan for adding troops to Afghanistan that would deploy 30,000 to 35,000 new forces, including as many as 10,000 military trainers, over the next year or more.

The new scenario combines reinforcements for fighting Taliban insurgents with trainers aimed at rapidly increasing the size and capabilities of Afghan troops to take on more operations themselves. It wouldn't aim to eliminate the Taliban, but weaken it until Afghan forces can secure major population centers themselves.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

3 Top Obama Advisers Favor Adding Troops in Afghanistan -- New York Times
Obama considering 4 options for Afghanistan, sources say -- CNN
White House: Obama weighs 4 options in Afghanistan -- AP
Obama in Afghan troop level talks -- BBC
Obama, War Council to Review Afghanistan Troop Options -- L.A. Times
Obama narrowing Afghanistan options -- Chicago Tribune
Decision day looms for Obama's troop dilemma -- The Independent
Obama Looking for 'Off-Ramps' Out of Afghanistan -- ABC News
Obama Aides Accuse Pentagon of Pressuring President Over Afghanistan -- The Telegraph

Poll: Opinion split with Obama's wait on Afghanistan decision -- CNN
Afghans Optimistic Despite U.S. Public Opinion -- Newsweek

US wants more Nato troops for new Afghanistan surge -- Times Online
British PM Defends Military Mission in Afghanistan -- Voice of America
In Afghanistan, Taliban Surpasses al-Qaeda -- Washington Post
Gorbachev: U.S. Should Withdraw From Afghanistan -- The Atlantic
Body of Missing U.S. Soldier Found in Afghanistan -- New York Times
Body of missing US troop found in Afghanistan: NATO -- AFP
Suicide attack kills two in Afghanistan: officer -- AFP
TV footage shows Afghan insurgents with US ammo -- AP
Bomb Material Cache Uncovered in Afghanistan -- New York Times
Massive A’stan Haul: 500,000 Pounds of Bomb-Making Material -- The Danger Room
NATO seizes bomb-making materials in Afghanistan -- AP
FACTBOX-Security developments in Afghanistan, Nov 11 -- Reuters

Military sees increase in wounded in Afghanistan -- NPR
Military sees increase in wounded in Afghanistan -- Yahoo News/AP
Spinal, traumatic brain injuries among US troops rise with violence in Afghanistan -- Washington Examiner

War, poverty and pestilence blight Afghanistan -- The Telegraph
Afghanistan Losing Fight Against H1N1 Flu -- CBS News
War, poverty and now flu blight Afghanistan -- Dawn

Karzai to be inaugurated Nov 19 -- AFP
Afghan president to be sworn in Nov 19 - ministry -- Reuters
Abdullah backs US reform call in Afghanistan -- AFP

US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 836 -- Washington Post/AP

Commentaries And Opinions

Vietnam Myths Haunt Afghanistan -- Washington Times editorial
Too early to sign the death warrant -- Brian Stewart, CBC
Are We Lucky to Have Hamid Karzai? -- Atlantic Wire
The Cost of Dithering -- Frederick W. Kagan and Kimberly Kagan, Weekly Standard opinion