Afghanistan War News Updates -- December 23, 2009

A US soldier takes a break during a night mission in Kunar Province. Reuters

NATO Diplomacy Adrift In Afghan Valley Of Death -- AFP

UZBEEN, Afghanistan — In the Uzbeen valley, scene of the deadliest ambush on NATO troops in Afghanistan, Western commanders struggle with a new mindset that diplomacy, not massive firepower can beat the Taliban.

Just 60 kilometres (40 miles) from the Afghan capital, Uzbeen is an insurgent stronghold and shows the extent to which the Islamist militia dominates swathes of the countryside even so close to the seat of government.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

Pakistan Taliban say fighters going to Afghanistan -- AP
Fighters 'sent to Afghan Taliban' -- Al Ajzeera
Strategic Balochistan becomes a target in war against Taliban -- The Guardian
Look east for lessons in US Afghan surge -- AFP
U.S. Announces Deployment of 6,000 More Troops to Afghanistan -- Bloomberg
Pentagon Officials Identify Troops for Afghanistan -- U.S. Department of Defense
Poland to increase troops in Afghanistan: official -- China View
More than 1,100 Seabees to be Sent to Afghanistan -- USNAVYSEALS.com
Over 10 suspected Taliban militants killed, wounded in N. Afghanistan -- China View
Afghan senator killed at police checkpoint -- AFP
Afghan senator killed by police -- BBC
Afghan member of parliament gunned down by police -- AP
New British 'friendly fire' death in Afghanistan probed -- BBC
Second friendly fire inquiry after soldier is killed in Afghanistan -- The Guardian
FACTBOX-Security developments in Afghanistan, Dec 23 -- Reuters
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 857 -- AP
NATO says no deadline for Afghan troop withdrawal -- Reuters
NATO Chief Promises to Stand by Afghanistan -- New York Times
NATO: Afghan Mission to Focus on Protecting People, Roads, Development -- Voice of America
NATO chief predicts 'new momentum' in Afghanistan in 2010 -- Earth Times
CNN Poll: Afghanistan war still unpopular, but troop increase isn't -- CNN
Karzai forced to investigate family blood feud after cousin is murdered -- Times Online

Commentaries And Analysis

Obama, tell me how this ends: Is Afghanistan just a new war of attrition? -- Andrew J. Bacevich, New York Daily News
Mullen releases goals for Afghanistan, U.S. force in 2010 -- Stars And Stripes
Review of the Year 2009: Afghanistan -- The Independent
Home Sweet Home -- Bring The Heat. Bring The Stupid
Corruption Ignored, Deplored In Afghanistan -- NPR