Afghanistan War News Updates -- February 21, 2010

An Afghan national army soldier fires a rocket-propelled grenade at Taliban insurgents from firing on their position at the "Five Points" intersection, Marja, Afghanistan, Feb. 9, 2010. A group of ANA soldiers joined Marines as they conducted a helicopter-borne assault earlier that morning to seize the key intersection. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Brian Tuthill

As Marja Assault Progresses, Coalition Considers Challenges In Rebuilding Area -- Washington Post

MARJA, AFGHANISTAN -- On the satellite photographs of Marja that Marines scrutinized before launching a massive assault against the Taliban a week ago, what they assumed was the municipal government center appeared to be a large, rectangular building, cater-cornered from the main police station.

Seizing that intersection became a key objective, one deemed essential to imposing authority and beginning reconstruction in this part of Helmand province once U.S. and Afghan troops have flushed out the insurgents.

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More News On Afghanistan

NATO Reports Three More Soldiers Dead In Afghanistan -- Radio Free Europe
Toll grows as Afghan offensive enters second week -- The Independent
Marines, Afghan troops battle holdout insurgents in Marja -- L.A. Times
U.S. commander urges town near Marja to help keep Taliban out -- L.A. Times
Taliban put up stiff resistance to U.S.-led offensive in Afghanistan -- CNN
Marines converge on Taliban holdouts in Marjah -- Yahoo News/AP
Q+A - NATO still faces resilient Taliban in Afghanistan assault -- Reuters
NATO Says Operation Moshtarak is Making Progress - -Voice of America
Afghan police move into Taliban stronghold -- AFP

Karzai Urges NATO to Avoid Killing Civilians -- Wall Street Journal
Taliban Reject Renewed Karzai Call For Peace -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Karzai Calls on Taliban to Accept Peace in Afghanistan -- Voice of America
Karzai plea to Nato over civilian deaths -- New Zealand Herald
Afghan leader urges coalition troops to curb civilian deaths -- L.A. Times
Fears for civilians trapped by US attacks on Taliban -- Sydney Morning Herald

Holbrooke seeks Central Asia help for Afghanistan -- Yahoo News/AP
Dutch Government Collapses Over Its Stance on Troops for Afghanistan -- New York Times
Troops will leave Afghanistan this summer: Dutch PM -- CTV
Probes overlook McChrystal's role in costly Afghan battles -- McClatchy News
Slain medic's parents blast Army missteps in deadly ambush -- McClatchy News
Strict battle guidelines hampering British troops in Afghanistan -- Times Online
The Warlord's Tune: Afghanistan's war on children -- Yahoo News/ABC News (Australia)