Afghanistan War News Updates -- March 10, 2010

MARINE MATTERS - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates speaks to Marines of 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, at a forward operating base in Afghanistan, March 9, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen

Gates: Some Troops May Exit Afghanistan Early -- Time Magazine

(PUL-E-CHARKHI, Afghanistan) — U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates raised the possibility Wednesday that some of the U.S. forces involved in the Afghanistan surge could leave the country before President Barack Obama's announced July 2011 date to begin withdrawal.

Without giving specifics, Gates said, "It would have to be conditions-based."

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More News On Afghanistan

Gates: Some troops could leave Afghanistan early -- AP
Gates: Early pullout reliant on 'conditions' in Afghanistan -- CNN
Afghan Visit Reinforces Gates’ Faith in New Strategy -- U.S. Department of Defense
Defense Secretary Gates greets troops, tours Afghan 'city that had been dead' -- Washington Post
Secretary Gates visits Afghan town recently seized from Taliban -- L.A. Times
Secretary Gates Gets Close to Front Lines -- FOX News
Gates gets taste of slow progress in Afghan war -- Reuters
Gates tours broken, abandoned market that has come to symbolize progress in Afghanistan -- Washington Post
Gates Tours Market in Former Taliban Town -- New York Times
Gates: Iran is 'playing a double game' in Afghanistan -- Stars And Stripes

Iran, U.S. spar over Afghanistan -- CBC
Ahmadinejad criticises NATO troops, mocks Gates -- Yahoo News/AFP
Iran leader: US playing `game' in Afghanistan -- Yahoo News/AP
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attacks US for Afghan 'double game' -- BBC
'Foreign troops not peace solution in Afghanistan' -- Yahoo News/AFP
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accuses US of creating Afghanistan terrorists -- The Telegraph
Karzai cozies up to Ahmadinejad as Iran accuses US of playing a 'double game' in Afghanistan -- Daily Mail

FACTBOX-Security developments in Afghanistan, March 10 -- Reuters
Taliban claim suicide attack on NATO-Afghan base -- AP
Two NATO soldiers killed in eastern Afghanistan -- Reuters
Suicide attack kills NATO soldiers in Afghanistan -- Yahoo News/AFP
Bomb kills 5 as Gates, Ahmadinejad visit Afghanistan -- Yahoo News/AFP
Five Afghan troops killed in suicide bombing -- Sify News

Plans are laid for new Afghan offensive -- Boston.com
Afghanistan war: Fight for Kandahar won't be like fight for Marjah -- Christian Science Monitor
Fear Of Taliban Hinders U.S. Efforts In Marjah -- NPR
In Marjah, New Gains Could Offer Escape From Tragic Past -- Radio Free Europe
More Military Trainers Needed in Afghanistan -- Voice of America

When will President Obama visit Afghanistan? -- James Bays, Al Jazeera
Don't withdraw troops prematurely -- Rep. Ike Skelton & Rep. Buck Mckeon, Politico
Why mujahideen and Saudi lawyers hold the key to peace in Afghanistan -- The Guardian