Afghanistan War News Updates -- March 26, 2010

U.S. Army and Afghan National Army soldiers conduct a presence patrol in the village of Akbar Kheyl, Pole-Elam district, Logar province, Afghanistan, March 18, 2010. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Russell Gilchrest

Pentagon Wants $33 Billion More For War In Afghanistan -- Christian Science Monitor

The Pentagon's request for a $33 billion war supplemental for Afghanistan has Congress concerned about long-term costs. Training Afghan security forces, for instance, could take years.

The Pentagon wants $33 billion in additional funding to pay for the war in Afghanistan this year and train the Afghan military, but members of Congress want to make sure they’re not writing a blank check.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton appeared before Senate appropriators to defend the war supplemental, which is on top of the $708 billion baseline budget submitted to Congress in February.

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More News On Afghanistan

Gates: Guarded Optimism About Afghan War -- Voice of America
Pentagon Revamps Afghanistan Deployments -- Wall Street Journal
UN envoy holds first talks with Taliban-linked warlord Hekmatyar in Afghanistan -- Christian Science Monitor
Afghan Rebels Discuss Peace as U.S. Pulls Back -- Wall Street Journal
UN Envoy Meets with Afghan Insurgent Faction in Kabul -- Voice of America

Gunmen kill engineer in eastern Afghanistan -- Washington Post/AP
LAPD officer serving in Afghanistan is killed by roadside bomb -- L.A. Times
FACTBOX-Security developments in Afghanistan, March 26 -- Reuters

Appointment of 'younger' deputy shows Mullah Omar in no mood of reconciliation -- Sify News
Mullah Omar names new deputies -- Daily Times
Top Taliban leader captured in Karachi -- DNA India
U.S. officials: Ex-Gitmo prisoner becomes Taliban commander -- CNN

Afghan Marksmen — Forget the Fables -- New York Times
Washington to press Canada to stay in Afghanistan: report -- Yahoo News/AFP
Afghan Air Corps Vital to Country’s Security -- U.S. Department of Defense
Gates, Mullen Address Need for Trainers in Afghanistan -- U.S. Department of Defense
U.S. Official Defends Contractors’ Mission -- New York Times
Uzbek-Tajik dispute hinders Afghanistan supplies -- Yahoo News/AP
Nato axes Afghan junk food joints at key bases -- BBC
US commander in Afghanistan bans burger and pizza bars at Kandahar base -- The Guardian