Afghanistan War News Updates -- April 6, 2010

SHARED SALUTE - U.S. Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, commander of International Security Afghan Forces and U.S. Forces in Afghanistan, and Gen. Abdul Rahim Wardak, the Afghanistan Defense Minister, salute during the activation ceremony for the Afghan National Army 215th Maiwand Corps on Camp Shorabak in Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 1, 2010. Gulab Mangal, left, the governor of Helmand province, watches. The 215th Corps is the largest of its size to be formed in more than six years. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ned Johnson

Afghanistan War: NATO Under Fire Over Civilian Casualties, Karzai criticism -- Christian Science Monitor

After months of denial, NATO admitted Sunday to five civilian casualties in a February raid – a major setback in the Afghanistan war effort to 'win hearts and minds.'

NATO forces in Afghanistan are facing new pressure on the “hearts and minds” front after they admitted Sunday to killing five civilians in a February assault and as Afghan President Hamid Karzai appeared to publicly undermine Western efforts here.

Currently on a visit with top US commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal to Kandahar, where NATO is planning a major summer offensive against the Taliban, Mr. Karzai promised local leaders on Sunday that “there won’t be an operation unless you are happy about it.”

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More News On Afghanistan

NATO Probes Fresh Civilian Deaths In Afghan Raid -- New York Times/Reuters
Airstrike kills 4 civilians killed in Afghan south -- AP
NATO to Look Again Into Deaths of Afghan Civilians -- ABC News
Afghan Investigators Say U.S. Troops Tried to Cover Up Evidence in Botched Raid -- New York Times
When accidents stop seeming like accidents -- The Economist

40 Taliban militants killed in NW Afghanistan -- Press TV
Accidental NATO killings in Afghanistan cap tense week -- Washington Post

White House Frustrated With Karzai After Hearing He Mused About Joining Taliban -- NPR
Karzai defends Afghanistan US fraud claim -- BBC
Afghan poll body backs Karzai on electoral row -- Washington Post/Reuters
Lawmakers: Afghan leader threatens to join Taliban -- Breitbart/AP
U.S. faces domestic fallout from Karzai outburst -- Reuters
Gibbs: White House is 'frustrated' by Karzai remarks -- CNN
Karzai Remarks Ratchet Up Tensions With Washington -- Radio Free Europe
Karzai 'threatened to join Taliban' -- Press Association
Afghanistan president's remarks again stir unease -- L.A. Times
Lawmakers Say Karzai Threatened to Join Taliban -- Voice of America
AP Analysis: Karzai remarks risk US-Afghan rift -- AP
President Obama needs to rethink the chill in Afghan relations -- Washington Post editorial

40 Commando Royal Marines prepare for Afghanistan -- BBC
NATO forces prep for Kandahar battle with tested security, outreach tactics -- Stars And Stripes
Kandahar: the heartland of the Afghan insurgency -- BBC
US fight Taliban with heavy metal and rock music -- AFP
Number of private security personnel in Afghanistan soars -- Vancouver Sun
Tanks In Afghanistan -- Strategy Page
Afghan air force flies again on Soviet warhorses -- Washington Post/Reuters
A sinking ship of state: Obama diplomacy has torpedoed the Karzai presidency -- Tony Blankley, Washington Times
The Karzai Problem -- Washington Post editorial