Afghanistan War News Updates -- June 18, 2010

CASTLE CURIOSITY - U.S. soldiers walk near a historic castle with members of the Kuchi tribe residing in the Bawka district in Farah province, Afghanistan, June 12, 2010. The troops, assigned to the Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah, visited three villages in the district to gather information on the needs of the residents and to promote the importance of seeking government assistance to help resolve those needs. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Rylan Albright

Pentagon Claims Afghan Strategy Working Despite Problems -- Voice of America

Official says progress is beginning to prove validity of President Barack Obama's strategy for defeating Taliban

The Pentagon claimed Thursday that progress in some areas of Afghanistan is beginning to prove the validity of President Barack Obama's strategy for defeating the Taliban and related groups. The claim came after Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressed concern that news reports from southern Afghanistan, where the effort has run into significant challenges, are painting a more negative picture than is justified.

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More News On Afghanistan

Afghan Debate Spotlights Pentagon's Mixed Messages -- New York Times/Reuters
Obama's mixed Afghanistan messages -- L.A. Times
Pentagon complains of 'negative' picture of Afghan war -- AFP

Wave of killings claims Afghan governor -- Financial Times
U.S. Hopes To Win Afghan Trust, Village By Village -- NPR (Audio)
Reorganizing NATO In Afghanistan -- Strategy Page
Intel inputs warn of threat to Indian assets in Afghan -- Express India
Militants target India in Afghanistan -- UPI
Photos: Special Forces Fighting The Right Way -- NPR
Afghan city wary of latest promise to fix problems -- Reuters

Afghanistan Moves Quickly to Tap Newfound Mineral Reserves -- New York Times
Afghan mineral wealth may be at least $3 trillion -- AP
Karzai Says Worried About Afghan Minerals Rivalry -- New York Times/Reuters
Afghan Riches: Not So Fast -- Wall Street Pit

Afghanistan’s Kabul Basin Faces Major Water Challenges -- Science Daily
Afghanistan's woeful water management delights neighbors -- Christian Science Monitor

In Afghanistan, ‘beautiful theories assaulted by ugly facts’ -- Jay Bookman. AJC
Does an Afghanistan Exit Strategy Hurt Our Allies? -- Josh Mull, Huffington Post
US aims in Afghanistan ‘incredibly hard’ to achieve -- Daily Times
Obama must keep to his Afghanistan deadline -- Eugene Robinson, Washington Post