Afghanistan War News Updates -- August 12, 2010

U.S. Army soldiers and Afghan police officers confirm that everyone understands the plans for the next part of the operation in the village of Lagar Jay Kalha, Jaghato district, Wardak province, Afghanistan, July 14, 2010. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Russell Gilchrest

Nearly 120,000 Troops From 47 Countries Serve In ISAF -- U.S. Department of Defense

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11, 2010 – The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan now has almost 120,000 troops from 47 different countries assigned to it, NATO officials said yesterday.

The United States provides 78,430 of that total, part of the roughly 100,000 American troops now based in the country. The top leadership is all American, with Army Gen. David H. Petraeus commanding ISAF and U.S. Forces Afghanistan. Army Lt. Gen. David M. Rodriguez commands the ISAF Joint Command, and Army Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell commands NATO Training Mission Afghanistan.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

Korengal Abandoned, Pech River Valley Still Problematic -- Captain's Journal
Twenty insurgents killed in Afghanistan battle: NATO -- Reuters
Firefight kills civilian woman in southern Afghanistan -- CNN
British soldier dies of wounds suffered in Afghanistan -- The Telegraph
2nd Stryker loses two soldiers in Afghanistan roadside bomb attacks -- Stars And Stripes
US military sees heavier fighting in fall -- AP
U.S. braces for Kandahar fight -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Kandahar mayor's claim to shopkeeper-occupied land dividing residents -- Washington Post

U.S. Military Seeks Slower Pace to Wrap Up Afghan Role -- New York Times
Petraeus Wants More Time -- Time Magazine
Military Building Case to Delay Afghan Troop Pullout -- New American
Petraeus wants more time in Afghanistan -- UPI

U.S. Supersizes Afghan Mega-Base as Withdrawal Date Looms -- The Danger Room
In Afghanistan, stillness among the chaos -- AP
Night watch in Afghanistan: Army Spec. Tehuti Miles on guard for Taliban foes -- New York Daily News
New Afghan Air War? Don’t Count On It, General Says (Updated) -- The Danger Room
Afghan army reaches enlistment goal ahead of schedule -- CNN

US flies bodies of murdered medics home -- AFP
AP Exclusive: Aid workers' last moments -- AP
Aid group: Fighters not thieves killed 10 workers -- Yahoo News/AP

Taliban rejects U.N. report on Afghan casualties -- CNN
Taliban rejects civilian casualties report -- UPI
Taliban Continue to Attack, Intimidate Innocent Civilian Populace Responsible for 9 out of 10 Deaths -- Relief Web
Claims of Afghan Civilian Deaths Spark Protest -- New York Times/AP

Unrest Is Undermining Hopes for Afghan Vote -- New York Times
Afghan Government MIA at American-Backed Farm -- The Danger Room
Afghanistan Money Probe Hits Close to the President -- Wall Street Journal

Afghanistan's serious questions -- Clayton Swisher, Al Jazeera
Taliban Massacre of 10 Aid Workers Only Tip of Iceberg -- Robert Weller

US military deaths in Afghanistan at 1,113 -- Mercury News/AP