Afghanistan War News Updates -- August 24, 2010

INSURGENT ATTACK - U.S. Army Spc. Brandon R. Romero and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Glenn K. Luce open fire on a nearby building during an attack against troops visiting the village of Spinkay in eastern Afghanistan’s Kunar province, Aug. 18, 2010. The insurgents used mortars, small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades against international and Afghan forces. Romero and Luce are assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Gary A. Witte

NATO Soldier, 40 Taliban Militants Killed In Afghanistan -- RTT

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said one of its soldiers was killed in a militant attack in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday.

The ISAF statement did not disclose the nationality of the deceased.

The latest death has pushed ISAF casualties in Afghanistan this year to 456, and in August to 44, indicating that 2010 is going to be the deadliest year for foreign forces since they began anti-Taliban operations in 2001.

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More News On Afghanistan

NATO-led forces say kill 35 Afghan Taliban this week -- Reuters
Troops kill 40 militants east of Afghan capital -- Yahoo News/AP
5 foreign troops killed in Afghanistan, raising month's death toll to 47 -- Today Online
NATO soldier, 8 civilians killed in Afghan violence -- AFP
Taliban attacks Nato supply convoy -- Al Jazeera
East Afghan Plan: Choke the ‘Rat Lines,’ Secure the Roads -- The Danger Room
Al Qaeda in Afghanistan: Small in numbers, huge in impact on Taliban -- New York Daily News
Afghan capital removing its protective blast walls -- AP

Marines likely to stay in Afghanistan for years -- Washington Post
No major handover to Afghans before October 2011: US -- AFP
Afghan forces will not meet takeover deadline: general -- The Age
No US troops 'mass exodus' from Afghanistan next year, says Gen Petraeus -- The Telegraph
Petraeus: No sudden troops exodus from Afghanistan -- AP
No south Afghanistan handover for a 'few years': US -- AFP

Security concerns make Afghan elections dangerous for politicians, voters alike -- Washington Post
Afghan vote runs up against fear, disenchantment -- Yahoo News/AP
Afghan poll a chance for change, or more of the same -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Q+A: How does Afghanistan's parliamentary election work? -- Reuters

General: We're training 3 Afghans to get 1 soldier -- CNN
Deserters threaten Afghan security -- The Australian
Afghanistan security force more than a year away -- AP
Attrition, Illiteracy Big Challenges in Afghan Security Growth -- ABC News
Despite Growing in Size, Afghan Forces Not Yet Prepared to Take On Security Duties -- FOX News
Afghan security force training faces big hurdles -- Reuters
‘Training’ Equals ‘Transition’ in Afghanistan, General Says -- US Department of Defense

Afghan officials challenge U.S. on aid contract abuses -- Washington Post
Foreign Policy: Losing Afghanistan In Translation -- NPR
With U.S. Approval, Moscow Heads Back to Afghanistan -- Time Magazine