Afghanistan War News Updates -- August 26, 2010

SULEIMANZI SCAN - A U.S. Army soldier search the houses of the Suleimanzi village during a patrol in west Paktika province, Afghanistan, Aug 21, 2010. The soldier is assigned to the 101st Airborne Division's Company C, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, Forward Operating Base Rushmore. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Lorenzo D. Ware

From One Afghan Setback, U.S. Strategy Finds Success -- McClatchy News

ARGHANDAB, Afghanistan — Chris Harich was catching up on e-mails at his cramped southern Afghanistan office in mid-June when a colleague popped his head in to deliver the news: The Arghandab district governor, America's main political point man in the volatile valley, had just been assassinated.

Harich, 35, hired by the State Department for a year to help Afghans build their government and legal system, was stunned, and the U.S. counterinsurgency strategy in this showcase district of embattled Kandahar province was suddenly very much in question.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

Militants kill 8 policeman in northern Afghanistan -- AP
Taliban kill eight Afghan police: local governor -- AFP
Militants Kill 8 Policemen In Afghanistan -- RTT News
Taliban kill eight police in Afghan north - governor -- Reuters
Afghan troops kill two dozen Taliban insurgents -- People's Daily
4 Taliban Militants Killed in Premature Blast in Afghanistan -- CRIEnglish
Deadly U.S. Raid Sparks Furor Among Afghan Civilians -- NPR
Afghanistan shooting sparks protests at Spanish base -- BBC
Taliban 'seize' camera from drone -- Sydney Morning Herald/AFP
Two more Marines from Southland bases killed in Afghanistan -- L.A. Times
Two Vt. Guardsmen killed in Afghanistan -- Boston.com/AP
FACTBOX-Security developments in Afghanistan, Aug 26 -- Reuters

5 U.S. troops accused of targeting, killing Afghan civilians -- Dallas News/Seattle Times
Army: Soldiers plotted to kill Afghan civilians -- AP
5 soldiers from Wash. base accused of murdering Afghan civilians -- USA Today
More Stryker soldiers charged in Afghan plot -- AP
More Stryker brigade soldiers charged with plotting to kill Afghan civilians -- FOX News

Petraeus: Reconciliation With Taliban is Ultimate Goal for Afghanistan's Future -- FOX News
US has helped with Taliban talks in Afghanistan: general -- AFP
US 'facilitated' Afghan talks with Taliban in some "isolated cases": Petraeus -- Sify News

Shooting deaths of 3 Spaniards boost pressure on Spain to quit Afghanistan -- Canadian Press
Karzai Aide Reportedly in Corruption Probe Linked to CIA -- Voice of America
CIA Payments Linked to Karzai Aide in Corruption Probe -- CBS News
Afghanistan's new war crimes museum punts on still-powerful warlords -- McClatchy News/Christian Science Monitor
Afghan elections: Record number of women stand for parliament -- The Guardian
Afghan campaign uphill battle for women -- UPI

Red alert! The Russians are coming! -- Asia Times
Troops Wonder: WTF Are We Doing In Afghanistan, Again? -- The Danger Room
Morning Bell: A War We Can’t Afford to Lose -- Heritage Foundation
Mr. Karzai's Promises -- New York Times editorial