Afghanistan War News Updates -- January 12, 2011

KABUL BRIEFING - Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak, left, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus receive a briefing from Afghan army Brig. Gen. Amlaqullah Patyani, commander of the Kabul Military Training Center, on current activities at the largest military training facility in Afghanistan, Jan. 11, 2011. At any given time, more than 11,000 recruits at the center are preparing to serve in the Afghan national army. Petraeus is the commander of U.S. and international forces in U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Brian Brannon

Joe Biden Backtracks On Afghanistan Troop Pullout Date -- L.A. Times

Vice President Joe Biden says U.S. forces may stay in Afghanistan beyond 2014. But the U.S. remains committed to handing off responsibility for security to the Afghans, he says.

Reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan — Normally, the White House cleans up the occasional gaffe by Vice President Joe Biden. But in an appearance Tuesday with Afghanistan's president, Biden himself backed away from his recent statement that the U.S. would pull out of the country "come hell or high water" by 2014.

Biden, reading from notes in a soft monotone as Afghan President Hamid Karzai stood a few feet away, aligned himself with the Obama administration's more flexible plan for an Afghanistan troop drawdown, acknowledging that the U.S. might retain a presence in Afghanistan beyond 2014.

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More News On Afghanistan

Biden: US Will Stay in Afghanistan as Long as Afghans Want Help -- Voice of America
In Kabul, Biden promises U.S. support beyond 2014 -- Washington Post
Biden: U.S. could stay in Afghanistan beyond 2014 -- Reuters
Biden Assures Karzai of Aid From U.S. Beyond 2014 -- New York Times
Biden pledges Afghan support beyond 2014 -- Financial Times
Biden Meets Karzai, Visits Troops in Afghanistan -- U.S. Department of Defense

Bombs kill four NATO troops in Afghanistan -- AFP
In Afghanistan, 4 coalition troop deaths, 2 killed in suicide attack -- CNN
Bombs kill 4 NATO troops in Afghanistan -- Montreal Gazette/AFP
Three NATO soldiers killed in blast in eastern Afghanistan -- M&C
ISAF captures Qods Force-linked Taliban leader in Afghan west -- Long War Journal
NATO Officials Confirm Taliban Leaders’ Deaths -- U.S. Department of Defense

Bombs targeting Afghan intelligence service kill 6 -- AP
Suicide bomber kills four in Afghanistan -- The Telegraph
Suicide Bomber Strikes Bus in Afghan Capital -- New York Times
Suicide Bomber Kills 4 in Afghan Capital -- Voice of America
Suicide bomber strikes in Kabul; intelligence officers apparent target -- Washington Post
Bombs targeting Afghan intelligence service kill 6 -- Stars and Stripes/AP
Massive blast rocks Kabul, kills 8 -- Press TV

New Delhi disturbed by Afghan security -- UPI
Pakistan, Afghanistan Promote Stronger Ties in Effort to End Violence -- Voice of America
New radio program to help Afghans learn to read -- Stars and Stripes
Afghan attorney general investigating Kabul Bank -- Washington Post/AP
German Parliament To Vote On One-year Extension Of Afghan Mission -- RTT News
Canadian bureaucrats slam 'double standard' in awarding military medals -- Vancouver Sun/Post Media News

Foreign Policy: Karzai Is Not Insane, Just Irrelevant -- Paul Miller, NPR
Counterinsurgency Strategy Not Working in Afghanistan, Critics Say -- David Wood, Politics Daily
AfPak's Strategic Blinders -- T.X. Hammes, Foreign Policy