Afghanistan War News Updates -- January 6, 2011

ROTOR WASH - U.S. Army soldiers and Marines walk through rotor wash from a UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter as they move toward a Forward Operating Base in the village of Darrah-I-Bum, Badghis province, Afghanistan Jan. 5, 2011. They accompanied the International Security Assistance Force Command Sergeant Major, Command Sgt. Maj.

What It Will Take To Finish The Job In Afghanistan -- Joe Klein, Time Magazine

In early December, U.S. ambassador Karl Eikenberry attended a shura in the Zhari district of Afghanistan's Kandahar province for the first time. "I've been to all 34 of Afghanistan's provinces, but I've never been here before, because the Taliban prevented it," he told the local elders. "A year ago, I would never have believed we could have this meeting, so I congratulate you on your courage."

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More News on Afghanistan

U.S. to send 1,400 extra troops to Afghanistan: report -- Yahoo News/Reuters
1,400 More U.S. Troops Headed to Afghanistan -- CBS News
U.S. Boosts Afghan Surge -- Wall Street Journal

Plans for major Taliban attacks are foiled in Afghanistan, officials say -- L.A. Times
Afghan security forces launch offensive against Taliban -- Sify News
Canadian, Afghan troops raid village suspected of harbouring Taliban weapons -- Globe And Mail
U.S., Afghan Forces Displace Taliban in Eastern Afghanistan -- U.S. Department of Defense
Afghan, Coalition Forces Kill, Detain Insurgents -- U.S. Department of Defense
Marines wait for impact of Sangin peace deal -- Sign On San Diego

NATO: $20 billion over 2 years for Afghan training -- Stars And Stripes/AP
U.S., NATO to spend $11.6 billion for Afghan security this year -- Washington Post
Afghan troops building costs soar -- UPI
NATO and US to spend $20 bln for Afghan training in 2010-2011 -- Voice of Russia
2 U.S. contractors suspended over alleged failure to pay Afghan subcontractors -- Washington Post
Military bans 2 U.S. firms from Afghan contracting -- McClatchy News

Afghanistan looks to Pakistan for help with Taliban -- Christian Science Monitor
Canadian snipers less stressed than average soldier: Study -- Vancouver Sun/Post Media News
U.S. orders more high-tech device units to counter IEDs -- UPI
Afghan villagers still living in fear of Taliban -- Vancouver Sun/Post Media News
UK says next 2 years crucial in Afghan war -- Washington Post/AP
U.K.'s Fox Dampens Expectation of Early Afghan Pullout -- Wall Street Journal