Afghanistan War News Updates -- February 25, 2011

In this November 2010 file photo, Staff Sgt. Dustin C. Campbell (center) points out a possible egress route to Capt. Sean T. Hinrichs (right) and Sgt. Nathan W. English, both with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, during the final phase of Operation Bulldog Bite above the Pech River Valley in Kunar province. (Credit: U.S. Army/Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell)

U.S. Plans Shift Of Troops In Afghanistan -- UPI

KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. military officials plan to realign troops in Afghanistan to better allow forces to conduct short-term missions into enemy territory, officials said.

The changes would reduce the number of bases in the Pech Valley in eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border, The Washington Post reported Thursday. Since 2006, the U.S. military kept a battalion of about 800 troops in the valley, and the troops have been involved in some of the heaviest fighting of the war.

Recently, however, commanders have questioned the usefulness of fighting for such a remote area, the Post said.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

U.S. withdraws from Afghan valley once said vital -- CBS News
U.S. Pulling Back in Afghan Valley It Called Vital to War -- New York Times
U.S. pulling forces out of Pech Valley -- Stars And Stripes
With eye on strike missions, U.S. plans to realign troops in remote Afghan valley -- Washington Post
US Reduces Troops in Afghan Valley -- Voice of America
As Violent Month Ends In Afghanistan, U.S. Hands Off Control Of Key Valley -- NPR
U.S. says not 'abandoning' critical Pech Valley but repositioning troops in Afghanistan -- Sify News
Strategic Repositioning -- Registan

Afghans: NATO strike killed 65 civilians -- UPI
Afghan probe backs high civilian casualty toll-MP -- L.A. Times
Afghan officials say NATO killed 62 civilians -- AFP
Afghan probe finds high civilian death toll -- ABC News (Australia)
Karzai tries to calm citizens rattled by spate of violence and criticizes NATO -- Canadian Press

Canadian troops finding more insurgent weapon stashes in Afghanistan -- Montreal Gazette/Post Media News
Commander of Canada's last battle group in Kandahar tempers hopes for Panjwaii -- Winnipeg Free Press

Russia ratifies military transit deal with U.S. -- Reuters
Russian parliament ratifies US Afghan transit deal -- AP

Did a Top General Run Psy Ops on Senators? -- The Danger Room
Petraeus Orders Probe After Accusations Army Commander Tried to Manipulate Senators for Afghan War Support -- FOX News
Military Officials Dispute Claim Army Unit Was Directed to Manipulate Senators -- FOX News
Lieutenant General William Caldwell illegally 'psyched' bigwigs -- The Australian
US senators faced ‘psy-ops’, report claims -- Financial Post
Military to investigate claim that psy-ops team was used to influence U.S. senators -- Washington Post
U.S. probes if senators targeted by Afghan psy-ops unit -- Reuters

German scientists eye Afghan Buddha reconstruction -- AFP
Are we being spun on the war in Afghanistan? Of course we are. -- Stephen M. Walt, Foreign Policy
No News Is Good News In Afghanistan -- Paul Bedard, US News And World Report