Afghanistan War News Updates -- March 18, 2011

An Afghan commando keeps watch in the Zharay district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, March 6, 2011. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jeremy D. Crisp

Are Afghan Security Forces Ready to Take Over? -- John Wendle, Time Magazine

Afghan members of parliament voiced concerns on Sunday, during a session of the upper house, that national security forces are not well enough trained or equipped to take over from NATO units. The statements came just one day before General David Petraeus, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, met with U.S. President Barack Obama to speak about the coming transition. On March 21, Afghan President Hamid Karzai is expected to a

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More News On Afghanistan

After strike, Pakistan cancels US-Afghan talks -- Yahoo News/AP
Pakistan to boycott Afghan meeting over deadly U.S. strike -- Yahoo News/Reuters

ISAF Joint Command evening operational update -- Dvids
21 Afghan army soldiers killed in 25 days: official -- People's Daily
Gunmen on motorbikes kidnap workers in Afghanistan -- Miamia Herald/AP
Gunmen on motorbikes kidnap workers in Afghanistan -- Sify News
Gunmen on motorcycles kidnap road construction crew in northern Afghanistan -- Canadian Press
Afghan governor survives assassination attempt -- Yahoo News/AFP
ISAF targets Taliban commander linked to 'suicide camps' in Afghan north -- Long War Journal

US lawmakers reject call for Afghan withdrawal -- AFP
House rejects immediate Afghanistan pullout -- Politico
GOP support for Afghan war holds in House vote -- L.A. Times
Afghanistan Withdrawal Resolution Rejected By Bipartisan House -- NPR

Camp Pendleton Marines leave for Afghanistan in anticipation of Taliban counter-offensive -- L.A. Times
Brit Army to get supergun to counter Taliban snipers -- Yahoo News
Marines: Demolish to Win in Afghanistan -- Military.com

Taliban Texts Terror to Afghan Phones -- The Danger Room
State Department axes guard firm for Kabul embassy -- Yahoo News/AP
U.S. Agency Ends Accounting Firm’s Afghan Contract -- New York Times
Beginning of Transition in Afghanistan Means End to Business as Usual, Secretary-General's Special Representative Tells Security Council -- Relief Web
The Afghan Agribusiness Strategy -- War Is Boring
Could Tea Party Reshape the Afghanistan Debate? -- ABC News
Why Afghanistan Is Far from Hopeless -- Peter Bergen, Time