Afghanistan War News Updates -- April 8, 2011

U.S. Army Sgt. Carl Goss secures an area near a bridge construction site in Zabul province, Afghanistan, March 13, 2011. Goss, assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul, 181st Infantry Regiment, also is a member of the Massachusetts Army National Guard. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Adrian Cadiz

Deadly Start To 2011 As Afghanistan Violence Rises -- Scotsman

Violence in Afghanistan soared by 30 per cent in the first three months of 2011, despite record levels of foreign forces.

Figures out next week will show an even sharper rise in Helmand, where thousands of US marines have taken over huge swathes of territory from British forces. It is only two full months until the US is due to start withdrawing its troops.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Taliban gunmen attack Kandahar police base -- BBC
Gunmen, suicide bombers attack Afghan police complex -- L.A. Times
Six Killed In Afghan Taliban Attack -- Radio Free Europe
Taliban say 24 fighters killed in Kunar operation -- International News
Forces Conclude Operations Near Pakistan Border -- U.S. Department of Defense
Soldiers fire first precision-guided mortar in Afghanistan -- Army.mil
Major General Terry Discusses State of Afghanistan, Coalition Strength -- ABC News
Mercs to Watch Commandos’ Backs in Afghanistan -- Danger Room

US: FARC, Taliban are among largest traffickers -- Yahoo News/AP
Poppies making a strong comeback in Afghanistan -- Institute For War and Peace

Anti-US sentiment is 'rife' in Afghanistan and Pakistan -- BBC
Protests continue in Afghanistan against Quran burning -- CNN

NATO denies Al-Qaeda reviving in Afghanistan -- Yahoo News/AFP
Al-Qaeda coming back to Afghanistan: report -- Yahoo News/AFP
Al-Qaeda returning to Afghanistan -- Straits Times
Al-Qaeda 'setting up training centres in Afghanistan' -- The Daily Telegraph

For Afghans, Wedding Costs Put Marriage On Hold -- NPR
Big, fat Afghan weddings face government ban -- AFP

Americans Divided on How Things Are Going in Afghanistan -- Gallop
Why It's Time to Negotiate With the Taliban -- Daniel Serwer, The Atlantic
Petraeus Misfires on Quran Burning -- Dorothy rabinowitz, Wall Street Journal
U.S. falling short of Afghan goals -- Steve Huntley, Chicago Sun Times
Afpak: What They’re Saying on the Ground -- John Glaser, American Conservative