Afghanistan War News Updates -- June 5, 2011

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates was greeted upon his arrival in Kabul by General David H. Petraeus. Jason Reed/Reuters

No Risks To Be Taken In Troop Drawdown From Afghanistan: Gates -- Reuters

(Reuters) - The gradual withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Afghanistan set to begin next month will be done responsibly and will not expose other coalition and Afghan forces to undue risks, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Sunday.

General David Petraeus, commander of the 150,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan, will soon make recommendations to President Barack Obama about how many should be withdrawn, following Obama's pledge last year to start bringing U.S. combat troops home.

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More News On Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, Gates Stresses U.S. Is Committed to the Fight -- New York Times
Robert Gates predicts 'modest' U.S. troop reduction next month in Afghanistan -- L.A. Times
Gates begins farewell visits with troops -- Stars and Stripes/AP
Gates Says Goodbye to Troops in Afghanistan -- Voice of America
Gates, in Kabul, urges Afghans to ‘step up’ -- Washington Post
Afghanistan at Important Point in Struggle, Gates Says -- U.S. Department of Defense
US defence chief Robert Gates urges Afghan war patience -- BBC
Gates urges Afghans to take more security responsibilities -- Miami Herald/McClatchy News
Gates Calls for Afghan Anti-Corruption Steps as U.S. Troop Drawdown Begins -- Bloomberg Businessweek
'Premature' to change strategy in Afghanistan: Gates -- Straits Times

Helicopter crashes in Afghanistan's east, two troops killed -- MSNBC
2 dead in Afghanistan helicopter crash -- CNN
Helicopter crashes in Afghanistan's east, two troops killed -- Reuters
NATO 'copter crashes in Afghanistan -- UPI
Helicopter crash kills 2 NATO service members in E. Afghanistan -- Xinhuanet
Attack in Afghanistan kills NATO service member -- AJC/AP
New Bombings Target NATO Troops, Afghan Students -- Voice of America

Peace talks with Taliban edge closer --The Independent
Afghans Want Sanctions Lifted on Taliban Figures -- New York Times
Progress in one Afghan district is hard-won, still fragile, troops say -- Stras and Stripes
Afghans enjoy a new prosperity but fear for a future without the coalition -- The Guardian
Most Aussies sick of the Afghanistan cost, saying we are fighting a losing battle -- Rawa News