Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Afghanistan War News Updates -- August 17, 2011

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Duffy and Spc. Michael Bartolo navigate through rice paddies and corn fields while on a combat patrol to sweep for roadside bomb triggermen in the Alingar district in Afghanistan's Laghman province, Aug. 7, 2011. Duffy and Bartolo are assigned to the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Crane

Tribal Loyalties Remain Challenge For Forces In Afghanistan -- USA Today

SHERZAD, Afghanistan — Army Capt. Robert Brandstetter listened as tribal leader and power broker Zabit Zahir laid into the government-appointed subgovernor for his ineffectiveness.

A former mujahedin who fought the Soviets and is suspected of ties to the Taliban, Zahir complained that the man was failing to get the attention of the provincial governor to secure development-project funding in Sherzad, such as a dam that would greatly increase the supply of water in the perpetually parched district.

"If I had a chance, I would handcuff the subgovernor and take him to jail tomorrow," Zahir says.

Read more
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More News On Afghanistan

Factbox - Security developments in Afghanistan, Aug 17 -- Yahoo News/Reuters
ISAF Joint Command morning operational update -- Dvids
Police official says rocket that struck Afghan president’s compound caused no damage -- Washington Post
Kandahar attack targets NATO fuel supplies -- Navy Times/AP
Motorcycle Bomb Kills 8 in Southern Afghan Market -- New York Times/AP
Bomb Explodes in Busy Southern Afghan Market -- Voice of America
Official: Militants kill pro-government tribal elder, his son in northwest Pakistan -- Washington Post/AP
Afghan cleaner shot and killed inside NATO headquarters -- Globe And Mail

Air Weapons: Whatever Works -- Strategy Page
Coalition tries to build cadre of Afghan leaders -- Stars and Stripes/AP
Escape-proof prison in Afghanistan? Inshallah -- Stars and Stripes
Afghanistan: An Army Officer's View from the Ground -- Time
Taliban significantly weakened in Afghanistan: Leon Panetta -- Times of India
Clinton, Panetta Discuss Cooperation in Afghanistan -- US Department of Defense

$360M lost to insurgents, criminals in Afghanistan -- Yahoo News/AP
$360 Million In Military Contracts Went To Taliban, Other Afghan Criminals -- NPR
Report: U.S. has lost $360M in Afghanistan -- Politico

US Sanctions Alleged Members Of Haqqani, JI Networks -- Wall Street Journal
US Designates Haqqani Network Commander a Terrorist -- Voice of America
US tries to stem funds to Haqqani network commander -- AFP
U.S. targets Haqqani Network commander -- UPI

Disabled protesters spark security scare in Kabul -- Washington Post
Maj. Gen. Mallory: Illiteracy a problem in Afghanistan -- Statesville
Seeking progress in Afghan reconciliation talks: Like herding cats, but it might just work -- Washington Post
Gem of a plan against Taliban -- Ranjit Devraj, Asia Times
Afghanistan: Prospects Of A Regional Solution – Analysis -- Eurasia Review

US military deaths in Afghanistan at 1,626 -- Yahoo News/AP

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