Afghanistan War News Updates -- September 20, 2011

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Gordon Williams demonstrates the proper way to hold a weapon in the kneeling position at Camp Nathan Smith, Kandahar, Afghanistan, Sept. 18, 2011. Williams is a squad leader assigned to the 4th Infantry Division's 58th Military Police Company, attached to 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team. The MPs held a range for their Afghan Uniformed Police partners to ensure proper training and familiarization with their weapon, the AK-47. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Ruth Pagan

Less Than 50% Of U.S. Troops Believe Afghanistan War Is Winnable -- Daily Mail

U.S. troops are losing confidence in the military's long-term chances of success in Afghanistan, a new poll has revealed.

The Military Times survey found less than half of serving soldiers believe the U.S. is 'very likely' or 'somewhat likely' to succeed in Afghanistan.

The number is down from 2007, when more than 75 percent of those polled said the U.S. was 'very likely' or 'somewhat likely' to succeed.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

Troops Kill, Detain Insurgents, Seize Cache -- U.S. Department of Defense
Increased foot patrols up troops’ limb injuries -- Army Times
Afghan intelligence operations take on significant role -- Long War Journal
Uphill battle against Afghan cross-border strikes -- DAWN/AFP

Afghan peace council head Rabbani 'killed in attack' -- BBC
Afghanistan Peace Council chairman Burhanuddin Rabbani 'killed in Kabul blast' -- The Telegraph
Kabul: Ex-Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani killed in suicide attack -- NDTV
'Afghan peace council head Burhanuddin Rabbani killed' -- Hindustan Times

Soldiers hurt after minister 'interfered' in siege -- Sydney Morning Herald
Minister's intervention in Kabul siege criticized -- Irish Times
Minister who leads from the front sets Afghan progress back -- The Guardian

Night raids on Taliban spark Afghan anger -- Financial Times
Afghanistan: NATO's night raids cause more harm than good, report says -- Christian Science Monitor
Report: NATO Night Raids Draw Ire of Afghans -- Voice of America
Challenging the US Military’s Favorite Tactic in Afghanistan -- ABC news

Reintegration Builds Confidence in Afghanistan, General Says -- Defpro
Fighting is cultural, criminal for Afghan policewomen -- USA Today
U.S. to build new massive prison in Bagram -- Salon
US troops in Afghanistan shrug off end of gay ban -- Asia One

Poll: Troops Losing Confidence in Obama, Wars -- Alex Newman, New American
Foreign Policy: Bracing For Battle In Afghanistan -- Ronald E. Neumann, NPR
Once again US Afghan policy is hobbled by divisions -- Ahmed Rashid, Financial Times
Afghanistan: Lessons in War and Peace-building for US -- David Arnold, Voice of America
Rethinking Afghanistan after a Decade -- Richard Falk, Foreign Policy Journal