Afghanistan War News Updates -- February 20, 2012

A motorized convoy clears a route during Operation Alekhine's Gun in the Musa Qaleh district of Afghanistan's Helmand, Afghanistan, Feb 9, 2012. The Marines, assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, found numerous weapons caches and an estimated 150 pounds of black tar heroin. The Marines also made use of their mobilized speed and night vision capability to disrupt and confuse enemy operations in the city of Shah Karez. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Robert Storm

NATO Speedup Of Transfer To Afghan Forces Highlights Problems -- L.A. Times

As allied commanders call Afghan forces capable of taking over most fighting by the end of 2013, the problems of the police and army come into sharper focus.

Reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan — At the gate of the capital's army recruitment headquarters, a young Afghan sergeant in crisp camouflage and a jaunty beret demanded a letter of introduction from arriving visitors. But when one was produced, written in Dari, the dominant language in Kabul, he asked one of the visitors to read it to him.

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More News On Afghanistan

ISAF Joint Command evening operational update - February 19, 2012 -- ISAF
War In Afghanistan News - 20 FEB 2012 -- War on Terror News
3 Italian soldiers die in Afghanistan car accident -- Yahoo News/AP
Three Italian soldiers killed in Afghanistan -- Yahoo News/AFP
3 Italian soldiers killed in Afghanistan -- CBC
Italy soldiers killed in Afghanistan car crash in Herat -- BBC
Kandahar Suicide Bomber Attacks Police Station -- Voice of America
Roadside bomb kills 4 civilians in Afghanistan -- Boston.com
Ransoms bankroll Taliban operation -- Sydney Morning Herald
In the battle for Taliban minds, a new spokesman steps forward in Zabul province -- Stars and Stripes

Afghan peace: Taliban willing to talk are killed or arrested, says Karzai -- Express Tribune
Pakistan, Afghanistan Talks on Taliban Peace End With Little Progress -- Voice of America
Faltering peace talks need rethink, says Karzai aide -- DAWN
Stumbling Afghan peace talks need re-think: advisor -- Reuters

'It's important to have talks wherever you can': McCain support talks with Taliban in spite of clashing with Romney's stance -- Daily Mail
U.S. senators, Afghan leaders discuss parameters for long-term partnership -- Washington Post
McCain warns against US weakness in Taliban talks -- AFP
U.S. senators in Afghanistan take hard line with Karzai on night raids, detention operations -- Denver Post/Washington Post

Fake senator raises alarm in Afghanistan -- Yahoo News/AFP
Saudi Arabia renews call for Taliban to renounce al Qaeda -- Business Recorder
Cold Kills at least 40 in Afghanistan -- Time/AP
Afghanistan stands by bidding process for Hajigak mine -- McClatchy
In war-ravaged Afghanistan, combat sports reign -- Reuters

Female Afghan MP on death threats: 'We die anyway' -- BBC
Talks with Taliban mark of defeat -- Amrullah Saleh, The Australian
U.S. troops will remain in Afghanistan beyond 2014 -- Ronald E. Neumann, Washington Post