Afghanistan War News Updates -- March 2, 2012

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Brian McFadden leads the way down Highway 1 during a mission to the Shah Joy district center in Afghanistan, Feb. 20, 2012. McFadden is assigned to the Zabul Agribusiness Development Team. U.S. Army photo by Lt. Col. Daniel Bohmer

“Green On Blue” -- Mark Thompson, Time

Pentagon officials won’t concede it, but privately defense officials say the spate of “green-on-blue” killings by Afghans of their purported U.S. allies over the past two weeks could lead to major changes in U.S. strategy. If they continue, the U.S. will face a brutal choice: pull out, or double down.

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More News On Afghanistan

‘Green on Blue’ Deaths Won’t Derail Strategy, Spokesman Says -- US Department of Defense
Experts: Training and advisory mission must go on despite Afghan violence -- Stars and Stripes
U.S. NATO Ambassador Says Afghan Policy Intact -- New York Times/Reuters
NATO vows to support Afghanistan despite recent unrest -- Khaama Press
Europe Remains Committed to Afghan Mission, Commander Says -- US Department of Defense

In Afghanistan, two more U.S. troops killed over Koran burning -- L.A. Times
Two American Soldiers Die in Shooting at Afghan Base -- New York Times
NATO: 2 coalition troops killed in Afghanistan -- Yahoo News/AP
Two American NATO soldiers shot dead in Afghanistan by colleague after Koran burning -- Daily Mail
Afghans kill two US troops: military -- Sydney Morning Herald
Gunmen kill NATO forces in southern Afghanistan -- CNN
Two U.S. soldiers killed at base in Afghanistan -- Reuters

House chairman wants private security contractors, Afghans barred from guarding US bases in Afghanistan -- FOX News/AP
Afghan attack on NATO convoy wounds seven -- AFP
Afghan clerics demand punishment for Koran burners -- Reuters
UN Wants Disciplinary Action Against Quran Burners -- Voice of America
NATO Calls for Key Role in Afghanistan After 2014 -- Wall Street Journal
Taliban wait to take power from a failed Afghan government -- Ottawa Citizen
Anti-US emotions run high at Afghan dogfighting ring -- Khaleej Times/Reuters
For Afghans who didn't protest, a feeling of helplessness -- Stars and Stripes
Nato's crisis of trust in Afghanistan -- BBC

“Stay the course?” Afghanistan watchers predict accelerated pullout -- Laura Rozen, The Envoy
The Vanity of the Bonfires -- Daniel Politi, New York Times
In Afghanistan, making fragile progress -- Michael Gerson, Washington Post
Are There Any Al-Qaeda Fighers Left in Afghanistan? -- Dashiell Bennett, The Atlantic