Afghanistan War News Updates -- April 19, 2012

U.S. Prepares For 'Violent Backlash' In Afghanistan After Photos Of American Soldiers Posing Iith Bodies Of Suicide Bombers Sparks Outrage -- Daily Mail

* Soldier with the 82nd Airborne Division released pictures
* Fears backlash could endanger the lives of troops
* The Obama administration says it is disappointed with the LA Times for publishing the images
* U.S. officials say full investigation is underway
* Defence secretary Leon Panetta says soldiers at war do 'foolish things'

Nato forces in Afghanistan are braced for a violent backlash after pictures emerged of U.S. soldiers posing with the mangled bodies of enemy bombers.

In one photograph, grinning soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division are shown holding up the severed legs of a suicide bomber whose remains they were sent to identify.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

Haqqani network behind Afghan attacks: U.S. envoy -- Reuters
NATO nearing agreement on Afghanistan security post-2014: Rasmussen -- National Post/Reuters
Nato: 'no rush to exit' Afghanistan despite Australia's surprise pull-out -- The Telegraph
U.S. and NATO Finalize Pacts on Ending Afghan War -- New York Times
NATO Finalizing Long-Term Commitment in Afghanistan -- Voice of America
Panetta Seeks $1.3 Billion a Year From Allies for Afghans -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Afghanistan needs firm security funding pledges, U.S. says -- L.A. Times

Russia Slams NATO Withdrawal From Afghanistan -- New York Times/AP
Russia attacks Nato Afghanistan withdrawal plan -- The Guardian
Russia slams NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan -- Seattle PI/AP

Panetta: Photos of troops with insurgents' bodies violate U.S. values -- CNN
US quick to condemn 'reprehensible' photos of troops with Afghan corpses -- The Guardian
Some soldiers in photo scandal back in Afghanistan -- CBS
Pentagon Sought to Stop Paper From Using Photos -- New York Times
New Afghanistan war photos part of a long, controversial tradition -- Miami Herald

Afghanistan Drug Threat Persists - Lavrov -- RIA Novosti
Poll finds support for Afghanistan war deteriorating among voters -- L.A. Times
Afghanistan: Can't Keep Killing Without Cash -- Strategy Page

How will leaked photos impact U.S. mission in Afghanistan? -- Ashley Fantz, CNN
Afghanistan attacks: Were signs of improved US-Pakistan ties just a mirage? -- Howard LaFranchi, Christian Science Monitor