Afghanistan War News Updates -- May 15, 2012

U.S. Casualties Drop Sharply in Afghanistan -- Time

A new Congressional Research service report is out detailing a steep decline in U.S. casualties in Afghanistan so far this year. Granted, the year is less than half over, but even if the 2012 data points (110 KIA, 634 WIA through May 10) are boosted proportionately to reflect a full year’s toll, wounded and killed Americans would still be well below the annual tolls for 2010 (499 and 5,246) and 2o11 (414 and 5,195).

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More News On Afghanistan

ISAF Joint Command morning operational update - May 15, 2012 -- ISAF
Combined Force Detains Taliban Facilitator -- US Department of Defense
Blast in busy Afghan marketplace kills at least seven -- Stars and Stripes/L.A. Times
Study: Afghan Local Police units tangled in criminal activity -- L.A. Times
Pentagon defends Afghan local police program -- AFP

Gen. Allen to leave Afghanistan post -- Washington Post
U.S. mulling sending Afghanistan general to head Europe troops -- Reuters
NATO commander Gen. Allen to leave Afghanistan post -- Khaama Press
U.S. mulling sending Afghanistan general to head Europe troops -- Reuters

Francois Hollande forced to backtrack on Afghanistan pullout pledge -- Washington Post
Canada cutting Afghanistan presence by more than 100 soldiers -- Calgary Herald/Postmedia News
Obama, Gillard discuss costs of withdrawal from Afghanistan -- Sydney Morning Herald
Tensions Simmer Between Tehran, Kabul -- Radio Free Europe
Afghanistan: More Troubles, But U.S. Ambassador Sees Path Forward -- NPR
Afghan Peace Negotiator Blames Assassination On Foreigners -- Radio Free Europe
Hundreds attend funeral for slain Afghan peace negotiator -- Washington Post/AP

Pakistan poised to resume NATO supply lines to Afghanistan -- New York Daily News
Pakistan Signals NATO Supply Routes Could Be Reopened -- Voice of America
War supplies collecting dust near Pakistan border -- CNN
US and Pakistan make up. Will supply route to Afghanistan reopen? -- Christian Science Monitor

As foreign troops leave, Afghan refugees and poverty increase -- Reuters
Poisoned water sickens Afghan boys at school -- CNN
Afghanistan: Home to 'world's most extreme golf' -- AFP
Beyond the Sandbags and Steel, 12 Lanes to Another Afghanistan -- New York Times
Nato's battle of spin with the Taliban marks a new era for Afghanistan -- Jason Burke, The Guardian