Afghanistan War News Updates -- June 8, 2012

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta meets with Afghan Defense Minister Gen. Abdul Rahim Wardak in Kabul, Afghanistan, June 7, 2012. Panetta also visited with NATO and Afghan leaders as well as troops on the ground. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

Panetta Arrives in Afghanistan to Assess Situation -- US Department of Defense

KABUL, Afghanistan, June 7, 2012 – Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta arrived here today to meet with NATO and Afghan leaders, visit with American troops, and assess the situation on the ground.

This is Panetta’s fourth trip to Afghanistan as defense secretary. He will meet with International Security Assistance Force commander Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan C. Crocker and Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

ISAF Joint Command morning operational update - June 8, 2012 -- ISAF
Combined Force Kills Several Insurgents -- US Department of Defense
Dozens killed in attacks in Afghanistan -- CNN

Nato apologises for Afghan civilian deaths in Logar -- BBC
NATO apologizes for deaths in Afghan airstrike -- Houston Chronicle/AP
Karzai condemns U.S. airstrike -- UPI
NATO air strike killed 18 Afghans: Karzai -- Sydney Morning Herald/AP

Prisoners escape northern Afghanistan jail -- Al Jazeera
Afghanistan jailbreak frees more than a dozen, including Taliban -- L.A. Times
Many escape from Afghan prison after Taliban attack -- BBC

Panetta Visits Afghanistan Amid Mounting Violence -- New York Times
US Drone Policy Under Attack Again: UN, Afghanistan Question Its Legality -- IBTimes
Russia May Supply Ammunition for Troops in Afghanistan -- RIA Novosti

Russia and China eye role in Afghanistan and Pakistan -- BBC
China says to provide "selfless" help to Afghanistan -- Reuters
China pledges 'selfless help' for Afghanistan -- AFP
With new pact, China moves to shore up Afghan ties -- Huffington Post
Russia ready to broaden cooperation with Afghanistan -- RT
Russia Set to Expand Ties with Afghanistan - Putin -- RIA Novosti

Afghanistan and the Karzai connection -- Christopher J. Fettweis, McCltahcy News/Los Angeles Times
Afghans fear conflict will escalate long after it ends for America -- Chris Sands, Global Post
Afghanistan's future is more than just a matter of soldiers and police -- Emma Graham-Harrison, The Guardian
Withdrawal from Afghanistan a risky strategy -- Kenneth Christie, Times Colonist