Monday, March 11, 2013

A Rough Afghan Trip For U.S. Defense Secretary Hagel

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel laughs with American service members while visiting the Kabul Military Training Center in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 10, 2013. Hagel traveled to Afghanistan on his first trip as the 24th defense secretary to visit U.S. troops, NATO leaders and Afghan counterparts. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

War Of Words Erupts In Afghanistan Over 2014 US Troop Pullout -- NBC

KABUL -- In his opening statement released at the start of his first Afghanistan visit since being named defense secretary, Chuck Hagel reminded everyone, “We are still in a war.” By the time his official visit ended, after a planned joint press conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai was cancelled over “security concerns,” it was clear that war’s second front, the war of words, was as volatile as ever.

The press conference cancellation was announced hours after Karzai had gone on national television with another blast of criticism over the U.S. role here. He said the U.S. and the Taliban were "negotiating daily," and working in concert to ensure that coalition combat forces would remain in Afghanistan beyond the scheduled pullout in 2014. Karzai added that two deadly suicide attacks Saturday—one explosion in Kabul that Hagel actually heard from his safe location more than a mile away—were intended by the Taliban to show that U.S. and coalition forces would not be able to withdraw as planned.

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More News On U.S. Defense Secretary Hagel's Trip To Afghanistan

Hagel meets Karzai after security threats, political friction -- Washington Post/AP
Bombings and rebuke mar Hagel's Afghanistan visit -- AfPak Channel/Foreign Policy
Afghan president lashes out at U.S., straining Hagel visit -- L.A. Times
Karzai Accuses U.S. of Taliban Collusion as Hagel Visits -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Karzai Inflames U.S. Tensions -- Wall Street Journal
Afghan Leader Says U.S. Abets Taliban’s Goal -- New York Times
U.S. and Taliban deny Afghan president's claims -- CBS
US Denies Karzai Allegation Of Conspiring With Tailban To Spur Violence -- RTT
ISAF chief: Karzai claim of U.S., Taliban collusion is 'categorically false' -- CNN
Suicide bomb hits Afghan capital during Hagel's 1st visit as defense secretary -- FOX News
Hagel's Afghan Welcome
-- Wall Street Journal
Welcome to Kabul, Secretary Hagel -- Amy Davidson, New Yorker

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