Afghanistan War News Updates -- July 24, 2013

U.S. Marine Sgt. Eric R. Wagner provides aerial security from the back of a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter during an operation over Helmand province in Afghanistan, July 18, 2013. Wagner, a crew chief, is assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ashley E. Santy

McCain: Rifts Emerging In Pentagon Over Afghan Postwar Plan -- The Hill

A burgeoning rift between the Pentagon's military and civilian leaders on what U.S. involvement in Afghanistan will look like after the 2014 withdrawal of American troops from the country is already harming efforts to end the war in the country.

But the conflicting messages coming from the Pentagon on leaving no U.S. troops in Afghanistan after the 2014 drawdown is just another example of the administration discord over the American drawdown strategy there, according to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)

The White House's consideration of leaving no American troops in country after the 2014 pull out, known as the "zero option" is already having "a very significant damaging effect in Afghanistan," he told reporters on Capitol Hill.

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More News On Afghanistan

3 U.S. Soldiers Among 8 Dead in a Bombing in Afghanistan -- New York Times
Three Americans killed by suicide bomber on donkey in Afghanistan -- NBC
Afghan violence: Three Isaf soldiers killed in attack -- BBC
CIA closing bases in Afghanistan as it shifts focus amid military drawdown -- Washington Post
CIA scales down Afghanistan operations amid troop pullout -- RT
Mi-17 Helicopters: The Best Choice for the Afghan Air Force and the U.S. Taxpayer -- Heritage Foundation
US drones to patrol Pak-Afghan border post-Kabul troop withdrawl: Report -- Business Standard
Karzai and Gen. Dempsey discuss bilateral security agreement -- Khaama Press
Senators threaten to hold back Afghan aid over customs fines -- Washington Post
Congress threatens to cut $5 in Afghan aid for every $1 in exit taxes imposed by Karzai gov’t -- Washington Post/AP
Congress May Cut Aid If Karzai Taxes Afghan Exit -- Fiscal Times
US ambassador: 'Zero option' not in US-Afghan interest -- FOX News/AFP
The U.S. ‘zero option’ in Afghanistan makes zero sense -- Washington Post editorial
Looking Back To Move Forward: 13 Years Of Photographing Afghanistan -- NPR
Salvaging the War in Afghanistan -- Anthony H. Cordesman, CSIS
At least 2,114 US military deaths in Afghanistan since 2001 -- AP