- American, French journalist killed in Syrian bombardment of Homs (+video)
- Nuclear talks with Iran? Senators implore Obama to draw line in the sand.
- Climategate sequel? Scientist lies to get Heartland Institute documents.
- High gas prices: How big a problem for Obama?
- Obama sings the blues with Mick Jagger, B.B. King (+video)
Topic: Afghanistan
Top galleries, list articles, quizzes
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Threats to US: Pentagon officials drop three surprises
Pentagon’s key intelligence officials warned of 'current and future worldwide threats' to US national security in a congressional hearing Thursday. Here are three top surprises.
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Extradition fight: Who is Julian Assange, why is Sweden seeking him?
A British court is hearing a final appeal from Julian Assange, the founder of the WikiLeaks whistleblower site, to avoid extradition to Sweden to face sex crime allegations. Here are four questions about the man and the case.
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5 ways Americans and Iranians are surprisingly similar
Despite escalating US-Iran tensions, remarkable similarities between their peoples have prompted some to suggest that the US and Iran could one day be powerful ‘natural’ allies.
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Pentagon budget: top 3 winners and losers
In Pentagon parlance, the word “cut” is a relative term. The Defense Department’s base budget decreases from $553 billion this year to $525 billion in 2013, but it rebounds steadily to $567 billion in 2017. With this in mind, here are the top three winners and losers:
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3 reasons why China isn't overtaking the US
Most Americans fear that China will soon surpass the United States in global power and economic clout. But this widespread view is wrong, based on sloppy analysis and outdated conceptions of national power, says Michael Beckley of Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. People who believe that China is overtaking the US make at least one of the following three mistakes.
All Content
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Quran burning: Were prisoners hiding extremist messages in books?
The Pentagon has launched an investigation into the Quran burning at a US detention facility in Afghanistan. Prisoners might have used the books to pass secret messages, a spokesman says.
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Global News Blog
Quran burning: What is the respectful way to dispose of Islam's holy book?
Thousands protested today the burning of Qurans and other religious texts at a US military base in Afghanistan.
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A defector's tale: How a Syrian soldier turned rebel
A young defector's story highlights the weakness of the Assad regime, including military officers taking rebel bribes and sectarian divisions pitting Syrian against Syrian.
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Terrorism & Security
IAEA nuclear experts visit Iran - but no nuclear sites
The second visit in a month by members of the UN nuclear watchdog agency is aimed at laying the groundwork for negotiations between Iran and the IAEA.
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Global News Blog
NATO's 'improper disposal' of Qurans inflames Afghan protesters (+video)
More than 1,000 Afghans protested after hearing reports that NATO personnel improperly disposed of some Qurans at a base in Afghanistan.
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McCain: Egypt and US 'must remain friends'
Sen. John McCain tried to smooth over tensions with Egypt following the country's decision to prosecute 16 American democracy workers
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US military officials urge caution on attacking Iran
The problem is that many of the Iranian targets – buried deeply underground – would be beyond the reach of the Israeli military, in what Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey calls a “zone of immunity.”
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Foiled suicide bombing of US Capitol: plot is both familiar and strange
Since 9/11, a series of would-be attackers – many of them 'lone wolves' – have been thwarted by undercover agents posing as collaborators. But an attempted suicide bombing is unusual.
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Change Agent
Crisis Action makes a big noise using quiet citizen diplomacy
Crisis Action acts like a coach or talent scout for humanitarian and other citizen groups – but always behind the scenes.
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Pakistan: It's 'preposterous' we could bring Taliban chief to talks
After a meeting of the presidents of Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, Pakistan's foreign minister said her country was unsure what help Afghanistan wants in its peace talks with the Taliban.
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Threats to US: Pentagon officials drop three surprises
Pentagon’s key intelligence officials warned of 'current and future worldwide threats' to US national security in a congressional hearing Thursday. Here are three top surprises.
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Afghan peace: Karzai, Ahmadinejad in Pakistan for talks
Afghan president Hamid Karzai is seeking help in negotiating a peace deal with the Taliban from his Iranian and Pakistani counterparts in Islamabad today.
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Special Forces in Afghanistan: not just taking out terrorists anymore
As conventional forces withdraw from Afghanistan, US Special Forces will take the lead in training Afghan soldiers and police – a task that takes Special Forces back to their roots.
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Obama must support India-Pakistan rapprochement
Amid all the bad news, there is a bit of hope in South Asia: India and Pakistan have restarted their peace dialogue, with greater economic engagement. The Obama administration should reinforce this effort, which would help US security interests in the region, especially in Afghanistan.
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USS Abraham Lincoln returns to Persian Gulf shadowed by Iranian boats
USS Abraham Lincoln passed through the Strait of Hormuz Tuesday with Iranian gunboats, an Iranian drone, and helicopter following. Iran had threatened to close the strait after Western sanctions were tightened last month.
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Pakistani PM charged with contempt, job on the line in court showdown
The judges are set to charge Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani with contempt for defying their orders to reopen an old corruption case against his political ally, President Asif Ali Zardari.
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Does Obama blueprint reduce budget deficit fast enough? (+video)
US budget deficit, which has hit $1 trillion for four straight years, would fall to $900 billion in 2013, under Obama's budget blueprint released Monday. It is slated to keep falling, but even by 2018 would barely satisfy credit-rating firms.
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Terrorism & Security
Bali nightclub bombings suspect stands trial
Umar Patek, accused of building the bomb used in the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings, was captured in January 2011 and began his trial today in Indonesia.
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Global News Blog
Americans arrested, deported by Bahrain for supporting democracy protests
The Americans Radhika Sainath and Huwaida Arraf were arrested and deported by Bahrain for showing solidarity with democracy protesters in the kingdom.
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Nazi flag incident puts culture of Marine snipers in spotlight
The photo of Marine snipers in Afghanistan posing in front of a Nazi flag has prompted the top Marine officer to start a review of sniper protocol and training.
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Global News Blog
A cricket game to end all war? Afghanistan takes on Pakistan.
Maybe not, but as Afghanistan played its first major international cricket match today against rival Pakistan, some hoped the goodwill between the players on the field would translate into better relations off it.
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Reader recommendation: The Operators
Monitor readers share their favorite book picks.
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Helpers in a hostile world: the risk of aid work grows
Some 242 aid workers were killed in 2010, up from 91 a decade before. Is 'humanitarian space' shrinking, or are aid groups spreading out to more conflict zones than before?
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Global News Blog
A carpet economy unravels in Afghanistan
The carpetmaking industry in Afghanistan may be headed for hard times due to cheap competition in China and high-paying alternatives for low skilled laborers.
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Marines: Nazi flag was mistaken for their own
Marines caught posing with a Nazi flag say they thought the SS symbol was meant to represent their own sniper scouts team.
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