Topic: Afghanistan

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Focus Excitement fades to despair in rebel-held Syria as war grinds on

Early rebel optimism in Syria has given way to a grim realization that victory may still be years away. For the past two months, civilians have been fleeing Syria at a rate of 8,000 per day.
Pakistanis hopeful as Nawaz Sharif makes a political comeback

Center-right politician Nawaz Sharif appeared set to return as Pakistan's prime minister on Monday, his third time in the job.
The Monitor's View Pakistan election as a marker of global progress

The Pakistan election on Saturday put a former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, back in power but that's not really the big story. Democracy itself advanced against Islamic terror and other woes facing Pakistan.
Prince Harry can be 'too much army' at Warrior Games – and not embarass anyone (+video)

Britain's Prince Harry lent his considerable clout to the Warrior Games, a four-year-old international sports competition for wounded veterans. He hopes it could be as big as the Paralympics one day.
Why Prince Harry meets US vets in Colorado (+video)

Britain's Prince Harry, a veteran combat helicopter pilot, met Saturday with military vets competing in the Paralympic-style Warrior Games in Colorado.
Pakistanis vote in historic election even as violence looms

The vote will be the first in Pakistan's history from one elected government at the end of its term to another.
As Pakistan goes to the polls, many see a key milestone

This is the first time in Pakistan's 66 years that a democratic government has been able to complete its tenure without being toppled by the military. But change is slow, say analysts.
Decoder Wire Why does Prince Harry make Washington swoon? (+video)

Prince Harry, making a visit to the US, interrupted a congressional hearing without attending it. Even Michelle Obama sounded a tad breathless announcing his appearance at a White House Mother’s Day tea.
Prince Harry begins US visit with Michelle, McCain, and moms

Prince Harry's first day in the US included a visit with McCain to a charity supported by his late mother, Princess Diana, as well as events honoring military moms hosted by Michelle Obama.
Pakistani fertilizer grows both Taliban bombs and Afghan crops

The Pakistani government is working with the US to make sure a key ingredient for bombs stays away from insurgents in Afghanistan, but that effort may be having an unintended casualty.
Decoder Wire Benghazi whistleblower: Has diplomat Gregory Hicks suffered for speaking out? (+video)

Gregory Hicks told a House panel that superiors opposed his meeting with House investigators and his questioning of claims that the Benghazi attacks were 'spontaneous.' He was reassigned to a desk job.
Tamerlan Tsarnaev buried: Unidentified person steps up (+video)

Tamerlan Tsarnaev buried: The body of Tamerlan Tsarnaev has been removed from a Worcester, Mass., funeral home. Authorities say Tsarnaev is buried in an undisclosed location.
Donors pledge cash to Somalia to rein in terrorist threat

At a conference in London, international donors said they'd give $350 million to Somalia's new government. Most of the money would go toward beefing up the feeble security sector.
Opinion Syria – another sign that US needs to recalibrate Middle East policy

As the US backs into Syria and other Mideast crises, China is proactively and strategically engaging in the region. Its actions point out what America has to lose if it continues to hesitate in the Middle East.
At Kerry-Putin meeting, US-Russia relations thaw – a little

Secretary of State John Kerry sought to ease diplomatic tensions with Russia in preparation for meetings between Putin and Obama later this year. But Syria remains a major sticking point.
Suicide bomber targets a Qatari delegation's convoy in Somalia

The suicide bomber detonated a car filled with explosives near the convoy in Mogadishu on Sunday morning, killing seven. The Qataris were unharmed.
Could India's polio eradication success story be a model for its other health issues?

A large, unprecedentedly coordinated campaign in India has eradicated polio. If no new cases are recorded by the end of this year, India will be officially considered polio-free.
Pakistani women hit the campaign trail to get out the vote

Women, nongovernmental organizations, and a council of conservative Muslims are doing their best to avoid a repeat of the poor 2008 election showing among women.
747 crash mourned: Video of Americans killed in Afghanistan

747 crash mourned: US families mourned the deaths of seven Americans in a 747 cargo plane crash in Afghanistan. New video adds information about the crash.
How US Muslims are different: Pew poll sheds light on global contrasts

A smaller share of Muslims in the US as compared with those worldwide say all their friends are Muslims, according to a new Pew poll. Survey questions about violence produce some variations.
Poll shows how US Muslims are like Protestants – and how they're not

A worldwide Pew poll of Muslims charts opinions on issues from women's rights to which religion is the one true faith, and details how US Muslims fit into the American matrix.
The Blind Man's Garden

Two Pakistani brothers flee to Afghanistan after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in this riveting story by Pakistani-British author Nadeem Aslam.
Pentagon budget woes: furlough civilians, buy tanks you don't want

Once again, the Pentagon wants to scrap a weapon – in this case, the Abrams tank – that Congress has an interest in preserving. But with 'sequester' cuts, the tradeoff will be civilian furloughs.
Editor's Blog After the Marathon bombings: a new resolve

The globalization of ideas via the Internet, air travel, and migration is profoundly affecting the world. In once-isolated communities, exposure to the new and different can prompt a reaction of anger, fear, even terrorism. But the tide of freedom and human dignity is immensely more powerful -- and ultimately unstoppable.
Air shows cancelled: Blue Angels, Thunderbirds grounded by sequester (+video)

Air shows cancelled: Automatic sequester budget cuts mean an end to the 2013 season for the Navy's Blue Angels and the Air Force's Thunderbirds. The real losers may be local economies benefitting from air shows.