Topic: Helmand Province

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When dictators fall, so do their banknotes

The following now defunct or possibly soon-to-be defunct banknotes are imbued with the symbols and iconography of their leaders, past and present.
Leap Year: this day in the history of Feb. 29

We don’t mean to state the obvious, but Feb. 29 happens once every four years (usually) – and leap year is here again. That means a whole day's worth of news will tomorrow be added to this date's comparatively small archive.
In Pictures: Battling the Afghan insurgency
Photos of the Day: Photos of the Day 06/30
Photos of the Day: Photos of the Day 06/22

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India sends more troops to quell Kashmir protests

India has ordered an additional 1,900 paramilitary forces to quell the Kashmir protests in a bid to boost security before addressing political problems.
Afghanistan war: Dutch withdrawal, WikiLeaks don't deter main NATO allies

The Afghanistan war has not been popular in Paris, Berlin, or London. But neither the Dutch withdrawal nor WikiLeaks revelations appears to be a threshold issue for voters.
Afghanistan war: USAID spends too much, too fast to win hearts and minds

In the Afghanistan war, it's quantity vs. quality: The USAID battle for hearts and minds is being lost just as President Obama's 'civilian surge' prepares to more than double annual assistance to $5 billion.
WikiLeaks shocker? In Kabul, Pakistan support for Taliban is no surprise

WikiLeaks documents saying that the US military believes Pakistan's spy agency supports the Taliban jibes with what Afghanistan's leaders have complained about for a long time.
Photos of the Day: Photos of the Day 07/21
Afghanistan war: Are Afghan forces loyal enough to take control by 2014?

The beheadings of six Afghan police have raised questions about the true loyalties of some Afghan forces during a crash program to recruit and train more locals in the Afghanistan war.
Afghanistan: Send less money for drug war, give us more control

On the eve of the Kabul Conference – the ninth major international Afghan donor conference – Afghanistan's Finance Minister Omar Zakhilwal offers suggestions for how to cut down on the waste and fraud that is limiting the impact of billions in aid.
Taliban IEDs kill five NATO troops in Afghanistan

Taliban IEDs – or homemade bombs – have become the Afghanistan war's biggest killer of international troops, a fact highlighted by the deaths of five NATO troops killed by IEDs this weekend.
Afghanistan war: Manhunt begins for Afghan soldier who killed three British troops

The Taliban claim to be sheltering the renegade Afghan soldier who opened fire Tuesday inside a joint operating base, dealing a blow to British morale in the Afghanistan war effort.
Taliban attacks kill 8 US soldiers within 24 hours

Taliban attacks on Tuesday night and Wednesday killed at least eight US soldiers, highlighting the militant group's intensifying insurgency campaign.
The other, powerful Karzai boss in Afghanistan

To many Ahmed Wali Karzai, the half brother of Afghan president, is the key to taming the Taliban in the critical city of Kandahar. But to others he's a highly controversial figure.
Afghanistan war: Afghan soldier kills three British troops and escapes. Now what?

An Afghan soldier killed three British troops Tuesday. His motives are not known, but the incident could increase British skepticism about the Afghanistan war.
Opinion: Only way to end the Afghanistan war: US peace deal with the Taliban

Only a political solution can end the unwinnable Afghanistan war and extract the United States from this costly conflict.
Afghanistan War: British soldier, three Afghan police killed by roadside blasts

Roadside bomb attacks in Afghanistan's volatile south and east killed three Afghan policemen and a British soldier, officials said Tuesday.
General Petraeus takes command of the Afghanistan war

General Petraeus arrived in Kabul today to take over the Afghanistan war effort. Afghans say he faces a limited window to rein in corruption, make the Karzai government more accountable, and create momentum toward peace.
What Afghanistan lawmakers want General Petraeus to do

General Petraeus takes over a counterinsurgency strategy that has largely failed, say Afghanistan lawmakers from Taliban hot spots Marjah and Kandahar, which have been targeted for key US offensives.
Photos of the Day: Photos of the Day 06/11
Afghan Taliban hone hit-and-run tactics, assassination campaign

The Afghan Taliban is waging an assassination campaign against government officials in Kandahar. Their hit-and-run fight marks bid to draw NATO forces into a war of attrition.
In Pictures: Puppies around the world
Afghanistan war: Gen. McCrystal impatient with Marjah campaign

In this critical phase of the Afghanistan war, Gen. Stanley McCrystal says NATO and Afghan efforts to secure Marjah are moving too slowly. 'By day there is government. By night it's the Taliban,' says one Afghan tribal leader.
Photos of the Day: Photos of the Day 05/24
Taliban attack Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan

An eight-hour firefight at Bagram Air Base killed an American contractor and injured nine US servicemen.
Afghanistan war: Kandahar offensive is now in the slow lane

US officials say key military operations in the Kandahar offensive - scheduled for this summer - will be delayed until the fall. The Taliban have taken the Afghanistan war to the streets of the southern Afghan city with a campaign to assassinate key public officials.
US, Afghan officials shrug off Afghanistan Taliban's threat of new offensive

As Afghan President Hamid Karzai heads to Washington, the Afghanistan Taliban is announcing a nationwide offensive against coalition troops and diplomats.
Afghanistan surge: Is the 'clear, hold, build' strategy working?

The influx of U.S. troops to Afghanistan aims to 'clear' Taliban from population centers, then 'hold' them until Afghans can 'build' normal lives. The Pentagon looks to the Iraq surge for lessons.