Topic: John Allen

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Latest photo scandal: US soldiers pose with dead Afghan insurgents

An American soldier gave the Los Angeles Times 18 photos of US soldiers posing with dead Afghan insurgents. US Ambassador in Afghanistan Ryan Crocker called the actions of these American soldiers "morally repugnant."
Afghanistan night-raid deal: Does it handcuff US forces?

While the deal gives Afghanistan legal and military 'ownership' over the night raids, on a practical level US forces still have leverage and flexibility, especially to react quickly to intelligence.
Defending Afghanistan: are Afghan forces ready?

An extended occupation and ever-shifting objectives could leave Afghanistan shakier in 2014 than when US-led forces arrived.
Afghan shooting spree: What did Sgt. Robert Bales's commander know?

The top US commander in Afghanistan says the shooting spree in which Robert Bales has been charged, as well as a recent Quran burning and a video of Marines urinating on dead Taliban are all examples of a failure of good oversight from commanders.
Afghan suicide bomb scare highlights concern about 'insider threat'

Reports of suicide bomb vests inside the Afghan Department of Defense were eventually dismissed as false, but they pointed to US concerns about Taliban infiltrators or rogue troops attacking US soldiers or the Afghan government.
Terrorism & Security Reports: Afghan soldiers complicit in a suicide plot against their own government

The alleged discovery of nearly a dozen suicide vests at the Afghan Ministry of Defense deepens concerns about the loyalty of Afghan security forces, which have already killed 16 coalition troops this year.
Backchannels NATO fatalities in Afghanistan: 22 percent this year at hands of Afghan Army, police

Gen. John Allen urged Congress yesterday to 'stay the course' but offered little encouraging data.
Taliban fire on Afghan president's brothers at shooting memorial service

Qayum and Shah Walid Karzai and other top Afghan officials in their delegation escaped in their cars unharmed from the Tuesday ambush in the country's south.
Six UK soldiers believed killed in Afghanistan blast

Six UK soldiers were believed missing and presumed dead after an explosion hit their armored vehicle in southwestern Afghanistan on Tuesday evening.
Doubt about reliability of Afghan partners in war

The shooting deaths of two US military advisers in the Afghan capital and the quick decision to pull coalition personnel from all government ministries injected a sobering measure of doubt about the reliability of the most important US ally in the war.
Backchannels NATO decides Afghan ministries too dangerous for its personnel

After what appears to be the latest murder of US personnel by Afghan security services, NATO pulled its people out of Afghan ministries.
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.
Backchannels US colonel: Don't believe US statements on progress in Afghanistan

Lt. Col. Daniel Davis just finished a year in Afghanistan and says don't believe claims of progress.
In Afghanistan war, Navy SEALs and special ops playing more central role

Navy SEALs and special operations forces are not being withdrawn from Afghanistan war at the same rate as other forces, meaning their duties in the region will only grow. With the Aug. 6 helicopter shoot-down, the SEALs lost 1 percent of their operational population.
Threats to Casey Anthony: How safe will she be after leaving prison?

Law enforcement officials in Orange County say that so far there are no credible threats against Casey Anthony that require prosecution. No 'elaborate security protection' is planned.
Pentagon chief Panetta: US within reach of defeating Al Qaeda

On his first trip to Afghanistan as Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta offered an upbeat assessment. "We're within reach of strategically defeating Al Qaeda," he said.
Kabul attack: Is Afghanistan ready to take over NATO's security duties?

NATO’s Afghanistan coalition lauded Afghan police and security forces for responding ‘quickly and professionally’ to the Kabul attack. But the raid will probably provide fodder for critics of President Obama’s plan to draw down US troops in the country.
Troop exit plan means hard choices for US commanders in Afghanistan

Obama's decision that all 30,000 'surge' forces must leave Afghanistan by end of next summer is not the troop exit plan US military leaders were hoping to hear. What choices confront them?
Obama picks combat-tested Gen. Martin Dempsey to head Joint Chiefs of Staff

President Obama has named Army Gen. Martin Dempsey to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Gen. Dempsey joins a reorganized national security team facing many challenges.
Obama's new national security team faces major challenges

President Obama's new national security team, headed by Leon Panetta and General David Petraeus, has a wealth of experience. But it faces major challenges, especially in Afghanistan.
Pope Benedict trip: Why move John Henry Newman toward sainthood?

Pope Benedict XVI plans on Sunday during his state visit to Britain to beatify Cardinal John Henry Newman, who converted to Catholicism from Anglicanism.
Afghanistan summit: Why is the US backing talks with the Taliban?

Heading into this week's summit of Afghan allies in London, the top US general in Afghanistan said he supported President Hamid Karzai's plan to reach out to the Taliban.
Vatican welcome to Anglicans boldest move since Reformation

The Vatican on Tuesday opened the way for Anglican communities to switch allegiance en masse. Hundreds of thousands of Anglicans angry over the church's liberal stance on women and gays may convert.
Opinion: Clunker of a policy? Yup.

I got cash for my clunker, but the program – which ends Monday – hasn't done much to stimulate or green the economy.
Holocaust Memorial shooting renews concern about military vets' ties to extremist violence

Experts say recent attacks back up the findings of a controversial Department of Homeland Security report.