[THS] Afghanistan: Tales of Woe

[The Harder Stuff in news and commentary]

Taliban commander among eight "militants" killed by U.S. airstrike in Afghanistan:

June has become the deadliest month of the occupation for NATO troops with at least
91 killed, 54 of them American. For U.S. troops, the deadliest month was October
2009, with a toll of 59 dead.
http://tinyurl.com/22q6le5

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Two Canadian soldiers and medics killed in Afghan Occupation:

Two Canadian occupation force soldiers and medics were killed in Afghanistan when
their armoured vehicle hit an improvised explosive device
http://www.military-world.net/Afghanistan/4020.html

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2 US Occupation Force Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan:

International forces in Afghanistan say two U.S. service members died Sunday
following a gun attack by militants in eastern Afghanistan.
http://tinyurl.com/2cgrcmh

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Karzai holds secret talks with Taliban:

Afghan president Hamid Karzai has reportedly met with the Taliban's most senior
commander Serja-eddin Haggani in Kabul as UK calls for peace with the militants.
http://presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=132267&sectionid=351020403

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Taliban switch to long-range fire in fight against UK troops:

 "We are all vulnerable to IEDs [improvised explosive devices], but the insurgents are
increasingly using long-distance small arms." Major General Gordon Messenger, the
Ministry of Defence's chief military spokesman, said Taliban-led insurgents were
resorting to what he described as an "increasing use of single shots at range".
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/25/taliban-long-range-fire-afghanistan

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CIA: At most, 50-100 Al Qaeda in Afghanistan:

"I think the estimate on the number of Al Qaeda is actually relatively small," Panetta
said. "At most, we're looking at 50 to 100, maybe less. It's in that vicinity.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/06/cia-at-most-50100-al-qaeda-in-
afghanistan.html

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US Gen. fired for 'grim' war assessment:

US General Stanley McChrystal issued a very critical assessment of the war in
Afghanistan just days before he was relieved of his command, a report says.
http://presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=132289&sectionid=3510203

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The Islamic View of McChrystal's Firing:

"History is evident of more powerful and experienced generals than General
McChrystal and empires mightier than the United States of America being
surrendered and bowed down before the Afghans."
http://tinyurl.com/2frdljb

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Quagmire? Nine years on, Americans grow weary of war in Afghanistan:

A plurality of 48 percent now say ending the war in Afghanistan is a more important
goal than winning it.
http://tinyurl.com/37zzlct

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