US scraps $7 bn worth of Weapons in Afghanistan

US scraps 7 bn USD worth of arms in Afghanistan « RAWA News: 
"The most contentious part of scrapping equipment in Afghanistan involves the disposal of Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles that protected US soldiers from the threat of roadside bombs in Afghanistan.
“In Afghanistan, the military has labeled about 2,000 of its roughly 11,000 MRAPs “excess.” About 9,000 will be shipped to the United States and US military bases in Kuwait and elsewhere, but the majority of the unwanted vehicles — which cost about $1 million each — will probably be shredded,” reported The Washington Post."

Foreign media portrayals of the conflict in Syria 'Dangerously Inaccurate'

Foreign media portrayals of the conflict in Syria are dangerously inaccurate - Comment - Voices - The Independent: 
"On Tuesday I travelled to Tal Kalakh, a town of 55,000 people just north of the border with Lebanon, which was once an opposition bastion. Three days previously, government troops had taken over the town and 39 Free Syrian Army (FSA) leaders had laid down their weapons. Talking to Syrian army commanders, an FSA defector and local people, it was evident there was no straight switch from war to peace. It was rather that there had been a series of truces and ceasefires arranged by leading citizens of Tal Kalakh over the previous year.
But at the very time I was in the town, Al Jazeera Arabic was reporting fighting there between the Syrian army and the opposition. Smoke was supposedly rising from Tal Kalakh as the rebels fought to defend their stronghold. Fortunately, this appears to have been fantasy and, during the several hours I was in the town, there was no shooting, no sign that fighting had taken place and no smoke."

'We failed in Afghanistan': A new consensus emerges

'We failed in Afghanistan': A new consensus emerges: 
"Both Britain's military and political leaders are blaming the west's failure in Afghanistan on the lack of a political solution after 2001.
David Cameron was quick to agree with the UK's General Nick Carter, the deputy commander of the International Security Assistance Force taking on the Taliban, that the biggest mistakes on Afghanistan were made soon after the 2001 invasion.
Carter told the Guardian the turmoil faced in Afghanistan was caused by "essentially political problems" and that these "are only ever solved by people talking to each other"."

Taliban threat to Kabul, Delhi

Taliban threat to Kabul, Delhi - The New Indian Express: 
"US secretary of state John Kerry during his visit was proposing that India sign on his dotted line. His Indian counterpart, Salman Khurshid, true to the type of a boneless government to which he belongs, did not seem to have an alternative plan to confront the US betrayal in Afghanistan.
In forcing out the extremist Taliban regime in Kabul in 2001, the original goal of America was to transform Afghanistan into a democracy on a more enduring basis. That enduring basis could at least for the present be only through president Karzai and his constitutional democracy being sustained for long with international support.
It would be idle to ignore the fact that for India, Kabul is a strategic and nearby destination for saving its own democracy from growing Islamic fundamentalism that has spawned the multiple terror groups that operate from both Afghanistan and Pakistan deep into India and globally. Kerry might have sung praises of the UPA government and extended invitation to prime minister Manmohan Singh to visit Washington coming September. However, the absence of specific geography or politics in Kerry’s post-visit statements should be noted."

Security Incidents 29th June

NATO  Convoy attacked

5 ANA Soldiers Killed

Police Casualties in Logar

Nato Lost Chance With Taliban - General

'We should have talked to Taliban' says top British officer in Afghanistan | World news | The Guardian: 
"One academic who studies the Taliban said the group tried to reach out to their own and the US governments until 2004, and would have made major compromises. "There would not have been too much negotiating to be done, even, in 2001 or 2002, because the Taliban's senior leadership made their approaches in a conciliatory manner, acknowledging the new order in the country," said Alex Strick von Linschoten, author of An Enemy We Created.
Today the insurgent group dominates swaths of the country, and seems ambivalent at best about negotiating ahead of the departure of foreign troops. Underlining how challenging efforts to broker peace talks are, the latest efforts collapsed in diplomatic farce last week."

U.S. Afghan Envoy Expects Taliban to Continue Attacks Alongside Talks

U.S. Afghan Envoy Expects Taliban to Continue Attacks Alongside Talks | CNS News: 
"On a visit to India, U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan James Dobbins, who is slated to head up the U.S. side if talks with the Taliban take place, reiterated the administration’s long-stated stance that any agreement will require the Taliban ending violence, respecting the Afghan constitution and cutting ties with al-Qaeda.
But, asked by journalists in New Delhi about ongoing Taliban attacks, Dobbins said he did not expect a ceasefire before talks get underway.
“Frankly, I anticipate that Taliban will continue to try to negotiate from a position of strength,” Dobbins said."  We say - this more than anything indicates that the US/NATO/ISAF are negotiating from a position of weakness at the end of a disastrous occupation.

UK Military begin transfer of Afghan detainees

BBC News - UK forces begin transfer of Afghan detainees: 

"On Thursday, two men dropped challenges to their detention and can now be transferred, the High Court heard.
The court confirmed that, subject to detainees confirming that they did not want legal representation, they could be transferred to the Afghan National Detention Facility, within the US Bagram airbase in Parwan province."

Chasing shadows in Afghanistan

Chasing shadows in Afghanistan | Arab News — Saudi Arabia News, Middle East News, Opinion, Economy and more.: 

"At the outset of the deployment in 2006, Britain’s the then Secretary for Defense, John Reid, appeared optimistic that the British Army could accomplish its Helmand mission “without a shot being fired.” Two years later, British soldiers had fired 4 million bullets. Ledwidge records that 542 non-combatants have been killed in Helmand by British and NATO forces, with countless more victims of life-changing injuries.
Yet if Reid nursed absurdly inflated expectations, he has felt no obligation to revisit the issue, nor has he ever been called to account over what proved to be careless talk. On the contrary, “Dr. Reid” went on to become chairman of the Institute of Security and Resilience Studies at London University and continues to be much in evidence as a commentator on matters of national security. "

Millions wasted on disappearing tractors, solar panels in Afghanistan

Report: Millions wasted on disappearing tractors, solar panels in Afghanistan - Investigations: 

"In 2011, USAID awarded $70 million to IRD to run the Southern Regional Agricultural Development program in Helmand and Kandahar provinces. The program was supposed to “increase agricultural employment and income” and reduce instability in a region where the Taliban is active. Through the program, IRD provided farm machinery, supplies and training to Afghan farmers and businesses, with the help of U.S. officials and the military.
But according to the new SIGAR report, the nonprofit began buying items that were too expensive, unauthorized and unneeded, as well as items that officials warned would be too risky to purchase because of the danger of theft."

5 Taliban, 5 Afghan Police Killed in Ambushes

5 Taliban, 5 Afghan Police Killed in Ambushes - ABC News: 

"Authorities say Taliban fighters ambushed a national police patrol in western Afghanistan, killing a commander and four of his men."

Afghanistan's New Fundamentalists

Afghanistan's new fundamentalist players - Le Monde diplomatique - English edition: 
"The heartland of Salafism in Afghanistan is the eastern province of Kunar, near Pakistan. During the resistance against the Soviets it was the power base of local Salafis who were joined by insurgents from abroad. Today, Mutawakil views that conflict as a defining moment. “Besides all the destruction, it was training for us too — especially when our Arab brothers came to do jihad,” he said.
A civil war developed after the Soviet withdrawal and then the Taliban later seized power, banning music and ordering women to be accompanied by a male relative when in public. The Taliban are not a Salafi movement, but Afghanistan is a deeply conservative country. Huge cultural changes in cities during the last decade have helped encourage the current Islamist backlash, with everything from foreign television programs to Western-style clothing subjected to hostility."

Taliban Claims Kabul Attacks

New UN Report Says Afghanistan Remains Top Opium Producer

New UN Report Says Afghanistan Remains Top Opium Producer:

In its annual report, issued on June 26, the UNODC noted that Afghanistan produced 75 percent of the world's illicit  production in 2012.
The report noted that plant diseases in Afghanistan have reduced global opium production by 30 percent compared to 2011.
This drop was significant because the poppy-cultivation area in the country jumped by 14 percent.

Karzai Would be Wise to Leave Now

Hamid Karzai knows the clock is ticking on his Presidency. Who can he trust? The US would sell him out to the Taliban if they could negotiate a 'quiet' exodus in return. But are the US actually negotiating with the Taliban? The French had great difficulty in their attempts to extricate themselves from Algeria in 1961/62 ascertaining if they were talking to the right people. Usually they weren't. With the result that their shambolic exit was accompanied by the massacre of many thousands of former allies and collaborators. Karzai himself has been a US/NATO collaborator in the eyes of the Taliban. Mullah Omar has not endorsed the starting up of the 'Taliban' office in Doha. So the Americans are not sure who they are dealing with. It’s probably Taliban light. Mullah Omar is sufficiently powerful, he would have to sign off on the peace talks. Also, Kerry seems to be stumbling all the time. He is stumbling with the peace talks in Syria, and all of a sudden there is confusion about the peace talks in Doha, Qatar. It all sets the scene for the NATO exit to be as disastrous as the long and bloody stay. 

Diplomats Defect In Run Up To Exodus

Diplomats Defect as Western Withdrawal from Afghanistan Nears - SPIEGEL ONLINE:

"No one wants to return to Afghanistan," said the employee, who added that they couldn't be faulted for wanting to stay away from"the situation in the country."According to recent surveys, most Afghans believe the country will sink into chaos and violence and expect that civil war will break out once Western forces withdraw at the end of 2014. For months, the Taliban and various other ethnic groups have been arming themselves in preparation for a fight for power in the country."

Taliban Claim Deadly Pakistan Tourists Attack

Presidential Palace, CIA HQ Attacked

So much for the Peace Talks. The Peace of Obama's Speechwriters is not going well. The US military and its satraps will not be leaving Afghanistan in any kind of 'ordered withdrawal' among press releases about the 'New Afghanistan'. The question is really whether Karzai will survive until, never mind after, his Washington sponsors bail out.

Snowden Not En Route To Cuba - Whereabouts Unknown

Ron Paul: US learned nothing from Iraq, Afghanistan

Ron Paul: We've learned nothing from Iraq, Afghanistan - Washington Times: 

''We left Iraq after a decade of fighting, and the country is in far worse shape than when we attacked in 2003,” he continued. “After trillions of dollars wasted and tens of thousands of lives lost, Iraq is a devastated, desperate and violent place with a presence of al Qaeda. No one in his right mind speaks of a U.S. victory in Iraq these days. We learned nothing from it."

Nato Soldier Killed In IED Attack in Eastern Afghanistan

Nato Soldier Killed In IED Attack in Eastern Afghanistan:

"The ISAF on Sunday confirmed that a Nato soldier was killed in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack in eastern Afghanistan.

"An International Security Assistance Force service member died following a subsequent Improvised Explosive Device attack in eastern Afghanistan today (Sunday)," Isaf said in a statement.

Isaf did not provide more details about the exact location of the incident and nationality of the soldier.

But, it is known that most of the US troops are stationed in eastern Afghanistan.

The incident happened after an Australian Special Forces' soldier was killed on Saturday during a clash with insurgents in southern Uruzgan province."

7 Afghan Police Killed in Attack in Uzurgan

Seven members of the Afghan National Police (ANP) were killed Sunday when an ANP vehicle was struck by a roadside bombing in the country's southern province of Uruzgan, said local officials this morning.

Jimmy Cliff - Afghanistan

Neuf touristes tués par Le Taliban dans le nord du Pakistan

Plus De 93,000 Morts En Syrie

US-led airstrike kills 30 in Afghanistan

US-led airstrike kills 30 in Afghanistan:

"Local officials said the incident took place at a border checkpoint in the province on Saturday, adding that the strike occurred as Taliban militants were attacking the checkpoint.
A Taliban spokesperson, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the deaths of four militants in the air raid."

Edward Snowden inculpé pour espionnage aux États-Unis

2 Afghan policeman killed in Taliban attack

2 Afghan policeman killed in Taliban attack - The Hindu: 

"Sayed Sarwar Hussaini, spokesman for Kunduz provincial police, said on Saturday that the initial Taliban attack on Friday in the provincial capital of the same name killed one member of the Afghan local police and wounded two."

No End in Sight

Afghanistan: No End in Sight | The Pulse | The Diplomat: 
"With the 2014 deadline for the withdrawal of foreign troops fast approaching, ISAF’s (International Security Assistance Force) handover of security responsibilities to Afghan troops on June 18 marked a crucial moment in the country’s quest towards managing its own affairs. Yet, the military transition arrives against a backdrop of one of the bloodiest months of the decades-long conflict, following audacious attacks by insurgents on Kabul’s international airport as well as on a court in the Afghan capital earlier this month. The attacks raise serious questions over the ability of the fledging Afghan Security Forces (ANSF) to secure the country after the exit of ISAF troops."

US military scraps equipment worth $7 billion in Afghanistan

US military scraps equipments wortt $7 billion in Afghanistan - Khaama Press (KP) | Afghan Online Newspaper: "The decision to shred giant trucks and scrap other material was actually the product of a debate on how to reduce waste. Some military leaders wanted to bring home more equipment, but they were overruled because the cost of shipping heavy equipment out of war-torn, landlocked Afghanistan was too high.
Much of the equipment being destroyed comes in the form of mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles, or MRAPs, hulking vehicles built to counter the threat of roadside bombs. MRAPs cost approximately $1 million each, and the Army has labeled about 2,000 of the 11,000 MRAPs in Afghanistan “excess.” The remaining 9,000 will be shipped out of the country for use elsewhere."

Rasmussen hopes Afghan peace talks 'begin soon'. Under Control Then.

KUNA : NATO chief Rasmussen hopes Afghan peace talks begin soon - General - 20/06/2013: "Rasmussen told a joint press conference with Bulgarian Prime Minister, Plamen Oresharski, at NATO headquarters in Brussels this afternoon that during his visit to Kabul two days ago he had "very good meetings "with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
"I am confident that at the end of the day we will reach an agreement on the security arrangements that will create the framework for the NATO training mission 'Resolute Support' after 2014," he said."

Afghanistan shuns US talks with Taliban, suspends troop negotiations

Afghanistan shuns US talks with Taliban, suspends troop negotiations | Middle East | BDlive: 
"The US and the Taliban had announced on Tuesday that officials from both sides would meet in Doha, the capital of Qatar, in coming days, in a step forward for a stuttering peace process after 12 years of bloody and costly war between US-led forces and the insurgents.
But the precise timing of the negotiations was uncertain on Wednesday as US officials worked furiously to keep the nascent peace talks on track."

Taliban offer to free U.S. soldier in exchange for Afghans held at Guantanamo

Taliban offer to free U.S. soldier in exchange for Afghans held at Guantanamo - The Washington Post: 

"Suhail spoke in an exclusive telephone interview with The Associated Press from the newly opened Taliban offices in Doha, Qatar.
Bergdahl disappeared in eastern Afghanistan on June 30, 2009.
Shaheen says “first has to be the release of detainees,” and after that, the Taliban “want to build bridges of confidence.”
He offered no details on Bergdahl’s current whereabouts.
He spoke as the U.S. is scrambling to save talks with the Taliban after angry complaints from President Hamid Karzai."

Talking To The Taliban - Steve Bell's Take

5 Afghan Policemen Killed

'Five ALP cops were killed by their comrades in a checkpoint in Mirmando area of Nahri Sarraj district Tuesday night,' the district administrative chief Fahim Musazai told Xinhua. Following the firing the five ALP members involved in the attack fled the scene and took away a handful of weapons, Musazai said, adding an investigation was launched into the incident. Helmand has been notorious for growing poppy and the Taliban hotbed. Qari Yousuf Ahmaidi, a purported Taliban spokesman, claimed the responsibility for the incident.

Afghanistan Lesson For Obama's Syrian Folly

Hunger Strikes In Saudi Arabia - Clip

4 US Troops Killed At Bagram As 'Peace Talks' Mooted

Afghan gov't suspends talks with U.S. on future Security Pact

Afghan gov't suspends talks with U.S. on future security pact over "contradiction" in U.S. handling of Taliban talks - CBS News: 
"A statement from the Office of the National Security Council of Afghanistan released to media Wednesday morning said President Hamid Karzai's government had suspended the fourth round of negotiations with the U.S. to craft a Bilateral Security Agreement -- the contract which will essentially set the parameters of U.S. military and involvement in Afghanistan for the years to come.
"In view of the contradiction between acts and the statements made by the United States of America in regard to the Peace Process, the Afghan government suspended the negotiations, currently underway in Kabul between Afghan and U.S. delegations," the statement said without offering any further detail on the nature of the alleged "contradiction.""

U.S. To Begin Peace Negotiations With Taliban

U.S. To Begin Peace Negotiations With Taliban - ABC News: 
"Taliban officials today released a statement opposing the use of Afghan soil to threaten other countries, a critical step to breaking ties with Al Qaeda, and supporting the Afghan peace process.
These statements fulfill the requirements for the Taliban to open a political office in Doha, Qatar, for the purpose of negotiating with the Afghan government.
President Obama said today, “This is an important step towards reconciliation, although its an early step, we anticipate there will be lots of bumps in road. But the fact that the parties have talked and discussed Afghan future that is very important.”"

Pakistan funeral bomb 'kills 27' in Mardan

BBC News - Pakistan funeral bomb 'kills 27' in Mardan: 

"The politician who was killed, Imran Khan Mohmand, stood as an independent candidate in elections last month but later lent his support to the PTI, which won control of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the polls.
Before the election the Taliban were behind a string of attacks on parties and candidates as part of a militant campaign to derail the vote, mostly targeting secular parties."

Afghan forces take over 'security' lead from Nato

Afghan forces take over security lead from Nato | World news | guardian.co.uk:
The US Military marked the occasion by killing some more civilians. A former Afghan general told the BBC this morning that the ANA would have to recruit 50,000 men a year to replace current losses and desertions. This is clearly an unattainable target and and an impossible situation. Added to the localised arrangements and accommodations which the ANA are reaching with the Taliban forces in the East and South, this is a house of cards just waiting to fall. There is no 'State' for the ANA to sustain as the corrupt Mayor of Kabul continues to squat in his palace and the Taliban consolidate their gains of the past two years. Once the NATO protectionists leave the Taliban will overrun the  South and East of Afghanistan in months. The rest could just possibly follow. Mission Accomplished anyone? Obama's speechwriters better work hard to spin this one.

Relocation Of UK HQ In Afghanistan

MoD News - Relocation Of UK HQ In Afghanistan: 
"Camp Bastion is located next to the Afghan National Army Camp Shorabak. The move will allow the British and Afghan headquarters to work closely together during the final stages of transition which will see Afghan forces leading 100 per cent of all security operations across all of the Afghan population by the end of the summer."

Attack on convoy carrying goods to Afghan capital Kabul kills 3 drivers

Attack on convoy carrying goods to Afghan capital Kabul kills 3 drivers: 
"It was unclear if the trucks were carrying supplies for the US-led military coalition or if they had commercial goods, Zwak said, but he added that no international troops or military vehicles were in the convoy. He said the drivers were Afghan.
Attacks on supply trucks coming to Kabul are relatively common, as Taliban and other militants seek to disrupt both flow of the military goods and sow fear among the population.
The latest attack comes in a period of intense violence, with the Taliban targeting police and civilian officials and attacking government positions around the country as Afghan police and army prepare to officially take over full responsibility for security from international troops."

Bomb attacks kill 10 Afghan soldiers

Bomb attacks kill 10 Afghan soldiers - Trend.Az: 

"This week, the Afghan National Security Forces are to assume security responsibility for the country from NATO-led troops.
Meanwhile, a provincial police chief escaped unhurt in a suicide attack Monday in the southern province of Helmand, but two of his bodyguards and two civilians were injured, a spokesman for the governor said."

Egypt Cuts Ties With Syria

Afghanistan Asks Pakistan to Explain Kandahar Attack

Fars News Agency :: Afghanistan Asks Pakistan to Explain Kandahar Attack:
"To lodge a strong protest with Islamabad, Deputy Director First Political Division Baba Khan Aslami summoned Pakistani Charge de' Affaires in Kabul Jan Bahader, for explanation regarding the attack.
The statement quoted Aslami as telling the Pakistani Charge de' Affaires that any continuation of such acts were unacceptable for the government and the people of Afghanistan and could seriously affect relations between the two countries.
The extension of artillery attacks from across the Durand Line into Eastern provinces, including Kunar and Nangarhar, to Southern provinces was a matter of grave concern for the Afghan government. "

Moderate Cleric Rowhani is New Iran President

Moderate Cleric Rowhani is New Iran President:

"Rowhani's tally was enough to ensure there would be no run-off against the runner-up, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who came a distant second with 6.07 million votes.
Rowhani has pledged "no surrender" to Western demands in talks on Iran's controversial nuclear programme but has promised a more constructive, less adventurist approach.
Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's website congratulated Rowhani on his victory and urged the people to work with him."

Former French FM: War against Syria Planned 2 Years before Arab Spring

Former French FM: War against Syria Planned 2 Years before Arab Spring | Dissident Voice: 
"Dumas is a retired French foreign minister who is obliged to use discretion when revealing secrets which could affect French foreign policy. That is why he made the statement ‘I am French, that doesn’t interest me’. He could not reveal France’s role in the British plan as he would be exposing himself to prosecution for revealing state secrets.
There have been many disinformation agents in the British and French press, many of them well known ‘leftist’ war correspondents and commentators, who have tried to pretend that Israel secretly supports Assad. Those who make such arguments are either stupid, ignorant or deliberate disinformation agents of Nato and Israel.
Israel’s support for Al Qaeda militants in Syria has even been admitted by the mainstream press. For example, Germany’s Die Welt newspaper published a report on June 12th on Israel’s medical treatment of the al Qaeda fighters."

'Afghanistan Is UK's Vietnam' - Hammond

Syrian Conflict Compared To Other Civil Wars

UK's use of drones in Afghanistan 'may be in breach of international law'

UK's use of drones in Afghanistan 'may be in breach of international law' | World news | The Guardian: "Written by Phil Shiner and Dan Carey of the Birmingham-based Public Interest Lawyers, the legal opinion argues that use of drones inside Afghanistan, which is a UN-declared conflict zone, is subject to the European convention on human rights (ECHR). That principle is already established in British case law, they say, in relation to the case of Al Skeini, which went to judges in Strasbourg and concerned the killing of civilians during British security operations in Iraq."

Green On Blue Attacks - Timeline

Timeline of all reported attacks HERE

NZ troops cleared of causing 'friendly fire' casualties in Afghanistan

NZ troops cleared of causing 'friendly fire' casualties in Afghanistan - People's Daily Online: 

"The court of inquiry found that the five New Zealand soldiers were killed by insurgents in the incidents, which both occurred in Bamyan Province in August last year.
"Losing five of our soldiers in Afghanistan in August last year was a very tragic and difficult time for the Defence Force and for New Zealand," Coleman said in a statement."

6 Afghan police killed in a suspected insider attack in Helmand

6 Afghan police killed in a suspected insider attack in Helmand - Khaama Press (KP) | Afghan Online Newspaper: 

"Provincial governor spokesman Omar Zuwak confirming the report said at least two Afghan national police (ANP) officers and four Afghan local police (ALP) officers were killed following the incident.
Mr. Zuwak further added that the militants had taken a vehicle with them after killing the police officers."

Blasts kill 8 Afghan soldiers, 4 civilians

Blasts kill 8 Afghan soldiers, 4 civilians | Pakistan Today | Latest news | Breaking news | Pakistan News | World news | Business | Sport and Multimedia: 
Seven soldiers were killed and another six were injured in two roadside bomb explosions in southern Kandahar and northwestern Badghis provinces, the Ministry of Defence said.
Four soldiers were killed by another similar attack in the Maqur district of Badghis, the ministry said in a statement, which gave no further details.
An eighth soldier and a civilian were killed when a remote-controlled motorcycle bomb exploded in the Sangin district of southern Helmand province, the governor’s spokesman, Omar Zwak said.

ERDOGAN DOIT RENCONTRER DES REPRÉSENTANTS DE LA PLACE TAKSIM

Two Georgian military bases closed in Afghanistan

Two Georgian military bases closed in Afghanistan - Trend.Az:
"According to him, the Georgian side appealed to NATO command with this initiative after a series of attacks on Georgian troops.
"After the first attack we appealed to NATO command on the measures that should have been taken to ensure the safety of our troops. The recommendations of the Georgian side had been fully accepted. According to them, the process of fortification and engineering reinforcement has been already started. According to our recommendations, two of our bases were closed, although for some reason I cannot name their places of deployment. All the possible measures were taken to ensure the safety of our troops," Alasania said."

Bomb blast in Afghanistan kills two, 15 injured

Bomb blast in Afghanistan kills two, 15 injured | NDTV.com:

"Local police chief Ghulam Ali said today's blast near a market in Helmand province's heavily contested Sangin district also left 15 people wounded.
Helmand government spokesman Omar Zwak says the explosives in a parked motorcycle were remotely detonated as an army and police patrol passed by."

Another, Not the Last, Tale of 'Progress' In Afghanistan

On Tuesday, a suicide bomb attack in Kabul killed at least 17 people and injured more than 40 others outside the Supreme Court. The previous day, seven insurgents, including suicide bombers, laid siege to the city's main airport for four hours.

Against this background of overtly deteriorating security at the heart of the Afghanistan administration General Joseph Dunford, NATO Commander in Afghanistan, clearly felt obliged to make his statement of this morning. Even by NATO standards it was a dire performance. He said 'Eventually this war has to be resolved by political means'. Thanks for that one, General.

But the sting was in the tail of the end of his press conference where he said that the 'progress' of that last 12 years (yes, twelve years) was 'not entirely sustainable'. Those familiar with NATO/ISAF spin over the years will have noticed that this is NATO-speak for 'Mission Failed'. The rest of the statement was a farrago of the usual NATO vocabulary - 'progress' 'smooth transition' 'political space to accommodate the Afghan people' 'gains...'

All I could perceive across Dunford's depiction of his surreal landscape was the sound of drones and the smell of abject failure.

Civilian casualties in Afghanistan up by 24 percent: Kubiš

Civilian casualties in Afghanistan up by 24 percent: Kubiš - Khaama Press (KP) | Afghan Online Newspaper: 

"He said, “Between 1 January and 6 June this year, we registered 3,092 civilian casualties due to the armed conflict. This is an increase of 24 per cent in the number of civilians killed and wounded compared to the same period of 2012, and, basically, almost the same situation that we registered in 2011.”
“What is even of more concern is that children account for 21 per cent of all civilians killed or wounded in 2013. This is an increase of 30 per cent compared to 2012 and 34 per cent compared to 2011. This is unacceptable,” Ján Kubiš said."

At Least 10 Dead in Attack On Kabul Court

Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Kabul (BNA) A suicide attack occurred in 9th precinct of Kabul.
A source of Kabul police confirmed the attack but said nothing regarding the details of the event.
Another source said, the attack carried out near the gate of Supreme Court which had casualties.
Twitter reports are saying 10, mainly court employees, have been killed.

La Police Turque Reprend La Place Taksim(Clip)

Taliban Blamed In Beheading of Two Boys

Senior US Officer Was One of Insider Attack Victims

So called 'Guardian Angel' Policy(above) failed in this incident

Albany, N.Y. (AP) - Two of the three Americans killed in an insider attack in Afghanistan over the weekend were from upstate New York.
Relatives and friends of Lt. Colonel Todd Clark tell Albany-area media that he was killed Saturday by an Afghan soldier he was training. The 40-year-old Albany native served in the Army's 10th Mountain Division based at Fort Drum in northern New York. His survivors include his wife and two children.
The Times Union of Albany reports that those confirming Clarks's death include his father, Jack Clark, a retired Army colonel.
WNYT-TV reports that the other New Yorker killed was Joseph Morabito of Hunter in Greene County. Morabito would have turned 55 Monday. His wife tells the station her husband was a civilian law enforcement professional.

Six dead in NATO convoy attack in Pakistan

Six dead in NATO convoy attack in Pakistan | Bangkok Post: news: 

"Up to 20 armed militants targeted at least three Afghanistan-bound vehicles loaded with military equipment, said senior administration official Jehangir Azam.
"At least three NATO vehicles caught fire, four people died on the spot and two wounded in the attack expired later in hospital," Azam told AFP.
Another official , Asmatullah Wazir, said four NATO vehicles were hit and three of them caught fire in the attack in the Shagai area, 20 kilometres (12 miles) southeast of Landi Kotal, the district's main town."

Coalition soldier killed in eastern Afghanistan explosion

Coalition soldier killed in eastern Afghanistan explosion - UPI.com: 

"KABUL, Afghanistan, June 10 (UPI) -- A coalition service member died in an explosion Monday in eastern Afghanistan, the International Security Assistance Force said.
The ISAF did not provide other information about the attack or the identity of the military member, saying it defers casualty identification procedures to the appropriate national authorities."