Afghanistan War News Updates -- January 4, 2013

U.S. Army Spc. Joseph Gonzalez, left, provides security as fellow team members walk down a dirt road in Bala Boluk, Afghanistan, Jan. 2, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. Matthew Stroup

Afghan War Effort A Key Obama Foreign Policy Issue -- Voice of America

One of the major foreign policy issues facing President Barack Obama during his second term in office will be winding down the conflict in Afghanistan, America’s longest war.

American military forces have been in that country for more than 11 years, longer than the Soviet presence in the 1980s [more than nine years].

There are roughly 68,000 U.S. troops in the country. The plan is to withdraw all American and international coalition combat forces from Afghanistan by the end of 2014, ultimately handing over all military and security responsibilities to the Afghans.

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More News On Afghanistan

Afghan troops train to be specialized fighting force -- ISAF
High level Afghan intelligence officials visits Pakistan -- Khaama Press
36 JBLM soldiers killed in Afghanistan in 2012 -- Army Times/AP
Afghanistan releases 250 militants -- DAWN/AP
Kabul releases jailed militants in hopes of furthering Afghan peace process -- Washington Post/AP
Afghanistan frees militants once held by U.S. -- Army Times/AP
Top U.S. commander in Afghanistan submits post-2014 options -- Foreign Policy
U.S. likely to keep thousands of troops in Afghanistan after NATO forces leave -- CNN
Gen. Allen offers troop level options for post-2014 Afghanistan -- Stars and Stripes
Allen Delivers Afghanistan Withdrawal Plans -- Military.com
Obama-Karzai talks near: How many US troops should stay in Afghanistan? -- Howard LaFranchi, Christian Science Monitor
Taliban likens US Afghan role to Vietnam War -- US News & World Report/AP
Census more than just numbers game in Afghanistan -- Sydney Morning Herald
Ancient manuscripts indicate Jews once thrived in Afghanistan -- ANI
Army unit opens veterinary clinic in Afghanistan -- Stars and Stripes/AP
’Nam syndrome II: Perils of US war-weariness -- Benny Avni, New York Post
The War in Afghanistan at the End of 2012 -- CSIS report