Afghanistan War News Updates -- October 26, 2010

PRAISING SOLDIERS - U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Marvin Hill, left, looks on as Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of the the NATO International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces Afghanistan, right, praises 160 soldiers for their patriotism and dedication to duty during a re-enlistment ceremony on Camp Spann, Afghanistan, Oct. 23, 2010. The soldiers are assigned to 10th Mountain Division's 4th Cavalry. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Lorie Jewell

Karzai Rails Against America In Diatribe -- New York Times

KABUL, Afghanistan — President Hamid Karzai accused the United States on Monday of exporting killing to Afghanistan by giving contracts to private security companies. It was the latest chapter of a bitter battle between the president and his allies in the war against the Taliban that has taken on an increasingly anti-Western tone.

Tensions escalated on several fronts as the president confirmed at a news conference that he was receiving money from Iran and refused to back down on his deadline to close the security firms.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

Iran says helps Afghanistan amid bags of cash report -- Reuters
Iran Confirms It Provided Aid to Afghanistan Government, Plans to Continue -- Bloomberg
Iran acknowledges 'assistance' for Afghanistan -- Yahoo News/AFP
Iran says helps Afghanistan amid bags of cash report -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Iran assists Afghanistan's reconstruction: spokesman -- Xinhuanet
Afghan president confirms large cash payments by Iranian officials -- L.A. Times
US 'Skeptical' of Iranian Motives in Cash Payments to Karzai Aides -- Voice of America
Iran's cash to Kabul worries US -- BBC
Iran is buying political influence in Afghanistan -- Massoumeh Torfeh, The Guardian opinion
What Does Iran's Cash Buy in Afghanistan? -- New York Times opinion

U.S. operations in Kandahar push out Taliban -- Washington Post
Bomb kills 4 police in west Afghanistan -- Yahoo News/AP
Roadside bomb kills four police in west Afghanistan -- Reuters
Suicide, Roadside Attacks Kill Five, Injure 10 In Afghanistan -- Radio Free Europe
15 Insurgents Killed in NATO Raid -- New York Times
Raid, strike kill 15 insurgents in Afghanistan: NATO -- Reuters
25 may have been killed in Afghanistan airstrike -- Yahoo News/AP
FACTBOX-Security developments in Afghanistan, Oct 26 -- Alertnet

'Criminals' behind Dutch kidnap in Afghanistan: police -- AFP
Dutch Aid Worker Kidnapped in Afghanistan -- Voice of America
Factbox: Incidents involving foreign civilians in Afghanistan -- Reuters

Karzai again blasts security firms' role in Afghanistan -- Washington Post
Iraq, Afghanistan among 'most corrupt' nations -- Yahoo News/AFP
Another Afghan security problem: Badly built police stations -- McClatchy News
Stryker unit sought to defend killing at heart of Afghan murder probe -- Washington Post
Afghanistan to develop $3 trillion in mining potential -- Reuters

Time's running out for U.S. troops in Afghanistan, countdown to Obama's July 2011 withdrawal begins -- New York Daily News
No easy road to peace for Afghanistan -- Olivia ward, Toronto Star
Be Careful What You Wish for, Mr. Karzai -- Michael Crowley, Time Magazine
Negotiations with Taliban dismay troops -- Sara A. Carter, Washington Examiner