Afghanistan War News Updates -- July 1, 2011

NEW BASE VISIT - U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Edward Duran uses a hand signal to direct his security force while Army officials visit Bala Hesar, a fortress in Gardez, Afghanistan, that serves as a base for a new Afghan quick reaction force for the area, June 27, 2011. Duran is assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division's Operations Company, Headquarters Battalion. The visit was part of an effort by officials to determine what facilities and training the Afghan security members needed. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Adam L. Mathis

U.N. Report Shreds Military’s Claim of Afghanistan Progress -- Danger Room

So this is what “fragile and reversible” progress looks like in Afghanistan: violence is up 51 percent since this time last year, thanks to a hurricane of insurgent suicide attacks, assassinations and bombs, undermining U.S. military claims that it’s breaking the momentum of the Taliban.

The closest thing the war has to a report card comes in the form of a new quarterly report from the United Nations. And the American troop surge appears to be dangerously close to flunking. According to the U.N., not only is violence on the rise, but so are civilian casualties. Compared to the spring of 2010, civilian deaths and injuries are up 20 percent, with 1,090 dead and 1,860 wounded. Over 435,000 Afghans are displaced by the war, a 4 percent rise.

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More News On Afghanistan

Report: Afghan Government At Risk If U.S. Withdraws -- L.A. Times
Fighting Shifts To Afghanistan's Mountainous East -- NPR
Haqqani Network Leader Dies in Airstrike -- U.S. Department of Defense
Afghan bus hit by roadside bomb in Nimroz province -- BBC
20 civilians killed in southwest Afghanistan -- Xinhuanet
Afghan mine blast kills 20 on bus -- UPI
Marine's last words to family from Afghanistan: 'I'll see you soon' -- CNN

U.S. Afghan Pullback Lets Taliban Open New Bases, Pakistan Says -- Bloomberg
Afghan border town must handle tons of tension -- U.S.A. Today
Afghan district governor accuses Pakistan of stoking war on border -- Express Tribune
Taliban trained by ISI, protected by Pak Govt: Afghan governor -- Yahoo News/ANI

French ex-hostage suggests ransom paid to Taliban -- Stars and Stripes
Taliban freed French hostages 'for prisoners and money' -- BBC

Canadian troops mark last Canada Day in Kandahar -- CTV
Canada Day in Kandahar -- CBC

Senate approves Crocker as new ambassador to Afghanistan -- CNN
Senator wants crackdown on Afghanistan projects -- CNN
Some US Aid to Afghanistan Leads to Negative Results -- Voice of America

Elaborate ruse behind vast Kabul Bank fraud -- Washington Post
Afghanistan arrests two former officials over bank fraud scandal -- Reuters
Two Kabul Bank chiefs arrested over scandal -- AFP

Analysts: New Strategy Focuses On Insurgent Leaders -- Scott Neuman, NPR
Kabul Terror Strike: The Taliban Warns That it's Not Negotiating From a Position of Weakness -- Tony Karon, Time
Reflections on the Afghan war -- Khalid Aziz, DAWN
Will Pakistan Play the Spoiler to U.S.-Taliban Talks? -- Tony Karon, Time
Afghan Agony If All for Nothing -- Tim Ferguson, Forbes
Pro & Con: Should U.S. quicken drawdown of troops in Afghanistan? -- Matthew Hoh, AJC
Against the clock in Afghanistan -- David Ignatius, Washington Post