Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Afghanistan War News Updates -- September 1, 2010



U.S. Troop Deaths In Afghan War Up Sharply -- Washington Post

KABUL - Twenty-two American troops have been killed in Afghanistan over the past five days, a spike that follows record-high death tolls for U.S. forces in June and July.

Five of the troops were slain Tuesday, including four who were killed by two improvised bombs in the east and one who died in an insurgent attack in the south, according to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).


Read more
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More News On Afghanistan

US deaths in Afghanistan hit record in 2010 -- AFP
6 more American troops die in Afghan fighting -- AP
Five More US Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan -- Voice of America
22 US troops killed in Afghanistan in four days -- The Telegraph
U.S. toll rising in Afghanistan: 22 soldiers killed since Friday -- McClatchy News

Oxfam hit by fatal bomb as Clegg visits troops in Afghanistan -- The Guardian
3 Oxfam workers killed in northeastern Afghanistan -- AP
Three Oxfam workers die in Afghanistan -- Reuters
Bomb attack kills Afghan Muslim religious leader -- AP
Petraeus: Afghan concern about Pakistan is legit -- AP

As combat operations end in Iraq, Gates hails shift in focus to Afghanistan -- Washington Post
Gates: Commanders Have Resources to Win in Afghanistan -- U.S. Department of Defense

Threats increase against Afghan parliamentary candidates
-- CNN
Poison gas used on girls school, Afghan official says -- Seattle Times/New York Times
Lawmaker: July 2011 too soon to start leaving Afghanistan -- Miami Herald/McClatchy News
Afghan authorities take over biggest bank to avoid meltdown -- Washington Post
Afghan Ambassador Said T. Jawad leaving his post in Washington -- Washington Post

World News Briefs -- September 1, 2010



Barack Obama Makes Oval Office Speech To End Iraq Fighting -- The Telegraph

President Barack Obama called an end to front line operations in Iraq on Tuesday night amid telling warnings about the failure of the United States to end the threat of al-Qaeda or install a stable government.

Speaking from the same desk where George W Bush launched the war seven and a half years ago, Mr Obama told Americans in a nationally televised address that "now, it is time to turn the page" on a war that had claimed more than 4,400 American lives and cost $1 trillion.

"Tonight, I am announcing that the American combat mission in Iraq has ended. Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country," he said.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Obama envoy seeks to quell doubts on Mideast peace. Middle East talks: no real desire for change spells little hope of success.

Hamas targets Israeli-Palestinian talks by killing four Israelis.

Iranian newspaper reiterates derogatory remarks about French first lady.

ASIA

U.S. toll rising in Afghanistan: 22 soldiers killed since Friday.

Pakistan flood waters recede but country's debt rises.

US aims to close North Korea's shady 'Office 39'.

Australian PM wins Greens support in govt bid.

Japan's ruling DPJ in crisis as Ozawa says he will challenge Kan in leadership vote.

Typhoon Kompasu strengthens, forecast to hit Korean Peninsula.

AFRICA

The ruthless guerrilla movement that won't die (central Africa).

Hopes rise for end to South African public sector strike.

Zimbabwe suspends use of own currency.

DR Congo rebel commanders could face war crimes charges.

EUROPE

Russian protesters defy Putin warning – and meet tough response.

Russian mafia taking over French Riviera.

Several killed in Nagorno-Karabakh clash.

Sweden to reopen rape case involving WikiLeaks editor.

Top Russian spy’s body washes up 'after swimming accident’.

AMERICAS

U.S. braces for hurricane Earl.

Will Mexico's prize catch 'La Barbie' stand trial in U.S.? Mexico's next war: Against the Narcos?

Fidel Castro takes blame for persecution of Cuban gays.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Osama bin Laden aide gets life for attack that left prison guard brain damaged.

Khadr's Guantanamo trial to resume Oct. 18.

2 Yemenis held by Dutch won't face U.S. charges.

Anwar al-Awlaki: ACLU wants militant cleric taken off US 'kill list'.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Problem bank list climbs to 829. Problem banks on rise, but bank profits rising too.

U.S. auto sales may hit 28-year low as discounts flop.

Dow logs worst August in 9 years.

India's middle class drives economic growth of 8.8%.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- September 1, 2010



MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

Will The Next SecDef Keep Gates’ Promises? -- Defpro

Israel set to build wings for some 800 F-35s -- Reuters

Battle of Britain veterans take to the skies again -- BBC

Brothers in arms: Mother sees all four sons join the army -- The Daily Mail

Nimrods, Boomers, Gurkhas and PR (Leaks from the MoD) -- Ares/Aviation Week

UK May Borrow F-18s For Carriers; F-35Bs May Be Scrapped
-- DoD Buzz

Taiwan’s (Un?)Stalled Force Modernization -- Defense Industry Daily

China military budget rises sharply: defense ministry
-- Focus Taiwan

China’s Secret Satellite Rendezvous ‘Suggestive of a Military Program’
-- The Danger Room

U.S. Military satellite relying on backup plan to save itself -- Spaceflight Now

Donley announces overhaul of space program -- Air Force Times

GAO: Early LCS Deployment Hurt The Program -- Defense News

Thank goodness we killed of all of those evil F-22 jobs -- ELP Defens(c)e Blog

Army Engineers Develop Handheld IT for Battlefield
-- Defence Talk

Putting The CIA Back To Sleep -- Strategy Page

A Week-Long Embed On A Medevac Helicopter In Afghanistan


Life And Death On A Medevac Helicopter -- Reuters

Taking pictures of people who are suffering and in pain is never an easy experience. From the jump seat in the back of a Blackhawk medevac helicopter, a constant stream of injured, dead and dying men and women passed in front of me during a recent week-long embed. The wounds were as varied as the patients; an Afghan soldier with kidney stones to a Marine whose legs had been nearly severed by an IED blast.

Read more ....

My Comment: These men and women are true guardian angels .... heroes all of them.

Another Scandal At The VA Is Brewing

EXCLUSIVE: VA Spends Millions To Maintain Vacant And Hazardous Buildings -- FOX News

The Veterans Affairs Administration is spending tens of millions of taxpayer dollars every year to maintain hundreds of buildings – most of them vacant – that have fallen into such a state of disrepair that many of them are considered health hazards, an investigation by FoxNews.com reveals.

Exactly how much it costs to maintain the run-down and abandoned buildings is a matter of dispute. The General Accountability Office estimates that the VA has spent $175 million every year since 2007. But the VA disputes that figure, saying it spent $85 million on the buildings in 2007 and only $37 million last year.

Read more ....

My Comment: In a time of tight budgets and the cutting of programs .... we have this gem of a story. I expect that this is just one messy example in the VA among many.

Memo To All Intelligence Agencies: Take Notice

Quantum Hackers Use Lasers to Crack Powerful Encryption Without Leaving a Trace -- Popular Science

Quantum cryptography is one of the most secure known means of transmitting data, due to the fact that even if a third party does intercept a quantum signal, that interference changes the encryption key, making the tampering apparent to parties at both ends. But a handful of quantum hackers at Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim recently performed successful hacks of two commercial quantum cryptographic systems -- and they did so without leaving a trace.

Read more ....

My Comment: If understanding how quantum communication, cryptography, and hacking works .... this article is for you.

Churchill Out, Martin Luther King In: The New Oval Office


Churchill Out, Martin Luther King In: First Glimpse At President Obama's Revamped And Thoroughly Modern Oval Office -- The Daily Mail

After18 months as President, Barack Obama has finally put his own stamp on The Oval Office.

And if the results are anything to go by, he is hoping for a golden era in the White House.

Americans got their first look at the revamp last night when the President addressed the nation about the end of the combat mission in Iraq.

Read more ....

My Comment: All that I can say is that if I had the money, I would build an exact replica of this room .... but I would keep the Churchill bust.