US Military Review Calls for Afghan Prison Changes

Say they were beaten, photographed naked at Bagram

(NEWSER) - Two Afghan teenagers held prisoner by the US at the Bagram air base say American interrogators beat them, deprived them of sleep, photographed them naked, and made them look at porn to humiliate them sexually. The teens' accounts to the Washington Post have not been substantiated, but they have the potential to be explosive for the Obama administration, which promised to end such detainee abuse. The actions described are prohibited by the Army Field Manual and considered illegal. More»

Mullen leads exercise to assess effects of troop surge

(NEWSER) - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, led a secret war game earlier this month to assess the Obama administration's options in Afghanistan, including a 44,000-troop surge. A team of military leaders used Gen. Stanley McChrystal's analysis to examine how Taliban insurgents and the Afghan and Pakistani governments would respond to several scenarios. The Pentagon did not endorse any one strategy, but sent the results to President Obama and Defense Secretary Bob Gates. More»

(NEWSER) - The drumbeat for more US troops in Afghanistan goes on: The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told senators today that a "properly resourced counter-insurgency probably means more forces." Adm. Mike Mullen said he hasn't yet received a formal request from Gen. Stanley McChrystal but expects one "very soon," notes Politico. He also expects top Pentagon officials to agree with the assessment and make a recommendation to President Obama. More»

Allowed to choose own team as Obama prioritizes effort

(NEWSER) - With Afghanistan a priority for the administration, officials have given the new US commander there free rein to select his team, the New York Times reports. Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s job “is that important. Afghanistan is the main effort right now,” said the chairman of the Joint Chiefs. McChrystal has already tapped an experienced longtime friend as his deputy and the Joint Chiefs’ intelligence head as his intelligence boss. More»

Miffed Afghan president accuses US of human rights abuses

(NEWSER) - Hamid Karzai today demanded that the US give up control of its prison in Bagram by the end of the month, over what his office called "many cases of violations of Afghan Constitution … and human rights." It's a familiar demand—Afghan officials announced they had a deal to transfer the prison in 2010, but it never happened. Analysts tell the AFP that Karzai may be bringing it up again because he's miffed that the Taliban apparently intends to hold peace talks without him . More»