US Recruits Allies for Afghan Surge

(NEWSER) - Nicolas Sarkozy and President Obama pledged cooperation today on a host of international issues, from Afghanistan to Iranian nukes, the AP reports. “It feels really good to work with a US president who wants to change the world,” said Sarkozy at their press conference. It’s a “'helluva’ good piece of news for 2009.” Obama, for his part, said, "We're looking forward to being partners with Europe." More»

Alliance struggles for meaning after end of Cold War

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama is in Strasbourg for a NATO summit, but on the 60th anniversary of the alliance's founding, its future seems increasingly muddy. Founded on a mutual defense pact against the Soviet Union and its satellite states, NATO now stretches as far as Turkey and provides most of the peacekeeping forces in Bosnia and Kosovo. Yet these days, Time writes, NATO seems to be having an identity crisis. More»

Eyes regional strategy, talks with Taliban, Iran

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama is drastically rethinking the war effort in Afghanistan, his security advisers tell the Washington Post, including making the capture of Osama bin Laden a top priority. The administration’s fledgling plan calls for a more aggressive regional approach, possibly involving help from Iran. Obama also favors the ongoing negotiations between the Afghan government and the “reconcilable” portions of the Taliban. More»

Sakhr al-Taifi directed attacks against NATO, Afghan forces

(AP) - NATO forces in Afghanistan have killed al-Qaeda's No. 2 leader in the country, in an airstrike in eastern Kunar province, the coalition said today. Sakhr al-Taifi, also known as Mushtaq and Nasim, was responsible for commanding foreign insurgents in Afghanistan and directing attacks against NATO and Afghan forces, the alliance said. He frequently traveled between Afghanistan and Pakistan, carrying out commands from senior al-Qaeda leadership and ferrying in weapons and fighters. More»

Wayward strike further strains Afghan relations

(NEWSER) - A family of eight was killed in a coalition airstrike in eastern Afghanistan late last night, in the latest strain on US-Afghanistan relations, reports al-Jazeera . Local government officials said the man, his wife, and their six children were not affiliated with any anti-government group. "This man had no connection to the Taliban or any other terrorist group," said an official. A coalition spokesman said they were looking into the incident. More»