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December 2, 2008 4:56:48 AM CST

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Obama to Focus on bin Laden, Revamp Afghan Approach

Eyes regional strategy, talks with Taliban, Iran

Washington Post Washington Post Nov 11, 08 8:39 AM CST
(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 »

More about:  Barack Obama • Afghanistan • President Obama • Taliban • NATO • Hamid Karzai • military strategy

OPINION

Kissinger Outlines Endgame for Iraq—Without Deadlines

Foes may lie low to re-emerge, he says

Washington Post Washington Post Jul 31, 08 3:18 PM CDT
(Newser) - Henry Kissinger outlines his vision for the endgame in Iraq in a piece in the Washington Post, arguing that recent progress makes redeployment of US troops feasible, but "establishing a deadline is the surest way to undermine the hopeful prospects." A fixed deadline would encourage both al-Qaeda and Iran to plan a resurgence, writes the former secretary of state, and it would undermine the necessary diplomacy, which he sees including a regional peace conference. More »

More about:  Iraq • troop withdrawal • Iraq exit strategy • military strategy • Henry Kissinger

 On Iraq, Petraeus Has Bush's Ear

Close ties fuel fears that other commanders aren't heard

Washington Post Washington Post Apr 6, 08 1:10 PM CDT
(Newser) - George Bush and top Iraq commander David Petraeus have a close relationship unusual for wartime presidencies, the Washington Post reports. The president skips over several middlemen, including Defense Secretary Robert Gates, to speak directly and regularly with Petraeus, and has fully deferred to the general on controversial Iraq decisions. But some top officials worry that the views of one man are trumping their own. More »

More about:  George W. Bush • Iraq war • Bush administration • US military • David Petraeus • Robert Gates • military strategy

analysis

As Bush Foe, Admiral's Days Were Numbered

What's truly amazing
is that he held out
as long as he did

Newsweek Newsweek Mar 12, 08 7:53 PM CDT
(Newser) - It's amazing that Adm. William Fallon held on to his job as long as he did while openly disagreeing with the Bush administration on matters of military strategy, writes John Barry in Newsweek . Fallon's continued insistence that war with Iran is a lousy idea finally led to his resignation yesterday as head of US forces in the Mideast. This month's Esquire profile of Fallon noted that "the president may have had enough." More »

More about:  George W. Bush • Iran • Robert Gates • Esquire • military strategy • William Fallon • CentCom

US Admiral
in Charge of Mideast Quits

Move comes after
article depicts him defying Bush on Iran

Associated Press Associated Press Mar 11, 08 3:50 PM CDT
(Newser) - The top US military commander for the Middle East resigned today after the publication of a magazine profile that portrayed him as a vocal opponent of the Bush administration's Iran strategy, the AP reports. Adm. William Fallon, head of US Central Command, denied any rift and said he stepped down only because recent press reports created a "distraction at a critical time," ABC News reports. More »

More about:  George W. Bush • Iran • Bush administration • Robert Gates • resignation • Tehran • military strategy • William Fallon • Central Command

Obama, McCain Trade Potshots Over Iraq War

Each delivers 'news'
to the other about al-Qaeda presence

Reuters Reuters Feb 27, 08 6:17 PM CST
(Newser) - John McCain and Barack Obama traded sharp words today, as the two presidential frontrunners bludgeoned each other over the Iraq war. McCain dug into Obama for saying, in the debate last night, that he wouldn't hesitate to act if al-Qaeda established bases in Iraq for targeting the US, Reuters reports. "I have some news," McCain told a Texas crowd. "Al-Qaeda is in Iraq. It's called Al-Qaeda in Iraq." More »

More about:  Barack Obama • Election 2008 • John McCain • Hillary Clinton • Iraq war • al-Qaeda • Iraq exit strategy • Iraq pullout • al-Qaeda in Iraq • military strategy

Protect or Prevent? Iraq Tanks Raise Heavy Issues

New armored vehicles will save soldiers, but may endanger strategy

Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times Dec 27, 07 3:40 AM CST
(Newser) - A new heavily armored vehicle will better protect US soldiers in Iraq from roadside bombs, but possibly at the risk of jeopardizing the overall counter-insurgency strategy, the Los Angeles Times reports. The new equipment has ignited debate over whether it is better to protect soldiers from attack, or stop the attacks from happening in the first place. More »

More about:  Iraq • US military • Pentagon • roadside bomb • military strategy • MRAP

Russian "Father of All Bombs" May Be Hoax

US officials are skeptical about new super explosive

Wired Wired Oct 4, 07 5:18 PM CDT
(Newser) - Several weeks after Russia boasted of successfully testing the world's most powerful non-nuclear bomb, US experts and officials are beginning to voice doubts. Careful analysis of video footage of the device reveal inconsistencies, particularly about just what kind of bomb it was, Wired reports. "You've got to approach Russian claims with skepticism," one analyst says. More »

More about:  bomb • Russian military • military strategy

Military Preps for Iraq Pullout

Envisions 40K force
to stay for years;
big withdrawal by
early 2009

Washington Post Washington Post Jun 10, 07 12:17 PM CDT
(Newser) - Top military officials are quietly setting their post-pullout strategy, reports Thomas Ricks in today's Post , and they're readying to keep in place a long-term, mid-size force. The new plan requires upwards of 40,000 American troops to stay in the country, with half dedicated to security, a quarter to training, and another quarter to logistics, in addition to a small special ops counterterrorism force. More »

More about:  Iraq • Iraq war • US military • insurgents • military • Moqtada al-Sadr • American troops • Iraq pullout • security • military strategy

Attacks on
US Troops
Get Deadlier

Bigger IEDs and more complex ambushes lead to more US deaths in Iraq

Washington Post Washington Post Jun 4, 07 5:07 AM CDT
(Newser) - Iraqi insurgents are using bigger bombs and more sophisticated tactics to kill US troops, reports the Washington Post . While Iraq civilian deaths have dropped 50 percent since the new counterinsurgency strategy was launched in Baghdad, American fatalities compared to the number of wounded have nearly doubled. More »

More about:  Iraq • Baghdad • insurgents • military • American troops • al-Qaeda in Iraq • roadside bomb • military strategy

Troops May Double in 'Second Surge'

Analysis of Pentagon orders shows 8 more brigades in Iraq by year's end

San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle May 22, 07 3:33 PM CDT
(Newser) - The number of US combat troops in Iraq is being quietly doubled this year in what the San Francisco Chronicle calls a second surge, the paper concludes from an analysis of Pentagon orders. The combination of new combat brigades and lengthened tours for troops already stationed in Iraq could bring the total to 28 brigades rather than the 20 designated for the surge. More »

More about:  Iraq • George W. Bush • Iraq war • Pentagon • troop surge • American troops • military strategy • tour of duty

Officer Walls Sects Apart
in Baghdad

Peace barriers defy official policy and stir controversy—but they're working 

Wall Street Journal Wall Street Journal Apr 5, 07 11:34 AM CDT
(Newser) - Lt. Col. Jeff Peterson is trying to pacify Baghdad one wall at a time, erecting concrete barriers around Sunni and Shiites neighborhoods in the sector of the city he controls. Each mini-community has its own market, mosque, and generator. It's a controversial strategy most often used during civil wars, the Journal notes—and thus flies in the face of official U.S. policy. More »

More about:  Iraq • Baghdad • US Army • military • Shiite • Sunni • military strategy

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