InfoAnda - Gates sees Afghan progress, warns of fight ahead

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Deportations of Zimbabwean migrants set to resume | 7 October 2011
Russian museum, Orthodox church spar over famed icon | 21 November 2008
Afghanistan confirms blanket pardon for war crimes | | 16 March 2010

U.S. lawmaker to push repeal of online gambling ban | 21 February 2009

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Gates sees Afghan progress, warns of fight ahead

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Weekend Edition Africa Europe Latin America Middle East North America Gates sees Afghan progress, warns of fight ahead AFP - 1 hour 47 minutes ago Send IM Story Print SANGIN, Afghanistan (AFP) - – US Defense Secretary Robert Gates touted progress on a visit to southern Afghanistan Tuesday but said NATO forces will soon face an "acid test" as Taliban insurgents move to seize back ground. In a tour of volatile battlegrounds, Gates said he came away encouraged that coalition and Afghan forces were rolling back the Taliban from longstanding strongholds in Kandahar and Helmand provinces. But he said results of the NATO-led campaign would not be clear for a few more months, when the Taliban is expected to exploit warmer weather to strike back. Gates's visit comes before foreign troops are due to start limited withdrawals from July, handing control of security to Afghan forces in some areas ahead of a full transition across Afghanistan due by 2014. Afghan President Hamid Karzai meanwhile warned the year ahead was "critical" and would hold "crises and difficulties." Gates predicted fighting in the spring and summer would "be very tough." "We expect the Taliban to try and take back much of what they've lost," he told reporters at a US outpost in the Arghandab district, west of Kandahar city. "And that will really in many respects be the acid test about how effective the progress that we've made is." Gates said plans are on track to start a gradual withdrawal of US troops in July, but he said it was unlikely the drawdown would start in the hotly-contested south. In neighbouring Helmand province, Gates earlier told US Marines they had made a "strategic breakthrough" in the district of Sangin, a Taliban bastion that has long frustrated coalition forces. "Before you arrived here the Taliban were dug in deep," said Gates, standing near a monument honouring British troops who suffered heavy losses before handing over to the Americans in October. Lieutenant Colonel Jason Morris of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment said the Taliban had been pushed off the area's main road and for the first time in years no longer dominated Sangin, a key hub for the insurgents' opium trade and supply network. But he warned violence would probably "pick up in the next couple of weeks." The tentative gains in Sangin have come at a high price for the Americans, with 29 killed and 175 wounded, the worst casualties of any battalion in the war, Gates said. He later flew to a combat outpost in the Arghandab district in Kandahar province, where he walked through a dusty village once controlled by the Taliban. Gates met Afghans recruited for a new local police initiative -- the brainchild of US special forces -- and spoke with village elders clad in turbans, some of whom used to be allied with the insurgents. "A year ago, even six months ago, I wouldn't driven a vehicle down that road, much less walk down it," said Major Tom Burrell, one of the soldiers stationed at Combat Outpost Kowall next to the village. Gates said the surge of US troops combined with Afghan army and police was starting to have a cumulative effect: "I do feel like the pieces are coming together." As Gates offered an upbeat assessment, Karzai spoke of a "critical" year ahead during a speech in Kabul. "This is extremely important and critical," he said. "This is a year in which we will face crises and difficulties... the success that we hope for depends on our unity and statesmanship." Karzai is due on March 21 to unveil the first areas where Afghan forces will take the lead. He offered a teaser on his plans, saying "five to six places" would be handed over to Afghan forces in the first stage, but did not specify whether these were towns, districts or provinces. Gates was due to fly to Germany and then Brussels on Wednesday before a meeting of NATO defence ministers as debate mounted within the alliance over possible military intervention in Libya. Send IM Story Print Related Articles More Ivory Coast bloodshed as Gbagbo snubs mediation AFP - 1 hour 50 minutes ago Coptic Christian killed in Cairo sectarian clashes AFP - 15 minutes ago Libya: live report AFP - 18 minutes ago First direct Serbia, Kosovo talks open on 'high hopes' AFP - 43 minutes ago Libya no-fly zone looms as fighting rages AFP - 46 minutes ago News Search Top Stories Wall Street insider trading trial picks jury Oil prices ease as Saudi downplays supply fears Libya: live report Italy's top bank ready to freeze Libya stake World oil supply 'very adequate': Saudi minister More Top Stories » Related Full Coverage War On TerrorGlobal fight against terrorism All Full Coverage » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed NASA scientists in row over 'alien microbes' China richest man says work key to easing poverty Subway steams past McDonald's in store race Oil prices ease as Saudi downplays supply fears Prince faces calls to quit trade role More Most Viewed » More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Weekend Edition Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo! Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Entertainment Photos Yahoo! News Network Copyright © 2011 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Wednesday, 9 March 2011
Italy's top bank ready to freeze Libya stake
First direct Serbia, Kosovo talks open on 'high hopes'
Oil prices ease as Saudi downplays supply fears
Spain's deputy PM leaves intensive care
German central bank sees 2.5% growth this year
Gates observes US progress in southern Afghanistan
World oil supply 'very adequate': Saudi minister
Afghan president tells his people hard year ahead
N. Zealand stun Pakistan in cricket W. Cup
Libya: live report
Down's syndrome test breakthrough 'on the horizon'
Nokia starts talks with Finnish staff over revamp
Taylor leads N. Zealand to 302 runs against Pakistan
Kuwait protesters swell in number, call for PM change |
Cuban state layoffs move slowly, workers uneasy |
Gunfire erupts in Abidjan, Gbagbo forces kill 4 |
Gates sees Afghan progress, warns of fight ahead
Iran forces fire teargas to disperse opposition backers |
Bangladesh court OKs Yunus' dismissal from bank
Sudan rebels to stand trial over peacekeeper killings |
ICC summons 6 suspects over Kenyan violence |
Holy streaming, Batman! 'Dark Knight' on Facebook
Holy streaming, Batman! 'Dark Knight' on Facebook
Women go flipping crazy for world's oldest pancake race
Not one more night: Phil Collins calls it a day
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
TV executives await blockbuster ad sales
Warner Bros to offer movies through Facebook |
At 25, MTV's "Real World" challenged to stay fresh
International Women's Day shines harsh light on 'femicide'
Toyota's global sales of hybrid cars top 3 million
New TV and social media trend among the youth: study |
Security high as Prince William and Kate in Belfast
Avril Lavigne more "emotional," "raw" on new album
Lime Wire, music publishers settle copyright case |
Single euro patent battle hits legal buffer
Taiwan softens on high-tech investment in China
Wireless expert Parrot seeks acquisitions
US-TECH Summary
Google logo, maps mark International Women's Day
Avril Lavigne more emotional, raw on new album |
Warner Bros to offer movies through Facebook |
Lime Wire, music publishers settle copyright case
TV executives await blockbuster ad sales |
SW China mega-city building huge security system
New TV and social media trend among the youth: study |
Mia Wasikowska travels from Alice to Jane Eyre |
India's Mahindra group forms alliance with Cisco
China blasts SKorea military hacking allegations
Rocker Robbie Robertson set to write memoirs |
Google to digitise Mandela archives
At 25, MTV's Real World challenged to stay fresh |
Genesis vocalist Phil Collins announces retirement |
Civilian deaths in Afghan war hit record high: UN
Libyan forces pound rebels; US wary on no-fly zone
S. Korea accuses N. Korea over communications attack
Coptic Christian killed in Cairo sectarian clashes
Oil, US stocks ease pressure on Asian markets
Chinese voices find outlet in microblogs
One dead as Muslims and Christians clash in Cairo
Libya no-fly zone must have U.N. backing: Clinton |
Spider-Man comic nets US$1.1 million dollars
Kuwait protesters swell in number, call for PM change
Cathay Pacific to buy, lease 27 new planes
Senate approves patent reform to end backlog
Iran forces fire tear gas at protesters: opposition website
Lack of sleep can make you overly optimistic: study
Suicide bomber kills 25 at Pakistan funeral |
Japan core machinery orders up 4.2% in January
Google Ventures backs online marketing startup
Egypt's army detains state security chief
Mass fish death in California harbor
Iran forces fire teargas to disperse opposition backers
Targeted civilian killings spiral in Afghan war: U.N. |
First direct Serbia, Kosovo talks open on 'high hopes'
Craigslist founder in new venture
Shakhtar move seamlessly into Champions League last eight
US probes hacker threat over WikiLeaks soldier
Strong quake hits northeast Japan, tsunami warning issued |
Wall Street insider trading trial picks jury
New TV and social media trend among the youth: study
Exposed: Egypt's spies dragged from shadows |
New Chrome browser ready for the world
Embattled Japan PM picks new foreign min amid diplomacy woes |
Paris court fines Google for copyright breaches
New Chrome browser ready for the world
Embattled Japan PM picks new foreign minister
One dead as Muslims, Christians clash in Cairo |
Strong quake hits northeast Japan, tsunami warning issued
Colombian troops free kidnapped oil workers |
Sri Lanka urged to end detention without trial
Holy streaming, Batman! 'Dark Knight' on Facebook
SKorea's top diplomat apologizes over scandal
Philippines on alert amid infighting among rebels
Japan's government selects new foreign minister
Large earthquake hits northeast Japan; no damage
Weather forecast for the Asia-Pacific region
At 18, he's the US teen truffle tycoon
Tourists reach new beach frontier in Myanmar
Philippine plane gets stuck in mud, delays flights
Magnitude 7.2 earthquake hits northeast Japan
Spider-Man comic nets US$1.1 million dollars
Former Alice in Chains rocker Mike Starr dies
Bassist from US grunge band found dead
Mexican court allows controversial film back
Charlie Sheen outranks Obama and Lady Gaga in social media
Precious Agatha Christie ivories to go on show in London
Charlie Sheen outranks Obama and Lady Gaga in social media |
Pakistan-IMF talks extended for 2-3 days
Seoul shares cut gains on tech sector weakness
Pakistan
Taiwan central bank: should pursue price stability
Senate approves patent reform to end backlog |
S.Korea Jan-Feb CPI growth topped c.bank views
Deutsche says unit may lose $10 mln during suspension
Seoul shares cut gains on tech sector weakness
S&P: Korean recovery firm, but inflation risks persist
NZ FinMin says growth to rise above 4 pct on quake rebuild
S.Korea c.bank says to focus policy on inflation
Former Alice in Chains rocker Mike Starr dies |
Charlie Sheen outranks Obama and Lady Gaga in social media |
Morals clause at issue in Charlie Sheen legal fight |
Libya: live report
Internet banking surges in southeast Asia
Serbia, Kosovo kick off landmark direct talks
RIM's PlayBook tablet gets 7digital music store
French court suspends Chirac graft trial
World powers pressure Iran over nuclear concerns
Toyota targets strong sales in emerging markets
Want less Charlie Sheen? There's an app for that
Saudi minister says dialogue needed, not protest
Schalke's Raul wary of Valencia in Champions League
Ten dead in Egypt religious clashes
Intel official: Iran sends Taliban deadly rockets
UN says Afghan civilian deaths spike in 2010
Egypt sectarian strife kills 13, challenge to army |
World powers pressure Iran over nuclear concerns |
Ugandan police fire teargas at poll protesters |
Ebadi says Arab-style revolt certain soon in Iran |
Pakistan's Islamist parties challenge weakening government
Blast at Moscow bus stop near security academy |
U.S. condemns violence in contested Sudanese region |
Bali to criminalise giving alms to street beggars
Taiwan's Ma seeks US help in closing arms gap
Netanyahu names new national security adviser |
Samsung, LG fight for 3-D tech supremacy
New PM vows to lift Ireland out of darkest hour |
AP Interview: Petraeus says tough summer ahead
Indonesia's radical Islamist group urges Sultan to ban Ahmadiyah
Nobel laureate appeals to keep job at microlender
World pays attention to S. Korean diplomats' sex scandal
Minimum and maximum temperatures in Celsius
Suicide bomber kills 37 at Pakistan funeral
Thailand blames teen pregnancies for rise in number of disabled babies
1kg marijuana found in Indonesian prison
Kazakh celebrities launch drive to bring out vote
Pakistan to announce T-bills auction result on Wednesday
Microblogs in China government's fight to win public approval |
Reliance Communications seals $1.9B Chinese loan
HK's Cathay adds 27 Boeing, Airbus jets to fleet
Nokia shares up after Symbian sales commitment |
China's Feb auto sales slow, hit by holiday
RIM's PlayBook tablet gets 7digital music store |
HK toy maker settles patent suit with Hasbro
Abbey Road studios launch 80th anniversary contest |
A Minute With: Jeff Beck revisits rock's glory days |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01