InfoAnda - In bid to break Taliban, US embraces more firepower

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

Apple says Beatles songs now on iTunes | 17 November 2010
Serra draws closer in Brazil poll, markets react | | 15 October 2010
Taiwan signs financial agreements with China | 17 November 2009

Magnitude 6.6 quake hits Japan, no damage reported | | 17 September 2011

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : In bid to break Taliban, US embraces more firepower

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 Australia China India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Philippines Thailand Vietnam In bid to break Taliban, US embraces more firepower AFP - Wednesday, December 15 Send IM Story Print In bid to break Taliban, US embraces more firepower Slideshow: Full Photo Coverage: War On Terror WASHINGTON (AFP) - – The US military has dramatically stepped up air strikes and manhunts in Afghanistan in a bid to weaken the Taliban, reflecting a return to "counter-terrorism" tactics. Dropping more bombs and carrying out more raids by special operations forces underscores a sense of urgency in the war effort, as the White House prepares to release a strategy review and commanders try to change the dynamic of a conflict mired in stalemate. In announcing a surge of 30,000 troops a year ago, President Barack Obama embraced the idea of a "counter-insurgency" strategy that focused less on firefights with the Taliban and more on securing key towns, training Afghan forces and bolstering local government. But the need to cut off the insurgency's supply routes to sanctuaries in neighboring Pakistan has led to a renewed emphasis on more conventional "targeting" operations, said General James Cartwright, vice chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "When we started, we probably were more aligned with counterinsurgency (strategy). The emphasis is shifting," Cartwright said last week. "We need to reduce those lines of communication and reduce that flow to the best of our abilities," Cartwright said at an event at the National Press Club. The balance of the US force was "starting to shift to have an element of counter-terrorism larger than we thought we were going to need when we started," he said. The expansion of counter-terrorism raids also appears to fit in with the need to drive the Taliban to the negotiating table, as US military leaders have long stated that the insurgents must sense they are losing ground on the battlefield before they engage in genuine peace talks. The previous commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, scaled back air strikes and artillery to try to reduce civilian casualties, but his successor, General David Petraeus, has taken a more aggressive approach. US aircraft flew 850 combat sorties in November, three times the number for the same month last year, according to the US Air Force. From January to the end of November, warplanes carried out 30,000 close air support missions for troops on the ground, a 13 percent increase compared with the whole of 2009, it said. In the past six months, coalition forces have carried out more than 7,000 special operations missions, killing or capturing more than 600 militant leaders and inflicting heavy losses on insurgent fighters, with 2,000 rank and file soldiers killed, the NATO-led force told The Long War Journal. More firepower will be on display soon in southern Afghanistan, where Marines will have M1A1 tanks in their arsenal -- the first use of American tanks in the war. The intensifying pace of lethal operations has been accompanied by record casualties among US and NATO-led forces, in the most deadly year yet in the nine-year-old war with 693 soldiers killed, according to the independent website icasualties.org. Pentagon officials say the increase in manhunts is a natural result of the troop buildup, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the approach in the war remained "a mix" of both nation-building and counter-terrorism. He described the effort in eastern Afghanistan as a "disruption activity" with US troops trying to stop insurgents from coming across the Pakistani border. In the south, US-led troops were pushing the Taliban out of towns and then holding the populated areas, he said. "You need to understand the strategy in one part of the country will be different in another part," Gates told reporters last week on his way back to Washington. A crucial part of the US strategy includes an expanded covert bombing campaign against Al-Qaeda and insurgent leaders in the northwest tribal belt in Pakistan. The CIA strikes have been steadily growing, with 108 attacks by drones in 2010, compared to 53 last year, mainly in North Waziristan, where the Pakistan army has so far failed to extend an offensive against militants there, according to the New America Foundation. The drone raids have killed 809 militants this year, compared to 405 the year before. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Hong Kong police arrest triad leaders AFP - 46 minutes ago Tokyo assembly restricts 'extreme sex' manga and anime AFP - 1 hour 7 minutes ago Wen says world big enough for India and China growth Reuters - 2 hours 20 minutes ago China and India not rivals, says Chinese PM AFP - 2 hours 50 minutes ago At least 27 dead in Australia boat tragedy AFP - Thursday, December 16 News Search Top Stories US consumer inflation in surprise slowdown Rating agency warns of Spain credit downgrade Scarlett Johansson, Ryan Reynolds call it quits Britain's jobless total hits 2.5 million Pharma giant Novartis buys remainder of Alcon More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended Record profits forecast for airline industry Ho, ho, crunch: Santa's a crash risk, say doctors Bernard Madoff will not attend son's funeral: lawyer Dow reaches two year high as US stocks hold gains US retail sales start holidays with a bang More Most Viewed » NASA finds new form of life... on Earth Defiant Obama defends tax cuts, eyes 2012 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 © 2010 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, 15 December 2010
Security boosted as Swedish police seek bomber's accomplices
Assange back in jail as Sweden appeals bail
Fed expected to draw breath after stimulus move
Berlusconi's vote success sparks clashes in Rome
US retail sales start holiday season with a bang
Nokia to cut about 800 jobs in Finland
Taliban says Afghan stress weakened Holbrooke |
France says Google in 'dominant' position
Kosovo leader was criminal mafia boss, report says |
Canada military aids in rescue of stranded drivers |
Turkey's entry bid scores mixed points in EU debate |
Ivory Coast's Ouattara party urges street action |
Facebook intern maps world via online 'friends'
Factbox: Facts about the Golden Globe Awards
Key Islamic party quits Pakistan government
Indonesia seeks jail for 'blasphemous' American
Pakistan watchdog says nuclear weapons are safe
Exclusive: American Apparel to take Groupon deal to Europe
Buyers shrug off 3D, Internet TVs |
Seventeen killed after bus plunges into reservoir in south India
Microsoft fixes bugs in Windows, Internet Explorer |
Pakistan PM sacks two ministers over public feud
CNN launches iPad app, eliminates mobile app fee |
US-TECH Summary
France warns Google not to abuse dominance |
Nokia to cut about 800 jobs in Finland
Nokia delays flagship E7 phone to early 2011
Senator bets on Internet poker as odds dwindle |
Best Buy results sink electronics shares |
Indonesia parliament agrees to curb fuel subsidies
"King's Speech" leads Golden Globe nominations
Taiwan, China to hold fresh round of talks next week
Wikileaks, web to revolutionize reporting: Pilger
BP sells Pakistan assets to United Energy Group
Michael Jackson photo sells for just under $35,000
Islamic party quits Pakistan govt over minister
Michael Jackson photos sold at Paris auction
Sri Lanka set for record 60 IPOs in 2011
Glee and Mad Men get Golden Globe encores |
Voice on Michael Jackson album far from finished |
US-TECH Summary
Court grants bail to WikiLeaks' Assange
Senator bets on Internet poker as odds dwindle
France warns Google not to abuse dominance
Paris thieves prefer iPhones, Blackberries
WikiLeaks, a Napster-style Internet gamechanger for 2010
News
Google, Jordan sign deal to promote local firms
Romania smashes international cybercrime ring
Best Buy results sink electronics shares
US: no doubt Afghan war in better shape
Kosovo leader implicated in organ trafficking: report
Spectrum top priority for electronics trade group
Berlusconi narrowly survives Italy confidence vote |
Irish lawmakers to vote on EU-IMF bailout deal
Sudan's highest court to probe vote complaints
Clashes as Berlusconi survives no-confidence vote
Assange back in jail as Sweden appeals bail |
Palestinian kids play risky game with Israel police
US retail sales start holidays with a bang
Intelligence reports offer dim views of Afghan war: report |
Russian court delays Khodorkovsky verdict |
Greek anti-austerity strike to paralyze transport |
North Korea digging tunnel for spring nuclear test: report |
Mexico marijuana growers learn new tricks from U.S. |
Dozens feared dead after refugee boat sinks off Australia |
Cuban says unable to go accept EU rights prize |
Hong Kong police arrest triad leaders
Chavez's decree move enrages Venezuela opposition |
News
Survey names Facebook best place to work |
Tech firms set up shop at Google Ventures' Startup Lab |
News
Dow reaches two year high as US stocks hold gains
Facebook CEO youngest in California Hall of Fame |
Fed holds spending plan amid slow recovery
Yahoo to cut 4 percent of workforce |
Insensitive East German border videogame a hit |
Acer sees big growth in China, tablet market |
Spectrum top priority for electronics trade group |
France warns Google not to abuse dominance |
Roadside bombs kills 3 and wound 32 in Iraq
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Sudan police arrest women protesting at flogging video
Jon Favreau not directing "Iron Man 3"
UN to end Saddam-era sanctions on Iraq
Tron director makes history with high-tech sequel
Warhol film portraits on view in New York
Hit and myths: Festive tips analysed by science
News
Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds to divorce |
Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds to divorce
News
NATO service member dies in southern Afghanistan
"Insensitive" East German border videogame a hit
Reese Witherspoon's life mixed up in "How Do You Know"
King's Speech leads Golden Globe nominations |
All Black sensation Williams to re-enter boxing ring
S.Korea holds mass civil defence drill amid tension
WikiLeaks, Web to revolutionize reporting: John Pilger
Tron director makes history with high-tech sequel |
Microsoft fixes bugs in Windows, Internet Explorer
China frees 'enslaved' workers who shared dogs' food
News
Warhol film portraits on view in New York |
More US youths smoking pot: survey
CNN launches iPad app, eliminates mobile app fee
'King's Speech,' 'Social Network' lead Golden Globe nods
Relations with India 'fragile', says Chinese ambassador
Jon Favreau not directing Iron Man 3 |
Hackers flood Twitter with Acai spam
Thai queen accused over 2006 military coup: US cable
Setback for Smallville creators in profits lawsuit |
Minimum and maximum temperatures in Celsius
Search for sunken S.Korean trawler survivors ends
Reese Witherspoon's life mixed up in How Do You Know |
S.Korea court overturns death sentence on child rapist
Jobless misery in Philippines despite economic growth
News
News
Seoul shares hit fresh 37-month high
Pakistani REITs seen drawing local and foreign investment
News
News
U.S. Air Force blocks NYT and Guardian over WikiLeaks
News
News
BRIEF-Moody's: Korea's Agricultural Cooperative Law
Pakistan
Yahoo to cut 4 percent of workforce
Japan business sentiment hit by strong yen
Suicide bomber kills 39 at Iran procession
News
Iran suicide bombings kill 39 during ceremony |
News
Rating agency warns of Spain credit downgrade
In bid to break Taliban, US embraces more firepower
WikiLeaks' Assange bail appeal to be heard Thursday |
Britain's jobless total hits 2.5 million
Nokia Siemens buy of Motorola network ops wins EU nod
Wen says world big enough for India and China growth |
Afghan police: 3 children die in bomb blast
Pharma giant Novartis buys remainder of Alcon
Google's Chrome PC may see muted demand in China
Greek police clash with anti-austerity protesters |
Arrests in Afghan attack that killed 6 US troops
Iran mosque bombing kills at least 38
UK-based man in worldwide al Qaeda attack plot: court |
U.S. wants U.N. to lift ban on Iraq nuclear imports
US: no doubt Afghan war in better shape
Kenyan ministers named as suspects in vote violence |
NATO service member dies in southern Afghanistan
Iraq business elite flourish in Jordan safe haven |
Hong Kong acid thrower jailed for 13 years
Turkish army plot trial to revive tensions |
Indian police search lobbyist in telecom graft case
Wen says world big enough for India and China growth
Communist rebels in Philippines kill 10 soldiers
Indonesian police arrest fake Internet pimp
Indonesian researcher was 'on verge of creating vaccine for diarrhea'
Neil Diamond to join Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Shiites pour into Iraqi shrine city for Ashura
Nepal's former crown prince remanded for 3 days
Setback for Smallville creators in profits lawsuit
Time names Mark Zuckerberg 2010 Person of the Year |
Honesty, the strongest attribute of Thai PM: Poll
China and India not rivals, says visiting Chinese PM
News
Management Tip of the Day: Ways to manage your online image |
China and India, partners not rivals: Chinese PM
China's tech streets not lined with gold |
S.Korea to lift 2011 energy, resource development
Pakistani stocks end on 29-mth high; rupee firms
Baidu sees growth rate slowing in 2011 |
Taiwan regulator meets AIG CEO on Nan Shan sale
Google's Chrome PC may see muted demand in China |
Indian state cracks down on microfinance firms
Nokia Siemens buy of Motorola network ops wins EU nod |
News
Taiwan's Yulon Motor in joint venture with China's Dongfeng
Pakistan to announce results of T-bills on Wednesday
Neil Diamond to join Rock and Roll Hall of Fame |
Jessie J named Critics' Choice at BRIT awards |
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