InfoAnda - U.S. seen struggling to win fight in Afghan east |

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

Oxfam predicts millions more victims of climate | 21 April 2009
Forking out a 'Fortuyn' for Dutch politician's artefacts | 26 June 2009
Kevin Tsai, Dee Hsu exposed antics of artistes | 26 December 2008

Nokia 'on a burning platform,' CEO warns | 10 February 2011

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : U.S. seen struggling to win fight in Afghan east |

Edition: U.S. Africa Arabic Argentina Brazil Canada China France Germany India Italy Japan Latin America Mexico Russia Spain United Kingdom Home Business Business Home Economy Technology Media Small Business Green Business Legal Deals Earnings Summits Business Video Markets Markets Home U.S. Markets European Markets Asian Markets Global Market Data Indices M&A Stocks Bonds Currencies Commodities Futures Funds peHUB World World Home U.S. Brazil China Euro Zone Japan Mexico Russia Afghan Journal Africa Journal India Insight Global News Journal Pakistan: Now or Never? World Video Politics Politics Home Front Row Washington Politics Video Technology Technology Home MediaFile Science Tech Video Opinion Opinion Home Chrystia Freeland Felix Salmon Jack Shafer Breakingviews David Rohde Bernd Debusmann Gregg Easterbrook Nader Mousavizadeh James Saft David Cay Johnston Edward Hadas Christopher Whalen Ian Bremmer Mohamed El-Erian Lawrence Summers The Great Debate Unstructured Finance Newsmaker Money Money Home Analyst Research Global Investing MuniLand Reuters Money John Wasik Alerts Watchlist Portfolio Stock Screener Fund Screener Personal Finance Video Life & Culture Health Sports Arts Faithworld Business Traveler Left Field Entertainment Oddly Enough Lifestyle Video Pictures Pictures Home Reuters Photographers Full Focus Video Article Comments (0) Full Focus Editor's choice Our best photos from the past 24 hours. Full Article Follow Reuters Facebook Twitter RSS YouTube Read Gaddafi killed in hometown, Libya eyes future | 5:00pm EDT Discussed 148 Gaddafi captured as he fled Sirte: NTC official 119 Strike shuts down Greece before austerity vote 99 Obama jobs roadshow seeks to tap anti-Wall St anger Watched Gaddafi captured, covered in blood 10:34am EDT Japanese airline, ANA, apologises for plane flip Fri, Sep 30 2011 Rebels celebrate Gaddafi's capture 8:26am EDT U.S. seen struggling to win fight in Afghan east Tweet Share this Email Print Related News Clinton talks tough on militants ahead of Pakistan trip 7:42am EDT Focus on Afghanistan, not Pakistan, army chief tells U.S. Wed, Oct 19 2011 Initial U.S. drawdown to pull from restive Afghan east Tue, Oct 18 2011 Pakistan wants Afghan action on Taliban cleric Mon, Oct 17 2011 U.S. not sincere about Afghan peace: Haqqanis Thu, Oct 13 2011 Analysis & Opinion Trusting the masses: US tiptoes into democracy in Pakistan Afghanistan’s Rabbani sought fatwa against suicide bombing: daughter Related Topics World » Afghanistan » A U.S. Army crewman sits at the rear of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter accompanying the Blackhawk of U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (not pictured) between Forward Operating Bases in over eastern Afghanistan, June 6, 2011. Credit: Reuters/Jason Reed By Missy Ryan WASHINGTON | Thu Oct 20, 2011 3:42pm EDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - It's known in milspeak as RC-East, the vast, rugged and mountainous east of Afghanistan, where battle-hardened insurgents vow to wait out U.S. military might and the final phase of the decade-long war in Afghanistan is likely to be decided. With a dwindling force, a ticking clock and a patient enemy, it appears doubtful that President Barack Obama can hope for more than to hold on to the fragile security gains U.S.-led NATO forces have already made there. Afghanistan may garner little more than episodic attention in U.S. media and the cares of American voters. But in Washington policy circles, a debate is reverberating over Regional Command-East, which encompasses 14 provinces and a long stretch of porous border with Pakistan. Across Afghanistan, U.S. and NATO forces have been unable to deal a decisive blow to Taliban insurgents and allies like the Haqqani network, blamed for a series of bold attacks on American targets. Yet even more formidable challenges face foreign troops in the east, along with an uncertain ally across the border in Pakistan. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton landed on Thursday in Islamabad, where she and the heads of the CIA and the Joint Chiefs of Staff will deliver a tough warning to Pakistan to cut suspected ties with militant groups that have severely strained ties between the uneasy allies. Military experts such as retired General David Barno, who commanded U.S. forces in Afghanistan from 2003 to 2005, expect commanders in the Afghan east will, by necessity, focus on trying to sustain the modest security gains that have been made rather than routing a sophisticated, well-resourced insurgency. "The bigger question now is: are you simply managing a withdrawal or are you trying to achieve a larger military and military objective?" Barno asked. The dilemma in the east mirrors that across Afghanistan, as the White House orders a brisk withdrawal of the 33,000 extra troops Obama deployed following his 2009 overhaul of U.S. policy for a long-neglected campaign. With a budget crisis at home and a presidential election on the horizon, the White House is forging ahead with withdrawal plans despite quiet fears among military officials that their hard-won gains could be reversed or that Afghanistan could slide into civil war on their watch. Major General Daniel Allyn, who took over as commander in RC-East in May, voices confidence he can accomplish a mission that aims to disrupt the pipeline of weapons and fighters from Pakistan with a force of 33,000 U.S. and NATO soldiers. Allyn's tightly focused mission also includes nudging a green but growing Afghan security force into the lead. GEOGRAPHY AS DESTINY A decade into the war, the West is seeking to weaken a host of insurgents, who in eastern Afghanistan also includes the independent Hezb-i-Islami group, and push them toward embryonic peace talks with the Afghan government rather than achieving a decisive battlefield victory in this long guerrilla war. New data from the NATO force indicates that insurgent attacks in RC-East dropped in August and September compared to the same months of 2010, but it's too early to say if the trend will stick in a region where security festered for years as commanders focused on the Taliban's southern domain. Overall attacks in RC-East increased, for instance, by over 20 percent from January through September. The terrain alone is a major challenge in the Afghan east, where isolated valleys and impassible tracks often require helicopters to transport soldiers and supplies and make each mission exponentially more dangerous. Those challenges are only intensified by the nature of the insurgent threat, with the bulk of the violence blamed on the battle-savvy Haqqani fighters. The group -- which U.S. officials says is based in western Pakistan and has ties to Pakistani intelligence -- is also accused of launching a September 13 assault on the U.S. Embassy in Kabul and a recent truck bombing in eastern Wardak province. "The Haqqanis are more tactically sophisticated, better trained, and in certain cases more entrenched in population centers" than the core of the Taliban, said Jeff Dressler, a security expert who has written extensively about the group. "Even though commanders are fighting a very different opponent, they don't have the same resources," Dressler said. MAKING DO General John Allen, the overall commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, has suggested he may rejig the allocation of foreign troops, sending more combat soldiers to the east. But for now soldiers in this rugged region must operate on the assumption they have to make do with what they have. "It's quite apparent that this is not a conditions-based withdrawal, and as a result the troops may not be there," said Anthony Cordesman, a veteran security expert in Washington. "That may force us to leave the south too weak, and not go into the east as we would like. So exactly what is it we're trying to do in RC-East?" Cordesman asked. If commanders in the east will not receive a major infusion of fresh troops, their second-best wish list might include additional helicopters and enhanced surveillance capability. Allyn said such extra air power and intensified surveillance was now provided to him on an as-needed basis. "Commanders will do what they can with what they've got -- you've got to prioritize," a former RC-East staff member said on condition of anonymity. The success of what may be a frugal U.S. strategy in RC-East is predicated, as it is across Afghanistan, on continuing improvements to local security forces. In RC-East, that means the 68,000-strong force of Afghan police, soldiers, and border police must work quickly to get up to speed. Whether that can happen fast enough, given the western commitment to hand over control for Afghanistan's security by the end of 2014, is an open question. "We can't stay there forever," the former RC-East staff member said. (Additional reporting by Emma Graham-Harrison in Kabul; Editing by Warren Strobel and Philip Barbara) World Afghanistan Tweet this Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/ Comments (0) Be the first to comment on reuters.com. Add yours using the box above. Social Stream (What's this?) Edition: U.S. Africa Arabic Argentina Brazil Canada China France Germany India Italy Japan Latin America Mexico Russia Spain United Kingdom Back to top Reuters.com Business Markets World Politics Technology Opinion Money Pictures Videos Site Index Legal Bankruptcy Law California Legal New York Legal Securities Law Support & Contact Contact Us Advertise With Us Connect with Reuters Twitter Facebook LinkedIn RSS Podcast Newsletters Mobile About Privacy Policy Terms of Use Our Flagship financial information platform incorporating Reuters Insider An ultra-low latency infrastructure for electronic trading and data distribution A connected approach to governance, risk and compliance Our next generation legal research platform Our global tax workstation Thomsonreuters.com About Thomson Reuters Investor Relations Careers Contact Us Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.

Other News on Friday, 21 October 2011
Basque separatists ETA say end armed struggle |
Venezuela's Chavez declares himself free of cancer |
Palestinians plan other options if U.N. bid fails |
Notre Dame women upend UConn in preseason conference basketball poll
Ohio police kill 49 released wild animals
Arnie Spiked! popular Arnold Palmer beverage will have alchoholic version
PGA Tour announces new brand in South America
Federal Reserve Beige Book says economy still growing weakly
White House repeats Syria's Assad has lost legitimacy |
Heavy casualties claimed as Somali forces attack rebel stronghold
U.S. seen struggling to win fight in Afghan east |
Ross McGowan off to runnning start with 64 at Castello Masters
Islamic plot to bomb U.S. embassy reported in Mexico
Somali forces seize district in lower Jubba from insurgents
Hard times lead young Somalis to delay marriage
Netflix investors seek clarity amid stumbles |
Jobs refused early surgery for cancer: biographer |
BlackBerry maker accused of infringing BBX trademark |
Microsoft sued for monopoly abuse by Israeli firm |
Some Girls reissue to include unreleased track |
T-Pain sets December release for new album |
Rocker Bon Jovi opens charity restaurant |
Gaddafi killed in hometown, Libya eyes future |
U.S. grand jury indicts two men in Saudi envoy plot |
Fleury stops 27 shots to power Penguins past slumping Habs
U.N. council to vote on Yemen resolution on Friday |
Sacrifice flies lift Rangers over Cards in game two, World Series even 1-1
Trade off as Lions running back Jerome Harrison has brain tumor
Greece adopts austerity bill amid protests |
Michigan State end Gholston suspended for showdown with Wisconsin
Buford looks to assume leadership role with Buckeyes basketball team
Basque separatists ETA say end armed struggle |
UNC is No.1 in preseason coaches' hoops poll; Ohio State nabs No. 3
Luke Donald throws challenge at Disney with opening 66
Spain’s ETA separatists declare cease fire
Central Taiwan seen as election key as China frets |
Tunisia vows no poll rigging, calls on people to vote |
Chinese girl dies in hit and run that sparked outrage |
Feeble Windows holds back Microsoft profit |
Jobs refused cancer treatment too long: biographer |
HP loses strategy chief as overhaul rumbles on |
Mobile phones don't hike cancer risk: Danish study |
Obama officials, senators agree to seek cyber deal |
Oracle can use Google email in patent case: judge |
Propofol infusion dominates Jackson doctor's trial |
Chris Rene will emerge a star, says X Factor judge |
DirecTV says may pull the plug on Fox TV shows |
Clinton says U.S. officials have met with Haqqanis |
Floods threaten Thai capital, scores killed in Myanmar |
Reluctant to return
Pakistan, Morocco, Guatemala elected to U.N. council |
Bernard Hopkins regains title in WBC ruling of bout vs. Chad Dawson
Opinions strong about Gaddafi's end and Libya's new beginning
Turkey presses PKK hunt, Iran pledges cooperation |
Dany Heatley’s late heroics force overtime, Wild edge Oilers in shootout
Kenyan inter-ethnic clashes result in deaths, school closures
Analysis: Greek PM clings to power, tries to dodge snap polls |
U.S. stocks rally Friday ahead of weekend Eurozone summit
Google doodle celebrates Disney artist's 100th birthday
U.S. lawmakers aim to lure foreigners to buy American homes
Gaddafi's death emboldens anti-Assad protesters in Syria |
U.N. body seeks investigation of Gaddafi death
Florida lawmaker sparks controversy with remark on Hispanics
Analysis: Gaddafi's death a warning to Syrian, Yemeni leaders |
Kenya turns to home in Shabaab crackdown |
Gaddafi caught like rat in a drain, humiliated and |
Coldplay launches fresh chart assault with fifth album |
Robbie Williams to release album with Universal next year |
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		BlogMeter 1.01