Feb. 8, 2010

Gates: Iran's nuke program a threat to Middle East

ANKARA, Turkey (Feb. 6, 2010) – Iran’s nuclear program continues to put security in the Middle East at risk despite international pressure to halt its efforts, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Saturday.

Feb. 5, 2010

McChrystal notes progress in Afghanistan

ISTANBUL (Feb. 4, 2010) – Although he stopped short of saying the worst is over for troops as they prepare to surge into some of the toughest Taliban-held areas, the top NATO and U.S. commander in Afghanistan said here today that conditions no longer are deteriorating.

Feb. 4, 2010

Guardsmen set up radio stations for Afghan villagers

Georgia Army National Guardsmen of 1st Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment are giving the Shinwari and Muhmandari Mountain border villagers of Afghanistan their own voice through the gift of radio.

Feb. 3, 2010

More 101st Soldiers headed for Afghanistan

WASHINGTON (Feb. 2, 2010) – The 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division will deploy to Afghanistan as part of the surge of American troops into that country, Defense Department officials said Wednesday.

Feb. 2, 2010

Mosque restoration a symbol of change in Iraq

SAMARRA, Iraq – In the four years since the Golden Mosque was bombed by insurgents, residents here have made significant progress toward peace. –

Feb. 1, 2010

Marines help Afghans gather in protest aftermath

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (Jan. 28, 2010) – Ironically, when protestors in the Garmsir district here set fire to a school Jan. 12 in a fervor over allegations that a Quran had been desecrated, about 300 copies of the Muslim holy book burned with the school. On Jan. 19, the school's white walls were stained black from the fire and smoke that had billowed out of its broken windows just a week before. With Marines from 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, providing security, about 800 Garmsir residents sat on the grounds of that school for a community meeting called a “shura.”

Jan. 29, 2010

TF Steel employs successful counter-insurgency strategy

The Soldiers from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division have been implementing COIN successfully since February 2009. For the past 11 months Soldiers from Task Force Steel have conducted daily joint patrols with the Afghan border police.

Jan. 27, 2010

NATO names new senior civilian in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan (January 26, 2010) — NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen announced his decision to appoint Ambassador Mark Sedwill as the new Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan.

Jan. 26, 2010

US, UK share values, history in Afghanistan

LONDON (Jan. 26, 2010) – “The United States has no closer ally than the United Kingdom,” Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said here Monday.

Jan. 26, 2010

I MEF Marines meet Afghan allies

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Jan. 22, 2010) — A delegation of Afghan National Army officers visited 1st Marine Expeditionary Force recently to observe Marine training programs and provide valuable insight as the partnering force to the U.S. effort in Afghanistan.