From Reuters:
WASHINGTON, March 18 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama's aides are weighing a range of options to shift policy in Afghanistan, including a full-scale counter-insurgency push to protect civilians nationwide, officials said on Wednesday.
Among the ideas are scaling back the U.S. mission to focus on counter-terrorism and the training of Afghan forces; making a focused counter-insurgency push in the violent south and east; and pursuing a wider campaign to protect civilians across the country, said a U.S. official who asked not to be named.
Hundreds of civilian officials from across the U.S. government would be deployed to Afghanistan as part of the new strategy in a sort of "civilian surge," said another official, including veteran U.S. diplomat Peter Galbraith, who would be a deputy to the top United Nations official on the ground.
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More News On Afghanistan
Officials recommend civilian boost in Afghanistan -- AP
Civilians to Join Afghan Buildup -- Washington Post
Obama's Afghanistan 'surge': diplomats, civilian specialists -- McClatchy
Obama urged to escalate drone bombing raids deep into Pakistan -- Times Online
US Weighs Taliban Strike Into Pakistan -- New York Times
7 suspects held in Afghanistan attacks -- L.A. Times
Afghanistan says Kabul strikes planned in Pakistan -- AFP
NATO says 4,000 extra troops needed for Afghan poll -- Yahoo News/Reuters
NATO recommits troops for Afghan polls -- Yahoo News/AFP
Talking with the 'Moderate' Taliban -- Washington Times editorial