US Faces Exodus Of Top Afghanistan Team -- The Telegraph
The US faces the loss of four senior members of its Afghanistan team in coming months, leaving President Barack Obama with a gaping lack of experience as the conflict enters a critical phase and the public expects a withdrawal of troops to start.
The long-running conflict has placed unforeseen demands on the human resources of the US administration and several senior people are reaching the end of gruelling tours. Mr Obama will in coming months have to find replacements for Karl Eikenberry, the ambassador to Kabul, and Gen David Petraeus, the commander of coalition forces. Robert Gates, the Defence Secretary, who also served under George W Bush, could also be heading for the exit, though pressure is likely to increase on him to stay for the duration of Mr Obama's first term in office.
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More News On Afghanistan
Architect of Iraq surge tipped for job -- The Australian
Pentagon douses rumor of Petraeus exit, for now -- Stars And Stripes
Afghanistan violence to rise in 2011: U.S. military -- Reuters
Afghan, Coalition Forces Kill Attackers in Afghanistan -- U.S. Department of Defense
Foreign soldier, dozen Taliban fighters killed in Afghanistan -- M&C
ISAF Joint Command morning operational update: Security patrols wrap up several leaders, facilitators, destroy narcotics -- Dvids
NATO, Afghan forces detain insurgent leaders -- Washington Post
ISAF detains Taliban commander operating from Pakistan -- Threat Matrix
NATO, Afghan Forces Capture 3 Insurgent Leaders -- Voice of America
NATO, Afghan forces detain insurgent leaders, including 1 linked to bombing of supermarket -- Canadian Press
11 insurgents detained in Afghan Kunar province: official -- Global Times
Spate of Kabul suicide bombs blamed on nearby valley -- The National
EU's Afghan police mission 'failing' in building up civilian policing capability: Report -- Sify News
EU police training force warns against early Afghanistan pullout -- Deutsche Welle
EU's Afghan police mission 'failing' - UK Lords report -- BBC
Afghan pullout talk hurting police training: EU -- AFP
UN Taliban sanctions hinder peace effort - official -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Some Afghans say insecurity persists despite surge -- Washington Post
Afghans displaced by war find refuge, and little else, in Kabul -- Stars And Stripes
Staying in Touch With Home, for Better or Worse -- New York Times
IMF wants Afghanistan's troubled Kabul Bank sold off -- Washington Post
Afghanistan must clean up banks before aid: IMF -- AFP
IMF Tells Afghanistan To Stabilize Financial System -- Wall Street Journal
Afghan activists condemn women's shelter takeover plans -- BBC
Women said to be at risk in Kabul’s plan to take over Afghan shelters -- Globe And Mail
Afghan Government Control of Women's Shelters Worries Advocates -- Voice of America
Afghan Women’s Shelter Advocates Call for International Solidarity -- UN Dispatch
Battle for Marjah -- New York Times
What does the future hold for Petraeus? -- Mark Mardell, BBC
Myths about 'unwinnable' Afghanistan -- Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, CNN
One Year After Escalation, Afghanistan War Still Faltering -- Huffington Post
No Refuge From Fear in Afghanistan, Even at Prayer -- Sharifullah Sahak, New York Times