CORRESPONDENTS
Nancy Youssef
Military leaders: U.S. effort in Afghanistan just beginning
Top Pentagon leaders Thursday insisted that despite an expected request for more American troops in Afghanistan, the U.S. isn't engaged in nation building there and that although violence is increasing, the military effort there is "only now beginning." | 09/03/09 19:54:00 By - Nancy A. Youssef
Pentagon worried about Obama's commitment to Afghanistan
The prospect that U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal may ask for as many as 45,000 additional American troops in Afghanistan is fueling growing tension within President Barack Obama's administration over the U.S. commitment to the war there. | 08/31/09 19:29:00 By - Nancy A. Youssef
U.S. deaths in Afghanistan headed for another record
With the death of four U.S. soldiers Tuesday, the U.S.-led NATO coalition in Afghanistan now has lost more troops this year than in all of 2008, and August is on track to be the deadliest month for American troops there since U.S. operations begain nearly eight years ago. The numbers reflect the rising pace of combat in Afghanistan and come as opinion polls show that a majority of Americans think the war in Afghanistan isn't worth the cost. | 08/25/09 18:57:00 By - Nancy A. Youssef and Jonathan S. Landay
Baghdad bombings question: Did U.S. draw back too fast?
Neither American officials in Washington nor Iraqi officials in Baghdad seem willing to entertain bringing U.S. troops back into the city, even though violence has risen since their withdrawal. Wednesday's bombings, which killed at least 95 and injured more than 500, came as Iraqi officials have been dismantling many of the security steps that had brought a dramatic drop in bloodshed to the Iraqi capital. | 08/19/09 18:56:00 By - Sahar Issa and Nancy A. Youssef
In Afghan district, U.S. will face 'toughest environment'
The Canadian soldiers in southern Afghanistan wonder whether the Americans who're coming later this month will be able to do any better than they have. | 08/13/09 16:16:00 By - Nancy A. Youssef
In Taliban heartland, coalition's made little headway after 8 years
Coalition troops have been battling the Taliban in Afghanistan for nearly eight years, and yet in the Zhari District, where the Taliban sprang to life, not a single coalition soldier is based in any of the villages. The Canadian troops who've fought here for the last three years are frustrated and skeptical that their American brethren will have any better luck. | 08/13/09 16:13:00 By - Nancy A. Youssef
U.S. mulls pulling troops from remote Afghan outposts
The U.S. military commander in Afghanistan is considering pulling American troops out of some remote outposts on the country's mountainous eastern border with Pakistan, where local guerrillas are allied with the Taliban and al Qaida, U.S. officials told McClatchy. | 08/12/09 17:34:00 By - Jonathan S. Landay and Nancy A. Youssef
McChrystal wants huge boost in U.S. civilians in Afghanistan
In addition to possibly requesting thousands of additional U.S. troops in Afghanistan, the top American military commander in Afghanistan will ask the Obama administration to double the number of U.S. government civilian workers who are in the country. The request for additional civilian resources will be part of a 60-day assessment of U.S. Afghan strategy now being conducted by Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal. The plan will also propose revamping the relationship between civilians and the military so that soldiers shift economic and political development work to civilians. | 08/10/09 17:59:00 By - Nancy A. Youssef and Warren P. Strobel
As security rises in Kabul, residents feel less safe instead
As the United States steps up its civilian presence in Kabul, residents of the ancient capital say they're beginning to feel like a city under siege. Huge intimidating convoys of armored SUVs now are common sights in the city's growing traffic jams. Newly erected concrete barriers block off many buildings from nearby thoroughfares. Nearly every day, there's some incident involving security teams pointing guns out of windows at frightened commuters. | 07/23/09 15:30:00 By - Nancy A. Youssef
U.S. airstrike in Afghanistan tests McChrystal's new order
An airstrike that Afghan officials allege killed at least four civilians Wednesday is the first test of a new U.S. directive that American troops let Taliban fighters flee if civilian lives are at risk. | 07/17/09 17:49:00 By - Nancy A. Youssef
Karzai opponents hope to beat him in second round
In an effort to offset Afghan President Hamid Kazai's deals with various tribal factions, his rival presidential candidates are hoping to deny him a majority in the Aug. 20 election, then coalesce around one leading opposition candidate in a runoff. | 07/14/09 14:58:00 By - Nancy A. Youssef
McChrystal says he won't pull punches on Afghan proposals
The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said Sunday that when he gives his assessment to the Obama administration next month of what is needed to defeat the Taliban, he won't be deterred by administration statements that he cannot have more U.S. troops. | 07/12/09 18:00:00 By - Nancy A. Youssef
Where's Pentagon 'terrorism suspect'? Talking to Karzai
Haji Sahib Rohullah Wakil spends his days going from one high-level official meeting to another with the swagger of a tribal elder, advocating for the needs of Kunar province, his home region. Which some might consider a bit odd, since he's on the most recent Pentagon list of ex Guantanamo detainees who've "returned" to terrorism. Afghan officials, and Wakil say the allegation is ridiculous. | 07/07/09 17:23:00 By - Nancy A. Youssef
Afghans: Taliban have escaped Helmand and Marines
Taliban fighters and their commanders have escaped the Marines' big offensive in Afghanistan's Helmand province and moved into areas to the west and north, prompting fears that the U.S. effort has just moved the Taliban problem elsewhere, Afghan defense officials have told McClatchy. | 07/07/09 17:07:00 By - Nancy A. Youssef
Marine offensive intended to show that Taliban can be beat
The massive Marine assault launched Thursday in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province is intended to recapture an area that's been under Taliban control for the past five years — a step officials think is critical to showing Afghan civilians that coalition forces can protect them from Islamist militants. Early casualty numbers suggests only modest Taliban resistance, with one Marine killed and several others wounded. | 07/02/09 17:12:00 By - Nancy A. Youssef
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