As troop drawdown nears, is NATO surge working in Afghanistan? Christian Science Monitor special report by Anna Mulrine and Tom A. Peter. BLUF: "As Obama's promise of a troop drawdown nears, the US military says the surge of tens of thousands of NATO reinforcements that began last year has won some and lost some against the Taliban but needs more time to succeed."
Also, US troops confident of Afghan war counterinsurgency strategy by Tom A. Peter, Christian Science Monitor. BLUF: "The counterinsurgency strategy of the Afghan war surge shows signs of success, say US troops, who point to fewer attacks better local relations."