Taliban Warns of Spring Offensive - Los Angeles Times

Taliban Announce Beginning of Spring Offensive - Associated Press

Afghan Taliban Declare Start to Spring Offensive - Reuters

Report: Coalition, Afghans Making 'Tangible Progress' - AFPS

Pentagon: Taliban Routed from Key Afghan Strongholds - Voice of America

U.S. Makes Gains in Afghanistan, Report Says - Stars and Stripes

Pentagon Reports 'Tangible Progress' in Afghanistan - Washington Post

Afghanistan War Report Cites Progress By Troops - New York Times

Pentagon Reports Progress in Afghanistan - Wall Street Journal

Report Says Afghan War Showing Progress - Washington Times

Report Speaks of Progress in Afghanistan War - Associated Press

Afghan Violence Rises Amid Troop Surge - Reuters

War Progress At Risk From Corruption, Training Lags - Bloomberg

Pentagon's Rosy Report Raises Questions - Christian Science Monitor

U.S.-led Coalition: Taliban Plan Spate of Attacks - Stars and Stripes

Forces Detain Taliban Leader in Kandahar Province - AFPS

NATO Says 8 U.S. Troops were Armed when Killed - Los Angeles Times

Remembering the Victims of Kabul Airport Shooting - Stars and Stripes

Obama's Russian Lessons - Washington Post opinion

Will the Afghan Army Fight? - Washington Post opinion

Pakistan

Bomb Hits Minibus, Kills 2 in NW Pakistan - Associated Press

Syria

Protest Crackdowns Leave Almost 62 Dead in Syria - Voice of America

'Scores Die' in Protests Across Country - BBC News

Syrian Forces Shoot at Protesters in Dara'a Siege - New York Times

Thousands Protest in Damascus after Crackdown - Los Angeles Times

Syrian Protesters Defy Assad Government; 42 Killed - Associated Press

U.S. Freezes Syrian Officials' Assets - Voice of America

U.S. Freezes Syrian Intelligence Assets - Washington Post

U.S. Moves Cautiously Against Syrian Leaders - New York Times

U.S. Aims Financial Hits at Syrian Officials, Iran - Associated Press

U.S. Slaps New Sanctions on Syria Over Crackdown - Reuters

E.U. Reaches Initial Deal on Syria Sanctions - Reuters

U.N. Body Approves Probe of Syrian Crackdown - Associated Press

U.N. Rights Body Condemns Syria, Orders Probe - Reuters

Israel Watches Events in Syria Carefully - Voice of America

Video of Syrian Forces Firing on Protesters - New York Times

Libya / Operation Odyssey Dawn

NATO Bombs Tripoli as Gadhafi Offers Truce - Wall Street Journal

Fighting Flares on 2 Fronts in Libyan City - New York Times

Libya Warns Relief Vessels - Washington Post

NATO: Qaddafi Forces Caught Mining Misurata Port - Associated Press

Libyan Forces Clash with Tunisian Soldiers - Voice of America

Libyan Forces Chase Rebels Into Tunisia - Associated Press

Libya's Gaddafi Offers NATO Talks - BBC News

Libya's Gaddafi Calls for Negotiation With NATO - Reuters

Yemen

Dueling Demonstrations in Yemen - Voice of America

Yemen's Saleh Due to Sign Transition Deal - Reuters

Egypt

Egypt Intends to Reopen Gaza Crossing - Washington Post

Gaza-Egypt Border Crossing to Open Permanently - BBC News

Egypt's Plan to Open Gaza Border Reveals Shifts - Associated Press

Tunisia

Over 800 Inmates Escape Tunisian Prisons - Associated Press

Morocco

Fatal Bomb in Morocco Shows Signs of Al Qaeda - New York Times

Moroccan Minister: Al Qaeda Suspect in Cafe Blast - Associated Press

Marrakesh Bomb 'Set Off Remotely' - BBC News

Morocco Counts Cost of Bombing at Tourist Hotspot - Reuters

Iraq

Attacks in Iraq Kill 10, Including 8-Year-Old Girl - Associated Press

Iran

Bahrain

Bahrain Cleric: Death Sentences Deepen Tensions - Associated Press

Shiite Worshippers Condemn Bahrain Death Sentences - Reuters

Israel / Palestinians

Palestinian Factions Give Differing Views of Unity Pact - New York Times

Middle East / North Africa Unrest

Latest Developments in Arab World's Unrest - Associated Press

U.S. Department of Defense

Michael Vickers is a National Security Star, Again - Washington Post

Security Requires Balanced Spending, Flournoy Says - AFPS

Army Says WikiLeaks Suspect Fit to Stand Trial - Associated Press

2 Navy Officers Relieved of Command - Associated Press

United States

New Security Team Faces Decisions on Troop Withdrawals - FOX News

Congressmen, Police Vigilant after Giffords Shooting - Washington Post

Africa

Nigerian Opposition Parties Make Gains in State Houses - VOA

Uganda Protesters Clash With Police Over Opposition Leader's Arrest - VOA

Protests in Uganda Build to Angry Clashes - New York Times

Uganda Riots Over Besigye Arrest - BBC News

Troops and Protesters Clash in Uganda - Associated Press

Two Killed, Scores Hospitalised in Uganda Riots - Reuters

Americas

Mexico Extradites Drug Cartel Leader to U.S. - Voice of America

Mexico Extradites Drug Lord to Face Charges in U.S. - Los Angeles Times

Mexico 'Cartel Boss' Extradited - BBC News

Mexico Extradites Reputed Drug Lord Arellano Felix - Associated Press

Mexico Extradites Once-Powerful Drug Lord to U.S. - Reuters

Venezuela: Sweden Should Explain in FARC Case - Associated Press

Peru Election Race Tightens to Tie - Reuters

Former Agent for Pinochet Is Found Slain in Argentina - Associated Press

Paraguay VP: 'I'll Shoot Down the President' - Associated Press

U.S. Senator Raises Concerns About Haiti Vote Fraud - Associated Press

Cuba Hunger Strikers Seek Release of Jailed U.S. Man - Reuters

Asia Pacific

Flournoy: Asia Will be Heart of U.S. Security Policy - AFPS

China Releases Detained Activist - New York Times

China Rights Lawyer Resurfaces After Detention - Associated Press

Pro-Ai Graffiti in Hong Kong Sparks Warning by Chinese Army - Reuters

Criticism Up on Japan PM's Handling of Nuke Crisis - Associated Press

9th Day of Thai-Cambodia Border Clashes Despite Truce - BBC News

Elections in Communist Laos Promise Little Change - Associated Press

Europe

Germany: Al Qaeda Attack Thwarted By Three Arrests - New York Times

Germans Arrest 3 Al Qaida Suspects - Associated Press

German Police Arrest Three Al Qaeda Suspects - Reuters

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

The coalition and its Afghan partners have made "tangible progress" in Afghanistan over the past six months in not only arresting enemy momentum, but also reversing it in many key areas, a senior defense official said here today.

"We've wrested away areas the insurgents have had under control for years," the official said, speaking on background on the Report on Progress Toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan. Congress mandates the report.

The report covers the past six months and paints a far different picture of the country than the first report in January 2009. Then, the situation in Afghanistan was deteriorating. Taliban and other insurgent groups operated shadow governments across many provinces. Levels of violence were on the rise and insurgents operated not only from safe havens in the Federally Administered Tribal Area of Pakistan, but also from safe havens in Afghanistan --- most notably in and around Kandahar, the nation's second-largest city.

The official said the "narrative arc" since the first report shows that "there was a real problem, the administration's reviews identified that and the means necessary to reverse that, and not just reverse it, but push it back. Over the last year, as we put those forces into place, the situation on the ground is fundamentally changing."

The change has to be measured over the long run, the official said. It is not a dramatic switch from bad to good, but the gradual improvement due to thousands of small acts to improve security. Insurgents will continue to launch "spectacular" terrorist attacks to reverse the progress, the official said. But those attacks, while horrible, have not stopped progress in the country.

"You need to look at the entire campaign, you need to look at the entire effort and, most importantly, you need to look at the results," the official said.

However, the official said, progress in Afghanistan is still fragile and reversible.

"There are going to be tough days ahead," he said.

The biggest game-changers in Afghanistan are the result of the U.S. and NATO troop surge into the country and the surge in Afghan forces in numbers and capabilities, the official said.

The report also highlights the growing capabilities of Afghan security forces. The Afghan police still lag the army in capabilities, but both are making progress. Remaining desired improvements for Afghan security forces include what the U.S. military calls combat service and combat service support capabilities --- medical, logistics, transportation, command and control and the like. There is a lack of trainers for these specialized areas, the official said, but there have been commitments for more trainers for these areas.

Special efforts are being made to train Afghan recruits to read and write, the official said. The literacy rate in Afghanistan overall is set at 43 percent for men and under 13 percent for women. Afghan recruits often reenlist to continue this training, the official added. Also, schools established in 2002 and 2003 are now graduating young literate Afghans.

Progress also needs to continue in governance and the economy in Afghanistan. Military forces can provide security, but what the country needs is "the follow-on ability of governance, rule of law, the structures that need to be in place after the clearing operations are completed," the official said.

There is a lot of concentration on building these capabilities, the official said, but so much needs to be done that the job will be difficult.

Related / News:

NATO International Security Assistance Force

Report on Progress Toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan

Background Briefing with Senior Defense Official (Transcript)

Pentagon: Taliban Routed from Key Afghan Strongholds - Voice of America

U.S. Makes Gains in Afghanistan, Report Says - Stars and Stripes

Afghanistan War Report Cites Progress By Troops - New York Times

Pentagon Reports 'Tangible Progress' in Afghanistan - Washington Post

Pentagon Reports Progress in Afghanistan - Wall Street Journal

Report Says Afghan War Showing Progress - Washington Times

Report Speaks of Progress in Afghanistan War - Associated Press

Afghan Violence Rises Amid Troop Surge - Reuters

War Progress At Risk From Corruption, Training Lags - Bloomberg

Pentagon's Rosy Report Raises Questions - Christian Science Monitor

In light of inaccuracy in media reports to date on this incident, the International Security Assistance Force is releasing initial findings of the investigation into the deaths at North Kabul International Airport.

Preliminary findings of this investigation indicate that the NATO trainers who were killed were armed with weapons and ammunition. In addition, initial ballistics analysis and post-event imagery indicate that the alleged gunman, who appeared to be acting alone, was severely wounded prior to departing the room where the initial attack took place. Initial reports also indicate the gunman appeared to be carrying two weapons. The gunman was later found dead at a different location within the building.

At this point in the investigation, it appears that the gunman was acting alone. Beyond that, no Taliban connection with the gunman has been discovered; however, the investigation is still ongoing, and we have not conclusively ruled out that possibility.

Following the attack at North KAIA on April 27 that resulted in the death of eight NATO service members and one civilian trainer, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan initiated a combined investigation with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. Additional investigation results will be released when available.

Via the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs): DOD Identifies Air Force Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of eight airmen who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

They died April 27, at the Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from gunfire. The incident is under investigation.

Killed were:

Maj. Philip D. Ambard, 44, of Edmonds, Wash. He was assigned to the 460th Space Communications Squadron, Buckley Air Force Base, Colo.

Maj. Jeffrey O. Ausborn, 41, of Gadsden, Ala. He was assigned to the 99th Flying Training Squadron, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.

Maj. David L. Brodeur, 34, of Auburn, Mass. He was assigned to the 11th Air Force, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

Master Sgt. Tara R. Brown, 33, of Deltona, Fla. She was assigned to the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Joint Base Andrews, Md.

Lt. Col. Frank D. Bryant Jr., 37, of Knoxville, Tenn. He was assigned to the 56th Operations Group, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.

Maj. Raymond G. Estelle II, 40, of New Haven, Conn. He was assigned to Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.

Capt. Nathan J. Nylander, 35, of Hockley, Texas. He was assigned to the 25th Operational Weather Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.

Capt. Charles A. Ransom, 31, of Midlothian, Va. He was assigned to the 83rd Network Operations Squadron, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.

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Here is the latest edition of my column at Foreign Policy:

Topics include:

1) Do CIA directors make better defense secretaries?

2) Does Leon Panetta have a grand strategy?

Do CIA directors make better defense secretaries?

In a sweeping but long-anticipated reorganization of his national security team, President Barack Obama has nominated Leon Panetta, his CIA director, to be the next Secretary of Defense. When confirmed, Panetta will replace Robert Gates. According to the New York Times, Gates -- himself a former director of Central Intelligence -- has been voicing his support in calls to leaders on Capitol Hill in recent days, saying he recommended Panetta as his replacement six months ago. The Times also noted that of all of the candidates to replace Gates "it was Leon the whole time." Is there something about CIA directors that makes them especially qualified to be defense secretaries?

Many analysts have focused on Panetta's past as chairman of the House Budget Committee and his time as director of the Office of Management and Budget during the Clinton administration. With Obama having tasked the Pentagon and other security agencies to come up with an additional $400 billion in savings over the next 12 years, Panetta's experience with the federal budget could be a critical skill in the period ahead.

A defense secretary serves not only the president, but his other "customer," the Congress. Panetta's longevity inside Washington's circles nearly matches Gates's. His past experience as a congressman and his recent experience at CIA will ensure smooth relations on Capitol Hill and there should be virtually no opposition to his nomination to the Pentagon.

But it's likely that these were not the most critical reasons why he became the easy first choice for the Pentagon. In pushing for Panetta, Gates is undoubtedly counting on his old institution, the CIA, to have thoroughly prepared its current director in two crucial ways.

First, the Pentagon is a massive organization, requiring great management experience from its leader to be effective. The CIA is also a large organization, which Panetta has led for over two years without incident. Having been through the same progression, Gates must feel comfortable with Panetta's management ability.

But for Obama and Gates, the most critical preparation Panetta has received is his acquired knowledge about the external security challenges the United States will face in the years ahead. The CIA's paramilitary activities in Afghanistan, its relations with Pakistan's intelligence service, and the CIA drone program over North Waziristan have undoubtedly consumed much of Panetta's time. But his briefing books have also included the growth of China's missile and naval forces, the development of Iran's nuclear and missile forces, the growing role of militarized drug cartels in Latin America, and many other threats.

The Defense Secretary's most important job is to make sure that the country's military forces are prepared for future challenges. The first step in achieving that mission is to understand what those will be. The CIA has its version of what those challenges are, which are now inside Panetta's head. Gates seems comfortable with that.

Does Leon Panetta have a grand strategy?

At an April 21 press conference at the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Robert Gates attempted to establish the ground rules for the latest review of defense spending. Responding to President Barack Obama's call to find an additional $400 billion of savings from security spending over the next 12 years, Gates insisted that this latest budget exercise result in a presentation of risks and consequences to Obama. Gates explained:

So what I hope to do is frame this in a way that says, if you want to cut this number of dollars, here are the consequences for force structure. Here are your choices in terms of capabilities that will be reduced or investments that are not made. And here are the consequences of this.

This is about -- this needs to be a process that is driven by the analysis, and where it is about risk management with respect to future national security threats and challenges, as well as missions that our elected officials decide we should not have to perform or shouldn't -- can't perform anymore because we don't have the resources.

I want to frame those choices, because the easy thing for everybody is to just do a broad percentage cut, because then there are no evident consequences. And what I want to do is frame this in a way the consequences and the risks are identified so people can make well- thought-out decisions."

Gates is hoping that Obama's call for cuts turns into a serious debate about U.S. grand strategy. Formulating such a strategy implies defining objectives, assessing available resources, setting priorities, and accepting the risks and consequences for those objectives. Although a seemingly logical process, recent presidents have shied away from performing such an exercise and for good reasons. Gates, the most experienced hand in Washington, knows this. But with his departure from the Pentagon now set for June 30th, Gates won't be around to guide the strategy project he believes is so important. That task will fall to his presumed successor, Leon Panetta, whose views on grand strategy still remain a mystery.

Hasn't the Obama administration, like its predecessors, already produced some elegant grand strategy documents? Last year, the administration published its National Security Strategy. The Pentagon produced its own Quadrennial Defense Review. These documents richly describe ambitions and aspirations. But they are nearly silent about the limitations under which U.S. policymakers must increasingly function. And this means that these documents avoid the hard-headed analysis decision-makers under constraints must face, namely setting priorities, taking risks, accepting consequences, and ultimately cutting adrift goals -- and partners -- that cannot be supported.

If Obama and his Office of Management and Budget are serious about additional defense cuts, Gates wants the risks and consequences out in the open. Setting priorities and accepting limits means announcing that some allies and friends still merit protection while others don't. Previous presidents have never been explicit about such line-drawing, a crucial result of grand strategy formulation; to do so would undermine the clout of U.S. diplomacy. More broadly, openly declaring explicit limits on security missions the United States will and will not perform would imply forfeiting influence over events in some areas, something U.S. policymakers since World War II have consistently declined to do. They have concluded that the best way to maximize diplomatic influence and maneuvering room is to be vague and leave the impression that all goals and all friends matter equally.

But as the Pentagon's dollars grow short, such a strategy will increasingly rely on bluff. When the interagency process, for logical reasons, resists making strategic choices, Gates's nightmare -- equal budget cuts across the existing force, leaving all capabilities hollowed out -- will be the default option.

Gates believes that a substantive national debate on strategy, risk, and consequences will educate the public and, he hopes, minimize the chop the Pentagon will receive. He is now counting on his hand-picked successor Leon Panetta, a CIA director fully briefed on the world's security challenges, to wisely manage this latest security review. But where Panetta stands on grand strategy remains to be seen.

Staff Sergeant Jason Rogers, USMC, returned home Thursday, 14 April 2011, his body borne upon a sea of waving American flags and hands held tightly in salute for the Brandon, MS Marine killed in Afghanistan earlier this month.

The video is MHP Trooper Elmo Townsend's view as his dash cam recorded the escort from Airport Road and along U.S. 80, as hundreds of onlookers gathered to pay their respects.