The commandant of the Marine Corps predicted a continued Marine presence in southern Afghanistan well after July 2011, when a transfer of security responsibilities to the Afghan government is slated to begin.

"I honestly think it will be a few years before conditions on the ground are such that turnover will be possible for us," Gen. James T. Conway told reporters today during a Pentagon briefing.

Conway briefed reporters on his recent trip to the Central Command area of responsibility, during which he visited Afghanistan, Pakistan, Romania and Germany. He spent most of his trip visiting Marines and sailors in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province, an official said.

Helmand and its neighboring province of Kandahar are the birthplace of the Taliban, Conway noted, and the conditions there vary from other regions. "If you look at the numbers of attacks, numbers of casualties; if you look at the focus of the main effort -- that is, the view of the commanders there -- the fight is in the south," he said.

Conway declined to pinpoint the length of time a Marine presence would be needed there. However, "I do not believe conditions in ... Helmand or Kandahar ... are going to be such that we think we can simply turn over to Afghan forces and leave," he said.

The key to success in Helmand, Conway said, is to move people's loyalties off the fence and onto the side of Afghan and international security forces. While slow to happen, he's seeing signs of progress toward this end, he said, with less corrupt and better-skilled police forces, more projects, and district and subdistrict governors overseeing the rule of law.

"When [the International Security Assistance Force] is able to construct a self-contained cell phone system," Conway said, "I'm convinced that tips and intelligence will pick up, making it virtually impossible for the Taliban to operate while hiding behind the citizens."

Conway noted that the Taliban are trying to "string" out the situation in Marja, located in Helmand province, for as long as they can since they realize the loss will be a major defeat for them.

"We are dealing with a very intelligent enemy here who realizes that Marja, probably more than any other battle in Afghanistan, has the capture of an international audience," he said. "And so they're not giving up that easily.

"They're sniping at us, there's throwing a few rounds here and there, they're shooting at our helicopters," he continued, "but mainly, they're intimidating people ... so as to maintain a presence there and keep Marja from being, again, this strategic victory on the part of Marines in the south of Helmand."

Conway praised the Marines serving in Helmand province. They embody the meaning of expeditionary, he said. Their ability to be fast, flexible and lethal throws the enemy off balance, he explained, and it's not uncommon to find units away from their forward operating bases for 30 days at a time.

"Using superior firepower and battlefield mobility, I believe that they hold the initiative," he said of the Marines. "Even in the height of the Taliban's so-called fighting season, they are making the enemy react to them."

Conway also acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead. The Afghan army's capacity is hitting a critical stage, he said. Army Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, commander of NATO Training Mission Afghanistan and Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan, is ahead of schedule in training Afghan infantry companies and kandaks, or battalions, he said, although the quality "varies widely."

But the toughest part of Caldwell's mission- recruiting and training Afghan military aviators and enablers - lies ahead, Conway said. Enablers are the equivalent of the Marines' combat support units, he explained.

"Those troops will require a higher level of education and skills training than his 'grunt' units have required to date," he said. "That said, the organization and approach that he and his joint combined team have taken appears to be, to the interested observer, just right for the task at hand."

A military force shapes the environment, Conway said, with better security enabling other lines of operation, such as the economy and government, to take shape.

"That's why what General Caldwell and his people are doing is so important," Conway said. "That's why we're partnering right now, almost on every patrol, with Afghan security forces when we go out. That's why we want to posture the police, so they can be successful."

The goal is to transition an increasing amount of responsibilities to host nation forces.

"When we think that we have sufficiently beaten down the insurgency in the area, we have sufficiently built up the Afghan capability to deal with what's there, then I think we have done the essence of what we were sent there to do," he said.

Conway acknowledged reports that indicate Americans are "increasingly growing tired of the war," but he noted that the last of the 30,000 troops President Barack Obama ordered to Afghanistan have only just arrived this month.

Military leaders need to do a better job of convincing Americans of the need for the war in Afghanistan, Conway said.

"I don't think that we have done a strong enough job in convincing the American people there are good and just reasons why we have to destroy al-Qaida and the associated Taliban in Afghanistan, similar to what we did in Iraq," he said, "certainly to the point where there is no future opportunity for safe haven, certainly to the degree that we can create conditions for that Afghan government to rule the country and avoid safe haven."

While Americans may not all support the war, the general noted that they firmly support the troops. "I am so proud of our American public, that regardless of how they see what happened in Iraq or what's happening in Afghanistan, they support the troops," Conway said. "And that's the message that they get from me; that's the message that they see when they come home to dwell. And in that regard, I'm just incredibly proud of our country."

More:

Top Marine Says Afghan Deadline May Help Taliban - New York Times

Conway: Taliban May be Misleading Forces on U.S. Timetable - Washington Post

Conway: U.S. Withdrawal Deadline Boosts Taliban - Wall Street Journal

Afghan Exit is Unrealistic, Says U.S. Marines Chief - Daily Telegraph

Marines Likely to Stay in Afghanistan for Years - Associated Press

Top Marine: Obama's Afghan Withdrawal Date Bolsters Enemy - Reuters

General Warns on Afghan Deadline - BBC News

Marine Corps Commandant: It'll be 'Years' Before Afghans Take Over - CNN News

A Blunt View of Afghan Deadline - BBC News

Conway Predicts Security Transfer for Afghan South Will Take Years - VOA

Conway: Corps will be in Afghanistan Past 2011 - Marine Corps Times

Conway Predicts Ongoing Marine Presence in Afghanistan - AFPS

General Says U.S. May Be Needed in Afghan South for Years - Voice of America

Afghanistan

Insurgents Rouse Fear Before Afghan Elections - Washington Post

Afghan Officials Challenge U.S. on Aid Contract Abuses - Washington Post

Graft Dispute in Afghanistan is Test for U.S. - New York Times

Afghan Poll A Chance For Change, Or More Of The Same - Reuters

Weighing Threats and Rules of Engagement in Afghanistan - New York Times

Petraeus: Progress Made, But Challenges to Continue - AFPS

Caldwell Provides Afghan Training Update - AFPS

'Training' Equals 'Transition' in Afghanistan, General Says - AFPS

U.S. General Cites Goals to Train Afghan Forces - New York Times

Afghanistan Security Force More than a Year Away - Associated Press

Afghan Security Force Training Faces Big Hurdles - Reuters

General: We're Training 3 Afghans to Get 1 Soldier - CNN News

Afghanistan Finally Gets Needed Resources, Biden Says - AFPS

Operations in Afghanistan Result in Insurgents Killed, Captured - AFPS

U.S. Troops Fire Shots to Disperse Afghan Protesters - Associated Press

Pakistan

Zardari Recognizes Flood's Potential to Destabilize Nation - Washington Post

U.S. Continues Flood Relief Aid for Pakistan - American Forces Press Service

Red Cross Ramps Up Humanitarian Operation in Pakistan - Voice of America

Mattis to Assess U.S. Aid to Pakistan - American Forces Press Service

U.S. Aid Buys Little Goodwill - Washington Post

Bomb Attacks Kill 36 in Flood-Weary Pakistan - Voice of America

34 Killed in Pakistan Bombings - Los Angeles Times

Iraq

U.S. Military Completes Troop Drawdown - Voice of America

Military Says U.S. Troops in Iraq Below 50,000 - Associated Press

Iraqi Forces Kill 2, Arrest 22 With Suspected Terror Ties - AFPS

Iran

Iranian Ex-prosecutor May Face Trial in Deaths - Washington Post

WikiLeaks

Spokesman Denies Pentagon Role in WikiLeaks Founder Charge - AFPS

Plotting Doubted in WikiLeaks Case - New York Times

U.S. Department of Defense

Arms Dealer Faces New Charges - New York Times

United States

For Obama, a Chance to Regain Some Political Momentum - Washington Post

Blackwater Founder Gives Statements in Fraud Suit - Associated Press

The Myth of an anti-Muslim Backlash - Los Angeles Times opinion

Africa

Spain Claims 2 Victories in Relations With Africa - New York Times

Mauritania: Al-Qaida Group Frees 2 Spanish Hostages - Voice of America

Rwandan Rebels Raped at Least 179 Women in Congo - New York Times

Rain Eases Somalia's Humanitarian Crisis - Voice of America

13 Die in Somali Fighting; Militia Declares 'War' - Associated Press

Somali Gunmen Kill 15 Lawmakers - Reuters

Suicide Bomber Attacks Somali Hotel - Associated Press

South Africa Army in Control of State Hospitals During Strike - Voice of America

Americas and Caribbean

FARC Rebels Seek 'Political Solution' to Colombia Conflict - Washington Times

Colombian Rebels Reiterate Willingness to Talk - Associated Press

Colombia Rebels Propose Talks With Regional Bloc - Reuters

Mexico Soldier Says Slain U.S. Man Fired at Army - Associated Press

Asia Pacific

North Korea Reinstates Market-Oriented Official - New York Times

Carter to Visit North Korea to Win Release of American - Washington Post

N. Korea Deploying Troops, Weapons Near Pyongyang - Associated Press

8 Dead As Philippine Hostage Crisis Ends - Voice of America

Gunman and 8 Hostages Dead in the Philippines - New York Times

Central Asia

25 Islamic Militants Escape Tajik Prison - Voice of America

5 Guards Killed in Tajikistan Prison Break - New York Times

Europe

Germany Plans Major Restructuring of Military - New York Times

Middle East

Palestinians Threaten to Pull Out of Peace Talks - Voice of America

End of Settlement Freeze Could Derail Mideast Talks - Washington Times

Talks 'Doable,' Says Palestinian Official - New York Times

Mideast Peace Talks to Look Forward To? - Washington Post opinion

U.N. Nuke Watchdog Chief to Meet Israeli Ministers - Associated Press

Official: Somali-American to Go on Trial in Yemen - Associated Press

Saudi Court Rules: Paralyze Man Who Crippled Another - Washington Times

South Asia

Nepal's Parliament Fails in 5th Try to Select Prime Minister - New York Times

Training the Afghan security forces was a daunting task when NATO Training Mission Afghanistan first began. Almost no infrastructure was in place, and fewer than 30,000 soldiers and policemen served in the force.

Now, the command is recruiting and training soldiers and police in record numbers, pushing hard to reach the goal of a 305,000-member force by October 2011.

Army Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, commander of NATO Training Mission Afghanistan and Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan, provided an update on his organization's progress in a "DoD Live" bloggers roundtable today.

"Our greatest challenge today is to build a self-sustaining Afghan national security force with professionalism amongst its ranks," the general said. "Professionalism is truly the key ingredient to an enduring force that can serve and protect its people."

In the past nine months, Afghan forces' growth has doubled the average of any previous year, Caldwell said. This year has been the biggest year ever in terms of recruiting, training and retention, he said, and the training mission has exceeded its annual goal three months ahead of schedule.

While this is positive news, Caldwell said, he cautioned that attrition still is a problem, calling it the only "truly endemic enemy of professionalization." Caldwell said losses due to low retention, desertion and casualty have had a major effect on the quality of Afghan soldiers, not just the quantity.

He said with current attrition rates, the training mission will need to recruit and train some 141,000 soldiers and police to keep the 56,000 needed to meet the October 2011 goal.

"In order to meet the 2011 goal, we will need to recruit and train, in the next 15 months, approximately the same number as the total strength of the Afghan National Army today," Caldwell said.

Caldwell said that regardless of numbers, professionalism in the Afghan forces is central to force sustainment. Training and education help to instill leadership with an "ethos of service and loyalty" in officers and noncommissioned officers, the general said.

"It is only when the leaders embrace a culture of service to others that the Afghan national security force will truly be a professional force," he said. "We have made significant progress this year in laying the foundation to professionalize the [force]. We're realistic about the challenges ahead, but we are also optimistic about what we can do together with our Afghan counterparts to begin the process of transition as the Afghan forces take the lead in serving and protecting their people."

Increasing literacy in Afghan forces at every level is a central point to establishing professionalism and helping to instill not only loyalty and service, but also accountability, Caldwell said, noting that only 14 to 18 percent of new enlistees can read.

"Literacy provides us the ability to enforce accountability, it allows for professional military education, particularly specialized skills that are taught in branch schools and continued education," Caldwell said. "And it combats corruption within the [Afghan forces]. Unless we take on and deal with literacy, we'll be extremely challenged with accountability, branch competency, and working anti-corruption within the force itself."

Current literacy training is focused on getting Afghan soldiers to a third-grade reading level, enough to read a manual or pamphlet, understand how their pay system works, and account for their people and equipment on paper.

Caldwell didn't realize the gravity of the situation until he had been on the ground for a few months, he said. He went in with a mindset that he wasn't in the business of teaching people to read, but that he was training soldiers. When he realized trainees on the range couldn't read the serial numbers on their weapons, he knew literacy had to be a top priority.

"How can we establish accountability for the money the American taxpayers are putting in over here if they can't account for their equipment properly?" he asked. "If they're issued a sleeping bag and other equipment and given a piece of paper that shows what they've been issued, how are they able to read that and understand the very basic stuff about what they're responsible for and are supposed to maintain accountability of? They're totally dependent on somebody else who can manipulate the system, and corruption sets in place."

Improving literacy not only will help to combat corruption, a significant problem Caldwell has been dealing with when training leaders, but it also helps systems already in place move more smoothly. About 27,000 police and soldiers are now in mandatory literacy programs. By June 2011, Caldwell said, that number will be about 100,000 in continuous education programs.

One of those systems, an electronic deposit system that ensures lower-ranking soldiers aren't being robbed by corrupt superiors on payday, received a number of complaints. The ensuing investigation found that of the 90 soldiers who said they hadn't been paid, all had been paid in full, but they were illiterate and couldn't understand bank statements or automated teller machines.

"In fact, each of them had been paid. They had a lot of money in their accounts, several months worth of pay, and just did not know how to get at it," Caldwell said. "So a great idea to get at this systemic corruption that was out there, but now we've realized that there's a much lower-level level of corruption that could creep in unless we take on and, again, just give them the basic skill sets."

Caldwell emphasized that the Afghan security forces still are very young. Progress is being made to fill the ranks and train leaders so the Afghans will have a security force that can protect the nation, he said, but it's far from a finished product. Things such as logistics units, mobile medical units and intelligence units haven't been created yet, and the Afghan forces have only a very small transportation unit in place.

"So all those kinds of capabilities that you would need to truly operate independently have not yet been built and fielded into the force structure," Caldwell said. "Again, our focus up until now has been a very infantry-centric force and get as many, you know, ground units out there that could in fact be engaged in fighting the insurgency with the coalition forces providing all their support behind them."

Between now and Oct. 31 next year, Caldwell said the Afghan forces will be expanded and taught better to operate independently of NATO trainers and advisors. For now, he added, the focus is on essential leadership and literacy training so Afghans can independently develop in the future.

"So even though you may find some units today that have leadership that's maturing well and are able to take and do the planning, the coordination and execution of missions, they still are dependent on coalition forces until we finish really the complete build out of the army and the police force," the general said.

More:

NTM-A / CSTC-A - Official Web Page

NTM-A / CSTC-A Blog - Command Blog

NTM-A / CSTC-A Blog - LTG Bill Caldwell's Blog

NTM-A / CSTC-A Blog - Dr. Jack Kem's Blog

'Training' Equals 'Transition' in Afghanistan - American Forces Press Service

U.S. General Cites Goals to Train Afghan Forces - New York Times

Afghanistan Security Force More than a Year Away - Associated Press

Afghan Security Force Training Faces Big Hurdles - Reuters

General: We're Training 3 Afghans to Get 1 Soldier - CNN News

According to the story, late last year the Afghan government and top Afghan Taliban leaders had met in Dubai and perhaps elsewhere, to establish conditions for formal peace negotiations. Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the second-ranking Taliban leader, was involved in these talks. But in February, Pakistan's security services apprehended Baradar in Karachi and then picked up another 22 Afghan Taliban leaders inside Pakistan. Many of these leaders were subsequently released while Baradar is still "relaxing" at an ISI safe house.

Pakistani officials told Filkins that they picked up Baradar and the other Afghan Taliban leaders in order to break up their negotiations with the Afghan government:

"We picked up Baradar and the others because they were trying to make a deal without us," said a Pakistani security official, who, like numerous people interviewed about the operation, spoke anonymously because of the delicacy of relations between Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States. "We protect the Taliban. They are dependent on us. We are not going to allow them to make a deal with Karzai and the Indians."

Commentary

This article is an embarrassment to U.S. officials. U.S. policymakers have always acknowledged Pakistan's central role in any settlement of the Afghan war. But it does not look good for U.S. officials when the Pakistani government breaks up peace talks between Afghans, while Pakistan receives billions in U.S. assistance and the Taliban kill several U.S. soldiers every day in Afghanistan.

Second is Pakistan's increasingly brazen declaration of its duplicity. Statements such as, "We protect the Taliban. They are dependent on us. We are not going to allow them to make a deal with Karzai and the Indians" would seem to leave little doubt that the Pakistani government keeps the Afghan Taliban a functional military force. Such statements make it difficult for U.S. officials to explain why it is so important for the U.S. to accelerate its war effort in Afghanistan and simultaneously keep Pakistan an "ally."

Finally we should wonder why these Pakistani officials revealed this story and these statements to Filkins. Pakistani officials have no doubt already privately made it clear to Afghan Taliban leaders, Afghan government leaders, and U.S. officials that Pakistan will allow no settlement process to occur without Pakistan's participation and approval. Why then did they think it necessary to repeat this message publicly in the New York Times, embarrassing Obama administration officials as they did so?

Perhaps these Pakistani officials want everyone to understand that they will control the end game in Afghanistan. By undermining the U.S. war effort, they are arranging to get their wish.

Afghanistan

Taliban Intensify Attacks Against Afghan Police - New York Times

al-Qaeda Fighters Take Limited Role in Insurgency - Washington Post

Pakistanis Say Taliban Arrest Was Meant to Hurt Peace Bid - New York Times

Taliban Strength Means More Stonings, Floggings - Los Angeles Times

Four U.S. Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan - Washington Post

Next U.S. Target: The Birthplace of the Taliban - Associated Press

4 U.S. Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan - Los Angeles Times

4 U.S. Troops Killed in Eastern Afghanistan - Associated Press

21 Killed in Series of Afghanistan Attacks - Los Angeles Times

Young Lovers Killed by Stoning in Afghanistan - Los Angeles Times

Afghan President Firm on End of Private Security Contractors - Voice of America

Karzai Defends Contractor Phaseout - New York Times

Afghan Pres Defends Move to Disband Security Firms - Associated Press

Karzai Urges U.S. Taxpayers to End Security Contractors - Reuters

Karzai Says He Intervened to Secure Release of Aide - Washington Post

Air Base Expansion Plans Reflect Long-term Investment - Washington Post

Pakistan

Floods Force Thousands From Homes in Pakistan - New York Times

Thousands Stay in Pakistan Floods to Protect Homes - Associated Press

Video of Mob Killings Sparks Anguish in Pakistan - Associated Press

Officials: U.S. Drones Kill 6 in Northwest Pakistan - Associated Press

Pakistan: Friend or Foe? - Washington Post opinion

Pakistan's Madrassas Need Reform - Washington Times opinion

Iraq

As Mission Shifts in Iraq, Risks Linger for Obama - New York Times

As U.S. Scales Back Attacks and Political Deadlock Persist - Washington Post

Odierno: U.S. Combat Mission in Iraq 'Unlikely' After Sept. 1 - AFPS

Odierno: Iran Funding Extremists in Iraq - Voice of America

Odierno: Iraq Troops Fit for Duty - Wall Street Journal

U.S. Troops in Could do Battle, But Very Unlikely - Los Angeles Times

General: Iraqis Will be Ready for U.S. Withdrawal in 2011 - Washington Times

U.S. Could Lend Assistance to Iraq After 2011 - USA Today

U.S. Troops Unlikely to Resume Combat Duties in Iraq - Associated Press

7 Advise and Assist Bdes, from BCTs, Still in Iraq - Army Times

Odierno: U.S. Ready to Resume Iraq Combat Role if Needed - Reuters

U.S. Unlikely to Resume Iraq Combat Role - United Press International

U.S. Combat Operations in Iraq Have Ended Barring Disaster - Bloomberg

Odierno: Iraq Failure Could See Combat Role Resume - Agence France-Presse

Fatality in Iraq Is First After Deadline - New York Times

U.S. Solider Killed in Rocket Attack in Iraq - Associated Press

U.S. Pullout From Iraq A Mountainous Challenge - Reuters

Iraq Acknowledges Briton's Killer Escaped - Associated Press

Mission Accomplished? - Los Angeles Times editorial

5 Myths About Leaving Iraq - Washington Post opinion

Iran

Iran Launches Controversial Bushehr Nuclear Plant - Voice of America

Iran Opens Its First Nuclear Power Plant - New York Times

Iran Starts Nuclear Reactor, Says Intent Peaceful - Associated Press

Israel Says Iranian Reactor Use 'Totally Unacceptable' - YNet

Russia Helps Iran Fuel Up First Nuclear Power Plant - Voice of America

Russia Helps Iran Load Fuel Into its First Nuclear Plant - Washington Post

Iran Unveils Domestically-Built Drone - Voice of America

Iran Unveils Unmanned Aerial Bomber - Los Angeles Times

Iran Inaugurates Nation's First Unmanned Bomber - Associated Press

Iranian President Offers Friendship to the U.S. - Associated Press

Islam

Islamic World Needs its Own Nelson Mandelas - New York Times opinion

WikiLeaks

Prosecutors Eye WikiLeaks Charges - Wall Street Journal

WikiLeaks in Sweden for Whistleblower Laws - Associated Press

Sweden Withdraws Arrest Warrant for Embattled WikiLeaks Founder - VOA

Sweden Defends Reversal of Warrant for Assange - New York Times

United States

Balancing Act for Imam in Mosque Furor - New York Times

Islamic Center Attracts Protesters on Both Sides - New York Times

Mosque Planner Says Opposition 'Beyond Islamophobia' - Wall Street Journal

N.Y. Mosque Uproar Worries Muslims Worldwide - Los Angeles Times

NY Mosque Imam: Attention From Project Is Positive - Associated Press

Other Plans for Mosques Face Vehement Opposition - Washington Post

NYC Mosque: Taking Bin Laden's Side - New York Times opinion

Choose to Move the Mosque - Washington Post opinion

Australia

Australian Prime Minister Says Election Too Close to Call - Washington Post

After Close Australia Vote, Parties Seek Coalition - New York Times

Australia PM Seeks Coalition Rule - BBC News

Africa

Kenya: Somali Neighborhood Incubator for Jihad - Washington Post

Somalia Rebels Looking Increasingly Like Taliban - Associated Press

Somalia Blast Kills Fighters From Pakistan, India - Associated Press

Foreign Militants Killed Preparing Bombs In Somalia - Reuters

Tensions Simmer in Spanish Enclave in North Africa - Associated Press

Qaeda's N.African Wing Frees 2 Spanish Hostages - Reuters

Rwandan Rebels Raped at Least 150 Women in Congo - New York Times

Guinea Prime Minister Denies Bias Ahead of Vote - Associated Press

Restrictions on the News Media Cause Alarm in South Africa - New York Times

Americas and Caribbean

Colombia: Debate Starts on Uribe's Legacy - Washington Times

Venezuela, More Deadly Than Iraq, Wonders Why - New York Times

Mexico Gunbattle Closes U.S. Highway - Associated Press

Headless, Mutilated Bodies Hung From Mexico Bridge - Reuters

Haiti: Wyclef Jean Says He'll Challenge Election Ruling - New York Times

Jamaica Opposition Calls for Probe Into Drug Lord Case - Associated Press

Spain Says U.S. to Take Cuban Political Prisoners - Associated Press

Guyana Military to Help Police in High-Crime Areas - Associated Press

Asia Pacific

Severe Flooding Hits Northeast China - New York Times

South Korea Free Trade Pact Back on U.S. Agenda - Washington Post

Western Schools Sprout in S. Korea - New York Times

Official: Seoul Not Considering Food Aid to N. Korea - Associated Press

Europe

U.S., Russia Face Off Over Alleged Arms Trafficker - Washington Post

Extradition Frays Thai-Russian Relations - Washington Times

Russian Forces Kill Suspect in Moscow Bombings - Associated Press

Russian Police Detain Opposition Leaders - Associated Press

Kremlin Critic Nemtsov Detained At Russia Rally - Reuters

Middle East

Palestinians: Israel Must Stop Building for Talks to Work - Voice of America

Israeli PM: Peace 'Difficult but Possible' - Associated Press

Dejected Palestinians See No Hope In Peace Talks - Reuters

Israel's Netanyahu Sees Difficult Talks Ahead - Reuters

Analysis: Talks to Test Netanyahu's Will for Peace - Associated Press

Back to the Middle East Table - Washington Post editorial

Israeli PM Stakes Out Positions for Peace Talks - Associated Press

Israel's Barak Names New Army Chief to End Scandal - Reuters

U.S. Weighs Tough Choice Over Aid for Lebanon - New York Times

Lebanese Ship Postpones Aid Mission Set for Gaza - New York Times

Yemen Forces Kill 7 Militants After Qaeda Attacks - Reuters

In New Posters, Mubarak's Son for Egypt President? - Associated Press

Shiites Say Bahrain Crackdown Sets Back Relations - Associated Press

Amnesty Says Saudi May Paralyze Man as Punishment - Reuters

South Asia

India Opposition Raises Fresh Objection to Nuclear Bill - Reuters

Odierno: U.S. Combat Mission in Iraq 'Unlikely' After Sept. 1

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22, 2010 -- It is unlikely the U.S. military will resume a combat mission in Iraq after Sept. 1, the top U.S. military commander there said today, citing progress in Iraq's government and security forces.

Army Gen. Ray Odierno appeared on Sunday news talk shows today to discuss the U.S. mission in Iraq, as its combat role officially ends there Sept. 1. It would take a "complete failure" of Iraqi forces, he said, for that mission to change.

"We don't see that happening," Odierno said on CNN's State of the Union. "[Iraqi forces] have been doing so well for so long now that we really believe we're beyond that point.

"They continue to grow," he added. "We continue to see development in their planning, their ability to conduct operations. We continue to see political development, economic development, and all of these combined together will start to develop an atmosphere that means better security."

The final U.S. combat brigade crossed the border into Kuwait last week after more than seven years of fighting. About 50,000 U.S. troops are scheduled to remain there until the end of 2011 to serve in an "advise and assist" role, training Iraqi security forces. U.S. forces peaked at more than 170,000 boots on the ground there during the 2007 troop surge.

Odierno said that President Barack Obama's Iraq strategy is well underway, and that the remaining 50,000 troops will pull out on time.

But U.S. involvement in Iraq beyond 2011 is possible, the general said. Such support would be at the request of the Iraqi government and would likely involve "technical" assistance. It would be similar to agreements the United States has with Saudi Arabia and Egypt, he explained.

"It's about [Iraq] technically developing ... protecting their air space, their sea and their land borders," Odierno said on CBS's Face the Nation. "If the government of Iraq requests that from us, we would certainly consider that."

The U.S. military would consider providing combat troops, too, Odierno added, explaining that the United States wants a long-term relationship with Iraq. Obama and his national security advisors would determine the policy if such a request was made, the general said.

"If [Iraq's government] ask us, that they might want us to stay longer, we would certainly consider that," he said. "That's part of our developing a long-term strategic partnership with them. That includes the security aspect."

Terrorism continues to be a threat in Iraq, the general said, but extremist actions involve attempts to disrupt government and political processes. And despite last week's bombing of an Iraqi army recruiting station in Baghdad, security forces are proven and more than capable of protecting their people, he said.

"We've been slowing turning [security] over to [Iraqi forces] for over a year," Odierno said. "For the past four or five months, they've had the lead, and they have been conducting security operations, and they've been able to sustain that at a level that I think is acceptable."

While optimistic about the shift in the U.S. mission in Iraq, Odierno said it could be five years before a U.S. victory there can be assured.

"We've made lots of progress here," he said. "To say whether we've won the war or not, we can see that in three to five years, as we see how Iraq turns out. I think we can call operations a success, but in terms of winning the war, we've certainly seen some great bravery from our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who've served here."

More:

Odierno: Iran Funding Extremists in Iraq - Voice of America

Odierno: Iraq Troops Fit for Duty - Wall Street Journal

U.S. Troops in Could do Battle, But Very Unlikely - Los Angeles Times

General: Iraqis Will be Ready for U.S. Withdrawal in 2011 - Washington Times

U.S. Could Lend Assistance to Iraq After 2011 - USA Today

U.S. Troops Unlikely to Resume Combat Duties in Iraq - Associated Press

Odierno: U.S. Ready to Resume Iraq Combat Role if Needed - Reuters

U.S. Unlikely to Resume Iraq Combat Role - United Press International

U.S. Combat Operations in Iraq Have Ended Barring Disaster - Bloomberg

Odierno: Iraq Failure Could See Combat Role Resume - Agence France-Presse

Afghanistan

Taliban Intensify Attacks Against Afghan Police - New York Times

Taliban Strength Means More Stonings, Floggings - Los Angeles Times

21 Killed in Series of Afghanistan Attacks - Los Angeles Times

Pakistan

U.N. Steps Up Aid Efforts in Flood-Stricken Pakistan - Voice of America

Pakistan Floods Leave Ally Reeling - Associated Press

Experience Isn't Enough in Pakistan's Punjab Flood Plain - New York Times

South Pakistan Braces For More Floods - Reuters

Pakistani Analysts Respond to Indian Flood Aid with Caution - Voice of America

Officials: U.S. Drones Kill 6 in Northwest Pakistan - Associated Press

Iraq

As Mission Shifts in Iraq, Risks Linger for Obama - New York Times

As U.S. Scales Back Attacks and Political Deadlock Persist - Washington Post

Vulnerable Benefit From Cash-For-Work Program in Iraq - Voice of America

Mission Accomplished? - Los Angeles Times editorial

5 Myths About Leaving Iraq - Washington Post opinion

Iran

Iran Launches Controversial Bushehr Nuclear Plant - Voice of America

Iran Opens Its First Nuclear Power Plant - New York Times

Iran Starts Nuclear Reactor, Says Intent Peaceful - Associated Press

Israel Says Iranian Reactor Use 'Totally Unacceptable' - YNet

Russia Helps Iran Fuel Up First Nuclear Power Plant - Voice of America

Russia Helps Iran Load Fuel Into its First Nuclear Plant - Washington Post

Iran Inaugurates Nation's First Unmanned Bomber - Associated Press

Iran Unveils Long-Range Drone to Counter "Aggressors" - Reuters

Islam

Islamic World Needs its Own Nelson Mandelas - New York Times opinion

WikiLeaks

Sweden Withdraws Arrest Warrant for Embattled WikiLeaks Founder - VOA

Sweden Rescinds Warrant for WikiLeaks Founder - New York Times

United States

U.S. Guantanamo Judge Says Sees No Torture Of Canadian - Reuters

Balancing Act for Imam in Mosque Furor - New York Times

NYC Mosque: Taking Bin Laden's Side - New York Times opinion

Choose to Move the Mosque - Washington Post opinion

Australia

Australia Deadlocked After Indecisive National Election - Voice of America

Australian Prime Minister Says Election Too Close to Call - Washington Post

Australia PM Seeks Coalition Rule - BBC News

Africa

Kenya: Somali Neighborhood Incubator for Jihad - Washington Post

Somalia Rebels Looking Increasingly Like Taliban - Associated Press

Somalia Blast Kills Fighters From Pakistan, India - Associated Press

Foreign Militants Killed Preparing Bombs In Somalia - Reuters

Sudan's President Committed to Holding Referendum on Time - Voice of America

U.S. Wants Convicted Lockerbie Bomber Back in Prison - Voice of America

Americas and Caribbean

1 Dead in Mexico Shootout on Border With El Paso - Associated Press

Chavez Suspends Radio-TV Program During Campaign - Associated Press

2 Shot Dead at Venezuela Military Base; 6 Wounded - Associated Press

Gunmen Fighting Rio Police Invade Luxury Hotel - Associated Press

Caribbean Govts Push Wiretap Laws to Fight Gangs - Associated Press

Haiti Calm After Jean Is Rejected - New York Times

More than 1 Million Haitians Remain Displaced by Earthquake - Washington Post

Asia Pacific

China Premier Wen Calls For Political Reform - Reuters

China's Investigative Reporters Face Harassment and Worse - Los Angeles Times

More Than 5, 000 Evacuated as Floods Hit North Korea - Reuters

Europe

Russian Forces Kill Suspect in Moscow Bombings - Associated Press

Hundreds in Kaliningrad Protest Putin Government - Associated Press

Middle East

Palestinians: Israel Must Stop Building for Talks to Work - Voice of America

Israeli PM: Peace 'Difficult but Possible' - Associated Press

Dejected Palestinians See No Hope In Peace Talks - Reuters

Analysis: Talks to Test Netanyahu's Will for Peace - Associated Press

Back to the Middle East Table - Washington Post editorial

Israel's Barak Names New Army Chief to End Scandal - Reuters

U.S. Weighs Tough Choice Over Aid for Lebanon - New York Times

Lebanese Ship Postpones Aid Mission Set for Gaza - New York Times

"After nine years of adventure learning I'd think that we would have embraced the fact that Afghanistan requires more than just one truth, one approach, one technique, and one way of attracting allies or killing bad guys...or are we too comfortable with being a one-trick pony?"