U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who is retiring at the end of the month, visited southern Afghanistan Sunday to say goodbye to American troops fighting Taliban insurgents. In his remarks during visits to bases in Kandahar and Helmand provinces, Gates said a soon-to-begin U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan should start with support troops, not combat […]
Gates Says Goodbye to Troops in Afghanistan
Gates Says Goodbye to Troops in Afghanistan
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who is retiring at the end of the month, arrived in southern Afghanistan Sunday to say goodbye to American troops fighting to defeat Taliban insurgents. Gates’ visit comes at the same time as U.S. President Barack Obama is considering the scale and pace of troop withdrawals planned to start next […]
NATO Helicopter Crashes in Afghanistan
A NATO helicopter has crashed in eastern Afghanistan, killing two foreign troops on board. Officials say the crash occurred Sunday in the Sabari district of Khost province. NATO says the cause of the crash is under investigation. It says there were no reports of insurgent activity in the area. A Taliban spokesman claimed credit for […]
Gates Says Goodbye to Troops in Afghanistan
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who is retiring at the end of the month, arrived in southern Afghanistan Sunday to say goodbye to American troops fighting to defeat Taliban insurgents. Gates visit comes at the same time U.S. President Barack Obama considers the scale and pace of troop withdrawals planned to start next month. Shortly […]
Gates Says Goodbye to Troops in Afghanistan
The U.S. defense secretary, who is retiring at the end of the month, has arrived in southern Afghanistan where he is saying goodbye to American troops fighting to defeat Taliban insurgents. Robert Gates arrived in Kandahar Sunday to begin his farewell tour of military bases in the south. Gates visits Afghanistan at the same time […]
US Calls on Afghanistan to Step Up Security
The United States is warning Afghanistan to “step up” security or put the smooth withdrawal of U.S. forces at risk. Outgoing U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates delivered the stern message to Afghan President Hamid Karzai during a visit to Kabul Saturday. He also told reporters during a news conference that while the international community will […]
New Bombings Target NATO Troops, Afghan Students
A series of bombings rattled Afghanistan Saturday, increasing the death toll in the troubled country. In eastern Afghanistan, four NATO troops were killed in what the coalition said was a roadside bombing. Earlier, NATO said two of its members were killed in separate attacks on Friday in southern Afghanistan. At least 220 foreign troops have […]
US Defense Secretary Arrives in Kabul
The outgoing U.S. defense secretary is in Afghanistan on a previously unannounced farewell visit. Robert Gates arrived in Kabul Saturday where he is expected to meet with senior Afghan officials, as well as visit the U.S. troops. Earlier in the day at a security conference in Singapore, Gates said there could be peace talks with […]
6 NATO Troops Killed in Afghanistan
NATO says a bomb blast has killed four of its service members in Afghanistan. The international coalition say the foreign troops were killed Saturday in the eastern region of the country. Earlier in the day, NATO said two of its members were killed Friday in separate attacks in southern Afghanistan. At least 220 foreign troops […]
Gates: Possibility of Taliban Peace Talks
The U.S. defense secretary says there could be peace talks with the Taliban within a year. Robert Gates said Saturday at a security conference in Singapore that the talks would be a result of NATO’s ground advances in Afghanistan that have put pressure on the insurgents. The defense secretary said if the international coalition can […]