Afghanistan Weekly Reader: U.S. Nearing Decision On Post-2014 Troop Numbers
A recent insurgent attack brings the total number of fatalities of international forces in Afghanistan to 10 this month. The attack follows a spate of attacks last week that left 20 dead. Meanwhile,officials are discussing the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan after 2014, with a decision on troop numbers expected within weeks, according to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
From ASG
11/13/12
Costs of Nation Building
Afghanistan Study Group by Mary Kaszynski
Nation-building is expensive. And with the a national debt of over $16 trillion, the U.S. cannot afford to spend billions more on the war in Afghanistan.
ARTICLES
11/13/12
Decision on Afghanistan Deployment Nearing, Panetta Says
New York Times by Elisabeth Bumiller
White House and Pentagon officials hope to determine within weeks the number of American troops that will remain for the long term in Afghanistan after the bulk of United States forces come home in 2014, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said Monday.
11/12/12
Deficit cutters look to Defense Dept. budget
Associated Press by Donna Cassata
The days of staunch defense hawks in Congress easily turning back efforts to cut military spending are gone as war fatigue even has reached the fiercest guardians of military spending.
11/5/12
Afghan corruption, and how the U.S. facilitates it
Washington Post by Walter Pincus
When it comes to corruption in Afghanistan, the time may be now for the United States to look in the mirror and see what lessons can be learned from contracting out parts of that war.
11/9/12
The carnage of war
CT Post by Robert Stokes
As we pause to honor our veterans this Nov. 11, it is imperative that all Americans be reminded of the terrible human price that has been paid – and will continue to be paid in the future – by U.S. troops who fought in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
10/31/12
As America’s longest war drags on, costs mount for Alabamians
AL.com by Jon Solomon
Aside from the human toll, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have carried financial costs. By one measure, the share of war spending since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom borne by the state’s residents and businesses exceeds $11.7 billion.
