U.S. BUILDING UP AFGHAN BASES FOR LONG HAUL

"Military construction projects scheduled for com­pletion over the next 12 months will deliver 4 new runways, ramp space for 8 C−17 transports, and parking for 50 helicopters and 24 close air support and 26 intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft... Construction and expansion work at bases... including the mega-bases at Bagram and Kandahar, is ongoing, often at a startling pace. The Army, for example, has indicated it plans to build a 24,000 square-foot, $10-million command-and-control facility as well as a “Joint Defense Operations Center” with supporting amenities... at Bagram Air Base. At bustling Kandahar Air Field... a $28.5 million deal for the construction of an outdoor shelter for fighter aircraft, as well as new operations and maintenance facilities and more apron space... Additional minor construction plans called for the construction of over 12 new FOBs and expansion of 18 existing FOBs... construction was slated to begin on at least three $100 million base projects, including FOB Dwyer, that were not “expected to be completed until the latter half of 2011... (and) the Army sought bids from contractors willing to supply power plants and supporting fuel systems at forward operating bases in Afghanistan for up to five years..."

"The documents reveal plans for large-scale, expensive Afghan base expansions of every sort and a military that is expecting to pursue its building boom without letup well into the future. These facts-on-the-ground indicate that, whatever timelines for phased withdrawal may be issued in Washington, the U.S. military is focused on building up, not drawing down, in Afghanistan..."

http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175310/tomgram%3A_nick_turse%2C_base_desires_in_afghanistan/#more

U. S. IN PEACE TALKS WITH TALIBAN

"The United States is helping senior Taliban leaders attend initial peace talks with the Afghan government in Kabul... the American public at some point might have to swallow the idea of reconciliation with the Taliban to achieve peace in Afghanistan... Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, appearing before reporters with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at a NATO conference... (said) “We have always acknowledged that reconciliation has to be part of the solution in Afghanistan, and we will do whatever we can to support this process.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/15/world/asia/15nato.html?_r=2

AFGHAN INSURGENCY GAINING STRENGTH

"The insurgency in Afghanistan is gaining strength... some districts in northern provinces are in danger of slipping beyond control... insurgents are now operating advanced administrations in the south and east..."
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/10/15/afghanistan.report/index.html?iphoneemail

U.S. PAYING TALIBAN TO GUARD BASES

"Afghan private security forces with ties to the Taliban, criminal networks and Iranian intelligence have been hired to guard American military bases in Afghanistan... Providing contracts to local militia leaders with ties to the Taliban “gives these warlords an independent funding source... And it gives them a feeling of impunity.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/08/world/asia/08contractor.html?_r=2

CONVOY DAMAGE UNDER-REPORTED

"Attackers... in northwestern Pakistan struck a NATO convoy carrying fuel to Afghanistan... The attack... damaged many more vehicles than previously reported... Initially, authorities had said 17 oil tankers and four containers were set ablaze... (but) Fifty-four oil tankers and containers were damaged... Taliban says it has a special squad to attack NATO supply efforts..."
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/10/07/pakistan.supply.route/index.html?iphoneemail

TALIBAN AND KARZAI IN TALKS TO END WAR

"Secret talks aimed at ending the war in Afghanistan have begun between representatives of the Taliban and the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai... a comprehensive agreement that would include participation of some Taliban figures in the government and the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops... a spokesman for Karzai denied that President Obama's stated goal of beginning to withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan in July 2011, if conditions allow, spurred the Afghan government to set up the council or reach out to the Taliban."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/afghanistan/2010-10-06-taliban-government-war-talks_N.htm?csp=usat.me