NATO STRIKE KILLS FAMILY WITH 6 CHILDREN

"... eight members of a family have been killed after an airstrike by the US-led NATO coalition... the Paktia provincial government said on Sunday that a man, a woman and their six children were killed... in Suri Khail village of Gurda Saria district. "This man had no connection to the Taliban or any other terrorist group... Mohammad Shafi was not a Taliban. He was not in any opposition group against the government. He was a villager."
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2012/05/20125277911748807.html

OBAMA SNEAKS IN TO ESTABLISH AN AFGHAN OKINAWA

"In the fortified but chronically battle-ravaged capital city of Kabul, the only city in Afghanistan where, backed by the U.S. military, Hamid Karzai actually governs... a seemingly fearful Obama, arriving by night, sneaked into the unlit city with its overflowing sewage and vanishing water table to sign the "Enduring Strategic Partnership" agreement...

In the Enduring Strategic Partnership Agreement, under point six of Section III, which is entitled Advanced Long-Term Security, we read that “Afghanistan shall provide U.S. personnel continued access to and use of Afghan facilities through 2014, and beyond as may be agreed in the Bilateral Security Agreement, for the purposes of combating al-Qaeda and its affiliates, training the Afghan Security Forces and other mutually determined missions to advance shared security interests."

Instead of withdrawing all U.S. troops, the ‘….continued access to and use of Afghan facilities through 2014, and beyond…’ are plans to establish an 'Afghan Okinawa'..."

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/05/09-7

U.S. TROOP ACTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN

"The Los Angeles Times released a set of photos on Wednesday that appear to show U.S. troops in Afghanistan posing with the remains of suicide bombers... soldiers posed with Afghan police holding the severed legs of an insurgent bombers. Two soldiers in another frame held a dead insurgent's hand with the middle finger raised... In January, a video of U.S. Marines urinating on dead bodies of Taliban members sparked outrage. The burning of Qurans at a NATO airbase in February spurred week-long riots that killed dozens. In March, a U.S. army sergeant allegedly massacred 17 civilians in Afghanistan..."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/18/us-soldiers-suicide-bomber-photo_n_1433785.html

U.S. TO PAY AFGHANISTAN >$2.7 BILLION FOR >10 YEARS

"... draft agreement was worked out and initialed by Afghan National Security Adviser Rangin Dadfar Spanta and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker. It must still be reviewed in both countries and signed afterward by the Afghan and American presidents... Americans will provide military and financial support to the Afghan people for at least a decade beyond 2014... the U.S. is expected to maintain a large presence in the country for years after, including special forces, military trainers and government-assistance programs..."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/22/afghanistan-war-strategic-pact_n_1443821.html

"... the United States expects to make substantial contributions toward the cost of Afghanistan’s security forces beyond 2014. A total figure for the United States of $2.7 billion a year has been discussed, and it could easily be more; there would most likely be aid for civilian programs as well..."
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/23/world/asia/us-and-afghanistan-reach-partnership-agreement.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&hp

COST OF FUEL

"... last November... Pakistani officials slammed that country’s border crossings shut on American and NATO war supplies. Those crossings have yet to reopen... there were brief reports indicating that the costs of shipping some items had gone up by a factor of six, depending on the route chosen. Back in 2009, it was estimated that a gallon of fuel cost $400 or more by the time it reached the U.S. military in Afghanistan, and that was by the cheaper Pakistani route. How much is it now? $600, $800, $2,400?"
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/04/20-1

KARZAI WANTS $2 BILLION PER YEAR AFTER WITHDRAWAL
... a strategic partnership

"Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday said he wanted "at least $2 billion" a year from the United States after it withdraws its troops in 2014... "We want them to write down that America will give for Afghanistan's security $2 billion a year -- or at least two billion a year", he said. "If they want to give us more, they are welcome."
http://news.yahoo.com/karzai-wants-least-2-billion-us-141710318.html

U.S. CEDES NIGHT RAIDS TO AFGHAN FORCES

"The U.S. and Afghanistan signed a deal Sunday giving Afghans authority over raids of Afghan homes... a panel of Afghan security officials get authority to decide what raids will take place... Afghan forces will conduct home searches and that U.S. forces will be allowed to enter private compounds "only as required or requested"... the Afghan government will immediately take custody of detainees. The U.S. will only interrogate detainees if asked by the Afghans...
http://news.yahoo.com/afghans-us-sign-deal-night-raids-111707350.html