A Look Inside a Hospital on the Front Lines in Afghanistan - Health. Globe and Mail wins Emmy for online series Behind the Veil. View Is Bleaker Than Official Portrayal of War in Afghanistan. The Runaway General | Rolling Stone Politics. 'How'd I get screwed into going to this dinner? " demands Gen. Stanley McChrystal. It's a Thursday night in mid-April, and the commander of all U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan is sitting in a four-star suite at the Hôtel Westminster in Paris.
He's in France to sell his new war strategy to our NATO allies – to keep up the fiction, in essence, that we actually have allies. "The dinner comes with the position, sir," says his chief of staff, Col. McChrystal turns sharply in his chair. "Hey, Charlie," he asks, "does this come with the position? " McChrystal gives him the middle finger. The general stands and looks around the suite that his traveling staff of 10 has converted into a full-scale operations center. "What's the update on the Kandahar bombing?
" "We have two KIAs, but that hasn't been confirmed," Flynn says. McChrystal takes a final look around the suite. "I'd rather have my ass kicked by a roomful of people than go out to this dinner," McChrystal says. He pauses a beat. "Biden? " The Afghan Conflict - A Map of Possible Scenarios. Interview: NATO Chief Discusses Afghan Mission, London Conference - Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty © 2010.
In an exclusive interview with RFE/RL, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that he expected concrete results from this week's London conference on Afghanistan. Speaking to RFE/RL correspondent Abubakar Siddique, Rasmussen also said that the NATO mission in Afghanistan was not an "occupation force. " "We will stay as long as it takes to finish our job, but our ultimate goal is to hand over responsibility to the Afghan people," he said. RFE/RL: The Afghan government is expected to present a detailed plan for reconciliation with the Taliban in London. Previous plans have failed to win international backing due to a lack of resources and political backing. Is there any reason to believe the situation is any different today?
Anders Fogh Rasmussen: Yes, I think the situation will be very different, firstly, because there is now political support, and secondly, because I would expect the international community to provide funds for a reconciliation-and-reintegration effort. U.S. Envoy’s Cables Show Deep Concerns on Afghan Strategy. Rare warbler found in Afghanistan. Scientists say they have for the first time discovered a breeding site for the world's least-known bird species. Little is known about the large-billed reed warbler, but researchers have found a thriving flock of the birds in a remote corner of Afghanistan.
Robert Timmins from the US based Wildlife Conservation Society discovered them when he was conducting a survey in the area. The tiny brown bird, first spotted in 1867, has not been seen since 2006. Mr Timmins says one of the reasons why so little is known about these birds is that they are often mistaken for other types of warblers and they are a very private species. "Reed warblers are very good at hiding and they don't like to be seen. Mr Timmins taped the rhythmic song of these reed warblers, and with colleagues used the recording to entice other members of the colony from their hiding places. DNA analysis confirmed this was a distinct breeding population of the large-billed variety.
"We don't wish a war-like situation on anybody. Four Soldiers Look Back at Afghanistan.