"Afghanistan: extended commitments"

Conference of Defence Associations' media round-up--excerpts:

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Colin Freeze for the Globe and Mail reports on comments by Defence Minister Peter MacKay on a recent visit to Afghanistan that the Canadian mission there could extend past 2011 in a variety of roles. The CDA notes that in September 2008 Prime Minister Stephen Harper, remarking on the 2011 deadline, mentioned that the “bulk” of the forces would be withdrawn in 2011 but that there would still be a need for “trainers” and “technical capabilities.”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090517.wafghan18/BNStory...

Angus Reid has released a poll dated 7 May 2009 on Canadians’ attitudes towards the Afghanistan mission. The CDA notes that these results are broadly in line with the findings of previous polls on the subject.
https://www.angusreidforum.com/Admin/mediaserver/3/documents/2009-05-07_Afgha...
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Laura King for the Los Angeles Times discusses US military investigations into civilian deaths in Farah province. The New York Times reports on criticism of the use of air strikes from the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-afghan-civilians21-2009ma...
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/19/world/asia/19farah.html

Dexter Filkins for the New York Times analyses discussions between the government and various elements of the Taliban.
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/students/pop/articles/21kabul.html
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Bill Roggio for the Long War Journal reports on fighting in northern Helmand between Afghan/US forces and the Taliban.
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/05/afghan_and_us_forces.php

CJ Chivers for the New York Times describes the protracted battle between American forces and the Taliban in the Korengal valley.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/world/asia/14korangal.html
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Bill Roggio for the Long War Journal reports on the Pakistani Army’s advance through the Swat valley.
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/05/pakistani_army_advan_1.php
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Ahmed Rashid for the New York Review of Books writes in-depth on the situation in Pakistan, the Taliban threat there, and the role of the Army in politics.
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/22730...