Militants assault US base in eastern Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan?? Militants tried to blast their way into an American base in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, striking before dawn with rocket-propelled grenades and a car bomb.

All four attackers were killed as well as two truck drivers parked nearby, said provincial Police Chief Gen. Mohammad Qasim Jangalbagh. Two Afghan security guards were wounded.

The militants failed to breach the gate of the base in Panjshir province's Rakha district, though they did hit a security tower with a rocket-propelled grenade.

Three of the men attacked on foot, shooting, while a fourth detonated the explosives-laden vehicle outside the gate, Jangalbagh said. The blast hit two fuel tankers which were waiting to enter the base, killing the Afghan drivers inside, he said.

A NATO spokeswoman confirmed the attack but said there were no American deaths or injuries and no significant damage to facilities.

"There was a complex attack attempted, but it was repelled," Capt. Ebony Calhoun said. She said the guards' wounds were not life-threatening but they had been evacuated to a larger U.S. base for treatment. The base houses a provincial reconstruction team ? a mix of military and international civilians who work to improve provincial governance, services and infrastructure.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a text message sent to The Associated Press.

NATO downplayed the significance of such spectacular strikes on Saturday, presenting figures that showed headline-grabbing assaults account for only 1 percent of attacks in Afghanistan and that militant activity is down overall.

Insurgent attacks between January and September were 8 percent lower than the first nine months of 2010, according to figures supplied by a senior official with NATO forces who spoke anonymously because of the sensitivity of the information.

But while violent attacks are down overall, assassinations have increased 60 percent for the same period with 131 people killed so far this year, according to the official.

And while NATO reports little change in civilian casualties over the nine-month period, figures from the U.N. show an increase in civilian deaths.

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Many of the highest profile attacks have been perpetrated by the Haqqani network, a Taliban-allied group operating out of Pakistan, according to NATO.

Eleven out of the last 15 attacks in Kabul came from the Haqqanis and were directed and organized out of Pakistan, the NATO official said.

The Panjshir attack followed on the heels of violence Friday which left at least 30 dead across Afghanistan. While on Saturday, a two NATO service members were killed in separate insurgent attacks in the south. NATO confirmed the deaths in a statement but did not release further details.

NATO reported Saturday that 23 insurgents were killed in five separate operations throughout the east. In the largest strike, seventeen insurgents were killed in an airstrike in Kunar province. The remaining six deaths were in operations in Wardak, Kunar and Ghazni provinces.

In southern Afghanistan, a suicide bombing killed three Afghan border police officers and one civilian. The bomber blew up his explosives-packed car Friday afternoon while it was being inspected at a checkpoint.

The explosion happened in Spin Boldak, near the Pakistani border, in the early evening, said Gen. Abdul Raziq, the head of the border police in the south.

The checkpoint had been set up because of an intelligence warning that an attack was imminent, provincial government spokesman Zalmai Ayubi said.

Three NATO service members were also killed Friday in separate attacks, according to statements from the military coalition, making 11 killed so far this month and at least 464 since the beginning of the year.

___

Associated Press writers Heidi Vogt, Patrick Quinn and Amir Shah contributed to this report from Kabul.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44911610/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/

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What US manhunt for LRA leaders reveals about Obama's war strategy (The Christian Science Monitor)

Washington ? As 100 US Special Operations Forces begin deploying to Africa to help local troops pursue the brutal leader of a murderous rebel group, a clearer picture is emerging of America?s preferred warfare strategy in a time of fiscal restraint: fewer troops, more drones, and the aggressive targeting of enemy leaders by special operations forces.

In a letter sent to Congress on Friday, President Obama made clear that the specific goal of US forces is to help in ?the removal from the battlefield? of Joseph Kony and other senior leaders of the Lord?s Resistance Army (LRA), a guerrilla group that has killed thousands of civilians, routinely raped women, and abducted hundreds of children.

This hunting of Mr. Kony and his cronies will involve US intelligence support, according to senior defense officials, probably in the form of unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, such as the Predator.

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US troops will deploy to Uganda, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the new nation of South Sudan.

Pentagon officials emphasize that US special operators will not fight ? unless they are forced to defend themselves.

?We stress that these US troops will be working to advise and assist regional efforts, not acting independently,? says a senior defense official.

Even so, US Special Forces will bring with them ?appropriate combat equipment,? Mr. Obama noted in his letter. What?s more, the mandate for the Special Forces on this mission ? ?advising forces that are actively pursuing the LRA? ? is relatively aggressive, analysts note.

Outlining in his letter a case for more robust US intervention, Obama made a similar argument ? specifically, that past efforts to eliminate Kony have not been robust enough. Since 2008, the United States has provided military assistance to the region to the tune of some $33 million.

Even when coupled with ?some limited US assistance,? however, ?regional military efforts have thus far been unsuccessful in removing? Kony ?or his top commanders from the battlefield,? Obama argued.

Special Operations Forces have been in great demand, particularly in the past few months. The Uganda operation is reported to have been in the works for some time, but that Special Forces didn?t have troops available until recently.

This mission comes on the heels of the US drone strike that killed American-born Al Qaeda cleric Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen, and the US Navy SEAL Team 6 attack on Osama bin Laden?s compound in Pakistan, and on countless first- and second-tier insurgent leaders throughout the border regions of Afghanistan.

At the same time, the US is showing more willingness to intervene in countries where the threat of mass killing of innocents looms large. Defense officials foreshadowed a plan like this latest for Uganda in the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review ? a document that highlights US strategic intent ? which made ?preventing human suffering due to mass atrocities? a Pentagon priority.

These are unlikely to become troop-intensive operations. In Libya, the US has provided only a handful of ground forces to assist the State Department, while US airstrikes have pummeled pro-Qaddafi forces and drones have beamed back intelligence, all in the name of protecting civilians.

The US military will likely need to become more accustomed to sending smaller groups of troops into areas where they may encounter combat ? reinforced by UAV drones for intelligence and possibly armed overwatch ? as budget pressures intensify, analysts say.

That?s because counterinsurgency, which was the US strategy for protecting the population in Iraq and early in Afghanistan, is a troop-heavy and extremely expensive endeavor. Now, US strategy in Afghanistan and elsewhere is shifting to a combination of counterterrorism ? taking out the bad guys with surgical Special Operations and drone strikes ? and counterinsurgency where possible in the larger population centers, as US troop levels permit.

Indeed, Obama made it clear, too, that the Special Forces will be aiding local troops in protecting civilians.

For the continent of Africa, where the specter of the 1993 ?Blackhawk Down? US military tragedy in Somalia looms large, 100 Special Forces troops are ?obviously significant ? it?s not everyday that the US commits troops to the ground in Africa,? says Richard Downie, deputy director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies? Africa Program.

Even so, it is not likely be an easy operation. An estimated 300 to 400 LRA forces remain in the region, and they are dispersed in ungoverned territory, Mr. Downie notes. The US has sent troops to aid the fight against the LRA before: In late 2008 the Pentagon provided some 20 advisers to help coordinate a strategy for attacking the LRA. ?In that effort the US was a little more hands off ? they provided communications, logistics,? he says.

?It was a complete fiasco,? Downie adds. The LRA's top leadership managed to escape and later took their revenge, directing the killing thousands of civilians in the north of Congo in the following weeks.

As a result, the LRA dispersed into three to five small groups, Downie says, spreading out over ?a very wide area ? it?s going to be a matter of tracking these guys down in very tough jungle terrain.?

Senior defense officials argue that asking US special operators to train local forces is in many respects a return to their original mandate, which has expanded in the wake of stepped-up strikes on insurgent leaders. The question, say analysts, is how Special Forces ? worn down after a decade of wars on two fronts ? will respond to the new demand.

It helps, analysts add, that Uganda and the newly created nation of South Sudan welcome the US forces ? part of the importance the White House has placed on seeking clear partnerships before deciding to act.

Obama,, for his part, argued that the intervention against the LRA is a matter of national security. Critics aren?t so sure about that. But the White House has a congressional mandate: Lawmakers in May 2010 authorized the president to come up with a regional strategy for dealing with the LRA, after nongovernmental organizations and evangelical Christian groups pleaded for US intervention there.

?That?s why we have these 100 troops sent out there,? says Downie. ?This is the first substantial follow-up we?ve had since then.?

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Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20111015/ts_csm/415775

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Losing Weight By Controlling Calorie

The three main elements in weight losing plan are always the food and drink consumed and exercise.? To obtain a healthy and fit body, it is important to concern on these three elements as to balance them in daily meals and activity.Nowadays, there are so many programs available on internet for losing weight but Kyle leon somanabolic muscle maximizer is the best program for losing weight by calculating the daily calorie consumed is one of the effective ways.? It is not must to get rid of high calorie food but just treat it as a dessert weekly.? In a daily meal, it is true to consume low calorie food as to control the weight and reduce the risk of getting health care problems.? To get the proper meal plans, it is effective to own a food diary to record the meals serving daily and add on ten percent to the amount of calorie planned to consume.? It is an important step to adjusting the eating habits and help on weight losing.? Eating small meals is always a better way to get weight loss instead of three large meals daily.? This action will maintain the blood sugar in a stable level and helps on controlling hunger.

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Source: http://www.knupnet.com/latest-health-news/losing-weight-by-controlling-calorie/

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Scorpio Love Compatibility And Virgo Traits And Description

Scorpio individuals are born under in between the dates October 23 to November 21. Two planets govern them: mars and Pluto. Mars gives Scorpio the passion and resourcefulness. This is a trait they share with another zodiac sign also governed by Mars, Aries. Like the Ram, they also tend to be quite possessive and obsessive. Meanwhile, the elusive planet Pluto gives Scorpio individuals a mysterious vibe. Those born under this sign are very independent. They prefer to do something themselves, without the help of others, simply because they know they can do it.

Scorpio individuals prefer complicated relationships. Because of Mars, they are very unpredictable, and are sometimes extreme. They appreciate loyalty in relationships. If you have done a Scorpio individual wrong, they might easily forgive you. However, do not think that she/he is going to forget that easily. They value honesty and trust in a relationship.

A Scorpio individual can find a good relationship in Cancer, the crab. Cancer individuals are very sensitive, and can easily be emotionally attached. Furthermore, they want to please the people around them. This will be perfect for the demanding Scorpio, who always wants to be pampered.

Scorpio generally goes well with other water signs. Pisces individuals are the most perfect match for Scorpio individuals. Since Scorpio is very dominating, she/he will balance out the Pisces passive behavior. Because Scorpio individuals are quite demanding, and Pisces individuals are very needy, they will find just what they are looking for in each other. The dreaminess of the Pisces will also be brought down to earth by Scorpios strong Mars influence.

If you want to know more about your horoscope compatibility, you can get a lot of them online. There are many daily horoscopes made especially for psychic readings. Aside from your free daily horoscope, you can also choose to avail of your daily horoscope, weekly horoscope or monthly horoscope.

Zodiac Sign Virgo Traits and Description

Virgo is an only one of its kind zodiac sign that carry exceptional qualities and love traits of its own. This astrology sign is far diverse from other signs in some significant ways. Virgos possibly will come into view as cold and dispassionate on the outside. They more often than not give the impression like extremely logical people who don't give you an idea about or even have many emotions.

People who are born under a sign that is energetic, vigorous, and loves an active lifestyle, Virgo possibly will not be their most excellent love match. For the reason that they are more often than not extremely peaceful and quiet and take pleasure in expenses time at home. A number of signs that are similar in temperament with Virgo are Cancer, Taurus, and Scorpio. Some signs that are not in the perfect love match for Virgo are Aries, Aquarius, Leo, Gemini, and Libra. From different perspective Virgo fairly time and again regards as itself very willing to help and still submissive to the necessities of others which it is from its own opinion. The thing is, as an Earth sign, it is worried initial and always with physical constraints and results. As a result, liability of giving their very best on a piece of work the right way, the best way, the first time is a substance of effectiveness in its system of values. And, of course, to be well-organized is its the right way, the best way to work.

Indeed there are many people who strongly believe and have fate in love horoscope compatibility however there are also who are skeptics about this. Whatever it is make sure that you are respectful to others decisions and choices in life if you want to gain their respects as the same time.

Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Scorpio-Love-Compatibility-And-Virgo-Traits-And-Description/3117536

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Tips and Tricks for Affordable Trips | Travel & Leisure Fun Books

I am by no means a world traveler, but over the last year I?ve become well-acquainted with travel sites, airlines, lodging, etc. Now, I?d like to share my tips for affordable trips with you. If you?re on a budget, like me, you may get overwhelmed with the cost of travel, but fear not! There are tricks to the game?

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Afghanistan urges Pakistan to take steps for peace (AP)

KABUL, Afghanistan ? The Afghan government needs to see Pakistan make "tangible progress" on pledges to use its influence to help end the Taliban insurgency, a foreign ministry spokesman said Sunday.

The statement came a day after Afghan President Hamid Karzai said he was giving up on trying to talk to the Taliban directly and that the key to ending the war is mediation by Pakistan.

It underscores the Afghan officials' deep frustration over their inability to deal with a major barrier to ending the war in Afghanistan ? insurgent havens across the border in Pakistan.

Already tense Afghan-Pakistani relations have been further degraded in recent weeks as U.S. and Afghan officials have publicly blamed the Pakistani government for supporting the insurgency in Afghanistan following a string of high-profile attacks.

"Afghanistan has invested a great amount of goodwill and political capital to create an atmosphere of trust and confidence and to try to improve relations with Pakistan over the past three years," the spokesman, Janan Mosazai, told reporters in Kabul.

"Unfortunately, we have not been witness to the type of concrete progress that we were expecting ? that was promised to us by our brothers and sisters in Pakistan," he added.

For his part, Karzai has suspended a series of trilateral meetings between Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States because of the fallout.

"When it comes to specific examples of tangible progress that we would like to see, it is facilitation of direct negotiations with the Taliban leadership and with any other insurgent leaders who are prepared to join the Afghan national reconciliation process," Mosazai said.

Mosazai said an Afghan delegation would travel to Pakistan to discuss the peace process and the allegations that Pakistan had a role in the recent assassination of former Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani. He originally said the delegation might leave as early as Sunday but later said it was unclear how soon they would depart.

A statement on Sunday from Karzai's office said a special commission investigating Rabbani's death had concluded the attack was planned in Quetta, the Pakistani city where key Taliban leaders are based. The delegation also said the primary assailant was a Pakistani citizen.

The commission told Karzai it had already passed the evidence on the Pakistani authorities along with names, addresses and phone numbers of people in Pakistan involved in plotting the assassinations. The statement said the commission expects the Pakistani government to make the necessary arrests.

Pakistani analysts said the breakdown in relations between Afghanistan, Pakistan and the U.S. has dire implications for any potential peace settlement with the Taliban, which all sides have said is the only sustainable way to end the Afghan war.

"I don't think anyone is in the mood for talks right now," said Ahmed Rashid, a Pakistani journalist who has written extensively on the region.

Rashid said he thought Karzai was playing to the American gallery because the mood in the Obama administration and Congress was allegedly anti-Pakistani. The only potential for the reconciliation process to move forward would be an improvement in U.S.-Pakistan relations, something that doesn't seem likely in the near future, said Rashid.

"You need a breakthrough between the U.S. and Pakistan so they can convince Karzai to resume" talks, said Rashid.

There is debate over how much influence Pakistan actually has with the Taliban, but most analysts believe that the country is vital to the success of any peace talks.

"My own sense is that Pakistani influence and connections and its clout is largely exaggerated," said Riffat Hussain, a professor of defense studies at Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad. "But if there is any player who can act as a bridge to bring these guys on board, it has to be Pakistan." Specifically, he said, the powerful Pakistani intelligence service must be involved.

On Sunday, NATO forces said in a statement that an international service member died Saturday in a bomb attack in southern Afghanistan. The military coalition did not provide further details.

At least 43 international service members have died in Afghanistan in September, the majority of them American forces.

___

Associated Press writers Heidi Vogt in Kabul and Sebastian Abbot in Islamabad, Pakistan, contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111002/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan

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Chinese city facing credit crunch as tycoons flee

SHANGHAI (AP) ? The freewheeling Chinese city of Wenzhou is grappling with a credit crunch that has cut off the only source of funding for many private ventures and prompted dozens of debt-laden business owners to flee.

The southeastern coastal city issued notices this week ordering caps on interest rates for lending and warning loan sharks against using violence to collect debts. Banks have been ordered to do what they can to help support companies on the brink of collapse.

More than 20 owners of debt-swamped companies reportedly have fled, prompting local authorities to also order tighter controls for those leaving the country. The financial newspaper 21st Century Business Herald reported Friday that police had escorted some back to Wenzhou after they escaped to Hong Kong and Macau.

Among those who allegedly fled is Hu Fulin, owner of Zhejiang Center Group, one of China's biggest makers of eyeglasses.

While China's leaders are still struggling with a flood of credit unleashed to ward off the shockwaves from the 2008 financial crisis, some areas are seeing what many here have dubbed a "drought" of funding.

Highway and railway projects are running short of cash, while some property developers are seeing their cash cushions dwindle after a prolonged effort by regulators to cool overheated investment and soaring prices in construction and real estate.

While similar problems with underground lending and bankruptcies are being reported elsewhere in China, Wenzhou's have drawn special attention because of its reputation as a stronghold of private business.

Unlike other cities where state-run industries still dominate, the city has flourished since the 1980s as an enclave of entrepreneurialism, specializing in low-cost manufacturing of shoes, lighters and other light consumer products.

But China's competitive advantage in such industries has been eroding due to rising costs, squeezing shrinking profit margins.

Chris Leung, an economist with DBS Bank in Singapore, said Wenzhou's traditional reliance on high-interest lending, at rates of up to 90 percent a year, suggests many businesses were either making a "obscene level of returns" or had an evacuation plan already in mind.

"They are doomed to go bust," he said in a comment issued Friday.

China's mostly state-owned banks, which tend to shun smaller private borrowers, meanwhile have become even choosier after being ordered to raise their capital reserves to record high levels as part of the government's effort to cool inflation.

State media report that about 80 percent of small companies use underground banking networks to raise cash, as interest rates have soared. Borrowers unable or unwilling to repay those debts have been disappearing, leaving the entire system vulnerable to collapse, according to some reports.

According to central bank figures, lending by underground networks totaled about 110 billion yuan ($17.2 billion) in July, up sharply from a year earlier.

In a notice posted on its website Thursday, the Wenzhou government limited maximum lending rates to 1.3 times the government's benchmark rate of 6.56 percent. It also said banks must meet a target of 100 billion yuan ($15.6 billion) in new lending to small companies this year and "tilt credit toward small and medium-size companies."

City authorities say they also are cracking down on "illegal detentions" ? a euphemism for kidnappings ? and other criminal acts for the sake of the city's "social and financial order and stability."

"Gangs involved in evil acts will face severe and quick criminal punishment according to law," said another government notice.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2011-09-30-AS-China-Credit-Crunch/id-6f9ab9f6563b4b0796e08b22edc36200

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