Super Bowl Will Reach US Troops In Afghanistan
When the Giants and the Patriots meet in the Super Bowl, US troops in Afghanistan will be able to watch the show thanks to some extra work by the Armed Forces Network.Video by Staff Sgt. Shannon Ofiara
Video by Staff Sgt. Shannon Ofiara
The pieces are still being pulled together to figure out what caused a military helicopter to crash in central Afghanistan on Saturday, killing 38 people. Among the dead were U.S. Navy Seals, making it the deadliest day of the decade-long war since it started.
At Camp David on Saturday, President Obama was briefed on the tragedy soon after it happened. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, Chief of Staff Bill Daley, and national security staff told him the bad news.
Military officials in Afghanistan are not saying much about the crash. Brigadier General Carsten Jacobsen, International Security Assistance Force Spokesperson and Dominic Medley, NATO Civilian Spokesperson in Afghanistan were questioned about the crash but could offer few details since it is under investigation. Click here to watch video of the press conference from Afghanistan. … Continue Reading
Afghan activist, writer and a former politician, Malalai Joya spoke tonight at St. Joan of Arc church in Minneapolis. She was dismissed from the Afghan parliament for publicly denouncing the presence of what she considered to be warlords and war criminals in the Afghan parliament. Joya is an outspoken critic of the Karzai administration and its western supporters, particularly the United States. Her suspension from parliament in May 2007 generated protest internationally and appeals for her reinstatement have been signed by high profile writers, intellectuals such as Noam Chomsky, and politicians including Members of Parliament from Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain. She is called by some “the bravest woman in Afghanistan.”
Malalai Joya also spoke to the press before her St. Joan of Arc appearance (video below):
During a surprise visit to Afghanistan, President Obama speaks to the troops at Bagram Air Base.
Key quote from President Obama:
” As General Petraeus mentioned, one year ago I ordered additional troops to serve in this country that was the staging ground for the 9/11 attacks. All of those troops are now in place. And thanks to your service, we are making important progress. You are protecting your country. You’re achieving your objectives. You will succeed in your mission. (Hooah!)
” We said we were going to break the Taliban’s momentum, and that’s what you’re doing. You’re going on the offense, tired of playing defense, targeting their leaders, pushing them out of their strongholds. Today we can be proud that there are fewer areas under Taliban control and more Afghans have a chance to build a more hopeful future.
” We said a year ago that we’re going to build the capacity of the Afghan people. And that’s what you’re doing, meeting our recruitment targets, training Afghan forces, partnering with those Afghans who want to build a stronger and more stable and more prosperous Afghanistan.”
Obama address US Troops In Afghanistan- Transcript
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In Lisbon, Portugal, President Obama talks about the transition to Afghanistan troops taking the lead on their own security. That transition will begin in 2011 and is expected to be completed by 2014. However Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell says that US troops may still be in Afghanistan in 2014 and may still be responsible for the security of that country in some places.