The Taliban and the United States agreed Tuesday to hold peace talks, starting later this week. The aim is to negotiate an end to the fighting in Afghanistan.
Even before the Petraeus scandal widened, General John Allen’s time as top US and NATO commander in Afghanistan was winding down. Last month, President Obama nominated General Joseph Dunford to replace Allen.
US Designates Haqqani Network ‘Terrorist Organization’
The United States is designating the Haqqani network a terrorist organization. The Haqqanis are the most lethal group in Afghanistan. So some say the designation is overdue. Others worry about the effects on peace talks.
The so-called Congressional Super committee appears headed for failure. Now, $1.2 trillion in automatic cuts to government spending are slated to happen. The big loser is the Pentagon. How might slashing the military budget impact the wider economy?