War In Afghanistan: June 2010

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War In Afghanistan: June 2010

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War In Afghanistan

McChrystal Quote Suggests Flippant View Of Civilian Casualty Policies

Justin Elliott | June 22, 2010, 3:24PM

Gen. Stanley McChrystal and a convoy in Serobi, Afghanistan

One of the hallmarks of Gen. Stanley McChrystal's as the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan are new rules of engagement that, whether or not they are effective, are designed to reduce killing of civilians by American planes and soldiers.

That's why it's surprising to see McChrystal quoted in the big Rolling Stone profile seeming to take a decidedly flippant view of those very policies. Greg Sargent and Marcy Wheeler highlighted this passage:

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Topics: Afghanistan, Stanley McChrystal, War In Afghanistan

War In Afghanistan

Blackwater Snags $120 Million Contract In Afghanistan

Justin Elliott | June 21, 2010, 1:51PM

Blackwater training compound in Moyock, NC.

Whether or not Erik Prince is fleeing America for the United Arab Emirates, his military contracting company continues to thrive on lucrative government contracts.

The latest: the Obama Administration has awarded Xe, formerly known as Blackwater, with a $120 million contract to provide security for U.S. consulates in Afghanistan. The contract could last as long as 18 months.

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Topics: Blackwater, Military Contractors, War In Afghanistan, Xe

Afghanistan

Gov't Geologist Spoke Of Vast Economic Benefit Of Afghan Minerals -- Over Two Years Ago

Justin Elliott | June 14, 2010, 12:38PM

The Hindu Kush mountains overlooking the Bamiyan Valley in Afghanistan

American geologists who assessed Afghanistan's mineral deposits realized the potentially vast economic benefits of the minerals as far back as 2007, according to U.S. Geological Survey documents from that time.

The New York Times story this morning reporting the "discovery" in Afghanistan of a $1 trillion trove of minerals like lithium has already been the focus of plenty of scrutiny from journalists questioning how new this discovery, which was presented by the Obama Administration as a potential game-changer, really is.