Operations

On Monday, the White House pushed back against claims DOD oversold progress being made by U.S. and Afghan against the Taliban, saying the country is still on track to  take over security for the country once U.S. troops leave in 2014. 

"Afghanistan is increasingly capable of taking care of its own security and ultimately will be responsible for its own security," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters on Tuesday. 

The recenrt ouster of a several U.S. special operations teams from Afghanistan could be the beginning of increased restrictions against American troops that may end up putting U.S. lives at risk, according to a top House Republican. 

For the second time in as many months, Taliban gunmen and suicide bombers launched a string of attacks against Afghanistan's fledgling intelligence directorate in an attempt to crush the nascent agency before U.S. and NATO combat forces leave the country next year. 

An effort to bolster Afghanistan's military and national police ahead of the American troop drawdown could fall apart.

Civilian employees could face up to 22 days of furlough through the end of the fiscal year in September.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) disputed the Obama administration's legal reasoning in a memo that outlines when the United States can carry out a lethal drone strike on an American citizen.

Karzai, who instituted the ban on Monday, did not provide specifics on what circumstances would allow use of allied airpower.

As U.S. and NATO forces begin the long process of winding down the 11-year war in Afghanistan, the country's central government will not have enough funds to properly equip and maintain its national army and police forces by the time Western forces leave the country, according to U.S. government officials. 

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Scores of containers holding tons of U.S. military equipment began filtering across the Afghanistan-Pakistan border on Monday, representing the initial signs of the massive American withdrawal from the country, set to wrap up by next year.

The top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee says his panel should have access to the classified legal documents.