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WASHINGTON — Gen. John R. Allen, the senior American commander in Afghanistan, has submitted military options to the Pentagon that would keep 6,000 to 20,000 American troops in Afghanistan after 2014, defense officials said on Wednesday.

General Allen offered Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta three plans with different troop levels: 6,000, 10,000 and 20,000, each with a risk factor probably attached to it, a senior military official said. An option of 6,000 troops would probably pose a higher risk of failure for the American effort in Afghanistan, 10,000 would be medium risk and 20,000 would be lower risk, the official said.

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ISAF Joint Command operational update, Jan 3 -- ISAF
Danish soldier killed in Afghanistan -- AP
Explosive Device in Afghanistan Kills Danish Soldier -- Almanar
NATO Soldier Killed In Southern Afghanistan -- RTT
NATO soldier die following blast in southern Afghanistan -- Khaama Press
2012 Is First Year With No German Deaths In Afghanistan -- Ares/Aviation Week

Karzai to share key demands of Afghanistan in US visit -- Khaama Press
DOD: Obama to decide U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan soon -- Foreign Policy
Allen outlines U.S. options in Afghanistan -- UPI

Four-legged soldiers serving in Afghanistan -- al.com
AFGHANISTAN: Bleak humanitarian outlook for 2013 -- RAWA

Assessing the White House’s Options for Post-2014 Afghanistan -- Max Boot, Commentary
Danger lies between the lines of a U.S. Army contract in Afghanistan -- Walter Pincus, Washington Post
US-Afghan security pact will backfire -- Russia & India Report
Is peace really in the air in Afghanistan? -- Jim Maceda, NBC
Blood Line: Afghanistan and Pakistan’s Unspoken Border Dispute -- Amir Ramin and Nadia Siddiqui, World Policy Blog
Afghanistan Now -- Bing West, NRO
US military deaths in Afghanistan top 2,000 -- Salon/AP
US Military Deaths in Afghanistan at 2,043 -- ABC

DOZENS of civilians were killed by a missile strike on a Damascus petrol station yesterday as the UN revealed that the death toll from the 22-month conflict had passed 60,000 -- far more than previously thought.

The attack by a MiG fighter on the petrol station in the eastern suburb of Meleiha was one of the bloodiest yet, causing an explosion and inferno that killed or wounded numerous drivers queuing for scarce fuel.

Opposition activists said that between 30 and 70 people were killed, and many more injured.

Meleiha is not a notorious rebel stronghold.

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Syria conflict: Fierce fighting near strategic airports.

Protests engulf west Iraq as Anbar rises against Maliki.

Iran moves Rafsanjani daughter to solitary confinement.

Israeli raid in West Bank triggers clashes with Palestinians.
Turkey arrests ex-military chief of staff.

Yemen's ex-president to seek treatment abroad before talks start.


China warns Vietnam over South China Sea islands.

Myanmar says jets used against Kachin rebels.

India gang rape: Five suspects charged in Delhi. Indian rape accused charged; victim's father calls for hanging.

Taiwan undersea oil plans raise neighbors' eyebrows.

In South Korea, Kim Jong-un's New Year speech generates surprise - and doubt.

South: Drop in N. Korea defectors linked to tighter border security.

Video fuels rumor NKorean leader's wife gave birth.

Japan’s population falls by record in 2012 as births decrease.


Central African Republic leader fires son after rebel threat. Central African Republic rebels agree to talks.

Presidents of Sudan, South Sudan to meet Friday.

Egypt panel implicates Mubarak, military in deaths.

Civilian armed groups fight crime, wreak havoc in Niger Delta.

Ivory Coast to investigate deadly stampede.

Mandela's recovery "on track" at home: South African government.


Putin orders change in election rules.

Spanish politician calls for inquiry into auto accident that killed Cuban dissident.

British government extradites al-Qaida suspect.

Three women killed after gunman's drunken rampage in Swiss village.

Putin gives tax exile Depardieu Russian citizenship.

Icelandic girl fights for right to her own name.


Fiscal cliff: US urged to tackle budget deficit.

Argentina presses claim to Falkland Islands, accusing UK of colonialism. UK prime minister rebuffs Argentina over Falklands.

Gun checks soar 39 percent, set new record: FBI.

Mexico troops kill 12 in gun fight in Zacatecas state.

Venezuela opposition seeks answers on Chavez.

Mississippi River nears historic lows, shipping at risk.

Clinton discharged from hospital, doctors expect full recovery.


US drone strike kills 5 'militants' in South Waziristan.

Pakistan militant Mullah Nazir 'killed in drone attack'. Pakistani officials: Suspected U.S. drone strikes kill 15, including a Taliban leader.

The top terror takedowns of 2012.

US drones killed 2,183 Jihadis, 487 civilians since 2004.

Congress OKs bill to grow rewards for terrorism justice program.


Hollywood's record haul: why 2012 was a great year for movies.

Boeing soars past Airbus in deliveries.

Starbucks to open first Vietnam store next month.

Al Jazeera buys Al Gore's Current TV.

MOSCOW, January 3 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian Navy will get over 50 new warships by 2016, including strategic nuclear submarines and special operations support vessels, the Defense Ministry reported on Thursday.

“By 2016, the combat strength of the Navy will be replenished with 18 surface warships of various ranks and designation, and also 30 special-purpose and counter-subversion vessels. It is also planned to put 6 multi-purpose and strategic submarines into operation,” the ministry said in a statement.

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Russia Set for Largest Naval Exercise in Decades -- Voice of America

Israeli military preparing hospitals for chemical attacks – report -- RT

Japan Releases Information on Chinese Flights Near Disputed Islands -- Voice of America

Inside China: Drinking banned to ‘save’ military -- Washington Times

Iran Wraps Up 6-Day Wargame in Southern Waters, Says Goals Met -- Bloomberg


Former army chief detained over 1997 coup in Turkey -- BBC

IAF to host 100 foreign fighter jets -- Jerusalem Post

How North Korea Fuels Its Military Trucks With Trees -- Scientific American

India Seeks New Source of Trucks Following Bribery Accusations -- Defense News

Navy set to issue tender for new submarines -- Times of India

US drones killed 2,183 Jihadis, 487 civilians since 2004 -- The News

Turkey, Syria, And Missile Defense: In Praise Of The Patriot -- Aol Defense

U.S. 'seeks to sell Algeria spy satellite' -- Space Daily/UPI

U.S. Navy Gives LCS-1 A Makeover -- Aviation Week

Global Hawk maker Northrop to skip Paris air show -- Reuters

Military Drones Present And Future: Visual Tour -- Information Week

U.S. Magazine Ban of 2013 -- Defence Talk

To thwart hackers, firms salting their servers with fake data -- Washington Post

Navy Preps to Build a Robot Ship That Blows Up Mines -- Danger Room

F/A-18 High Alpha fighter testing -- CNet

NASA Seeking to Sell Space-shuttle Facilities -- Military.com/Orlando Sentinel

President Signs Sequestration Delay, Pentagon Policy Bill -- Defense News

Entire DOD Workforce Faces Furlough Threat -- DoD Buzz

Panetta Thanks Congress, Seeks End to Sequestration -- US Department of Defense

Tax deal delays Pentagon notification of possible furloughs -- CNN

IFE at West Point, 1936 (Photo Gallery) -- Time

US military deaths in Afghanistan top 2,000 -- Salon/AP

The "Arab Spring" last year created several unexpected popular uprisings against dictators and monarchs. Most sort-of succeeded (Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Libya), while others failed or never got going (Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Algeria, Morocco, Lebanon) and Syria is not over but the rebels are winning. None of these developed into a true war. The most violent, in Libya, was won by armed civilians assisted by NATO smart bombs and warships. The uprisings were mostly about corruption and the resulting massive poverty. For that reason, Saudi Arabian monarchy was able to buy its way out of an uprising. Yemen mutated into low level civil war while Syria grew into a countrywide guerilla war. Egypt and Tunisia were over quickly, but subsequent elections put Islamic conservatives in power.

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My Comment: This is a long and comprehensive list providing a good summary to each conflict.

Army PFC. Markie T. Sims wasn't even 10 years old when agents from the CIA and Army special operators touched down in Northern Afghanistan.

The year was 2001.

Ostensibly the American units were there to oust the Taliban, and (primarily?) to hunt for bin Laden in the process. Notably though, Sims' death in Afghanistan, the last of 2012, comes almost a full two years following the storied raid on the Osama compound ... in Pakistan.

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Previous Post: The Last U.S. KIA For 2012


My Comment: Fred Hiers' crushing post which chronicles the death notification process through the eyes of Sims' family is here. Our prayers are with the family and loved ones.

Congress wants Air Force leaders to figure out why unmanned pilots don’t get promoted as often their fighter, bomber and cargo counterparts, according to an Air Force Times report.

Lawmakers inserted into the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act a mandate to receive answers in 180 days from Air Force leader.

Air Force Times reported that the past five promotion cycles have shown that unmanned pilots have lagged behind other pilots in three of those five promotion cycles.

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Update: AF told to study rate of UAV pilots’ promotions -- Air Force Times

My Comment: It looks like a drone pilot complained .... and considering how important and vital the U.S. drone program has become in implementing U.S. national security strategies .... important people are listening.