Afghanistan

Anna holds the flag that was draped over Nick's coffin at his memorial service. She and her husband, Michael, have created a shrine to Nick in their dining room.

After A Marine's Suicide, A Family Recalls Missed Red Flags

10:18pm June 19, 2013

by NPR Staff

When Nicholas Rodriguez returned from Afghanistan in 2010, his mother and stepfather had never heard of post-traumatic stress disorder. It was only after Nick killed himself that they learned the warning signs and realized he needed help dealing with his combat experience.

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World News

A Look Ahead To The Future Of Afghanistan

2:07pm June 18, 2013

Twelve years after the war began, Afghanistan's president announced Tuesday that Afghan forces officially assumed control of security for the country. U.S. and NATO troops will remain until the 2014 deadline, but the Afghan military is now expected to fight without NATO support.

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Villagers in Kasan gather to meet with Afghan local police and the Afghan National Army along with ANASF team members during a morning shura to discuss security.

World News

As U.S. Troops Draw Down, Can Afghans Take The Lead?

11:25am June 12, 2013

by Tom Bowman

There are two-dozen Afghan special forces teams in eastern Afghanistan. The Americans want to train six more. Still, they are a small fraction of an Afghan army that is still spotty in its performance.

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World News

U.S. Worries Afghan Forces Will Divide Along Ethnic Lines

8:11am June 04, 2013

by Tom Bowman

The American combat mission in Afghanistan will end in 2014. One concern for U.S. officials is the possibility that Afghan security forces will splinter along ethnic lines. The worry then is that those troops will start taking orders from warlords.

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Op-Ed: Midnight Meals Are Key To Military Morale

4:59pm June 03, 2013

Midnight dinner service will be canceled at Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan in June. Officials say it's part of the drawdown process, and though it might not sound like a big deal, former U.S. Army paratrooper David Brown says Marines at Camp Leatherneck stand to lose more than just food.

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The gray line in the upper left comes from an aerial view of Afghanistan's crucial Highway 1, the main route between Kabul and Kandahar, the two biggest cities. U.S. forces are still working to secure the route which runs through lush farm valleys and the

As The Clock Ticks, U.S. Forces Scale Back Afghan Goals

6:15pm May 30, 2013

by Tom Bowman

The 12-year U.S. military effort in Afghanistan has sought to drive out extremists and help Afghans rebuild their country. As the American forces prepare to withdraw, the focus is on practical security measures and those ambitious nation-building goals seem to be fading away.

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A Grim Task: Military-Death Notification

2:11pm May 27, 2013

Among the many thousands of men and women who chose to serve in the military, few volunteer for the duty of death notification. As the nation honors those killed in the line of duty, those who work intimately with the families of the fallen share their stories. (Originally broadcast May 29, 2006.)

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World News

Food Entrepreneur Is A New Breed Of Afghan Business Owner

10:11am May 27, 2013

by Renee Montagne

Morning Edition has been reporting on young Afghans helping to shape their country's future after the withdrawal of international combat troops in 2014. Shilla Qiyam, 27, is making her way in business despite her family's disapproval.

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World News

Select Young Afghans Chosen As Commandos In Training

2:11pm May 20, 2013

by Renee Montagne

From the Afghan capital Kabul, Morning Edition's Renee Montagne talks to Gen. Joseph Dunford, the commander of all U.S. and international forces there. They discuss the challenges of the current situation on the ground, and look ahead to the withdrawal of NATO combat troops in 2014.

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On Monday, the team behind Lee Brice's "I Drive Your Truck" gathered in Nashville to celebrate the song's reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. From left: co-songwriters Jimmy Yeary, Connie Harrington and Jessi Alexander, military father

Music & Culture

A Songwriter And An Army Dad Share One Touching Story

9:26am May 19, 2013

by NPR Staff

The song "I Drive Your Truck" is a No. 1 country hit. It began with a father's remembrance of his son, who was killed in action in Afghanistan — and a songwriter who just happened to be listening.

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