An Army soldier from Reinbeck has died in Afghanistan, defense officials said Saturday.

Command Sgt. Maj. John Keith Laborde, 53, died Thursday at Kandahar Air Field in Afghanistan in an incident not linked to combat, according to officials.

Details about the incident have not been released.

Laborde was part of the 649th Regional Support Group in Cedar Rapids.

1st Lt. Michael Meyer of the 103rd Expeditionary Support Command confirmed the death. Command Sergeant Major Laborde led a distinguished career of over 31 years in the military. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family here in Iowa, and to his comrades-in-arms still serving in Afghanistan,” Meyer said in a statement.  Read more... (360 words, 1 image, estimated 1:26 mins reading time)

First Published: 11:16AM BST 24 Oct 2008

Plans to allow passengers to be virtually strip searched by the machines were denounced by MEPs as a threat to personal dignity.

They believe the images, if stored or published, could end up being published online revealing embarrassing details of celebrities.The full body scanners can potentially show off medical details such as breast implants.

The European Commission is proposing the airports use the scanners by 2010. They insist passengers would still be able to opt for traditional metal detectors, combined with the pat-down search if necessary.  Read more... (308 words, 1 image, estimated 1:14 mins reading time)

More than half of the Army’s armoured vehicles in Afghanistan are not “fit for purpose”, new figures have shown.

Many are out of action being repaired or refurbished after spending time in the punishing desert conditions.

The stock of unuseable vehicles include 180 Mastiffs and Ridgbacks which were sent to the country to protect servicemen and women from the growing threat of sophisticated improvised explosive devices (IEDs). There are just 358 of a total 653 Snatch Land Rovers in working condition. They were previously used on patrols around Helmand Province but were confined to use on military bases after a public outcry over IED deaths of those travelling in them.  Read more... (336 words, 1 image, estimated 1:21 mins reading time)

Originally published on 2 January 1980

Afghanistan is not quite the glittering prize of current Western legend. The country is a medieval tapestry of neglect; a craggy relic without developed resources, education, industry, effective government, health care or modern agriculture. A glittering prize? On the contrary: an anarchic nightmare. If the West, over the last 30 years, had really cared and really seen the alleged strategic importance, it would have poured in resources. Instead there was merely a cursory trickle. And now, too late, we lament.  Read more... (579 words, 1 image, estimated 2:19 mins reading time)

The family of a Nigerian man charged with trying to blow up a transatlantic jet on Christmas Day say his actions are “completely out of character”.

They said that, until recently, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, had never given them cause for concern.

His father, a prominent banker, alerted security agencies about two months ago when his son broke off communication.

Meanwhile, the UK said on Monday that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab had been on its security watch list.

This meant he could not come into the UK, although he could pass through the country in transit.  Read more... (474 words, 1 image, estimated 1:54 mins reading time)

The higher number of Defense Department contractors, 160,000, added to over 100,000 troops – with the likely prospect of both numbers climbing yet more – will result in over a quarter of a million U.S. personnel serving under the Pentagon and NATO. The latter has 42,000 non-U.S. troops fighting under its command currently and pledges of 8,000 more to date, with thousands in addition to be conscripted after the London conference on Afghanistan next month. Approximately 35,000 U.S. soldiers are also assigned to NATO’s ISAF and if the 33,000 new American troops are similarly deployed the North Atlantic bloc will have over 120,000 forces fighting a land war in Asia. Along with a Pakistani army of 700,000 active duty troops fighting on the other side of the border and an Afghan army of 100,000 soldiers, there will soon be well over a million military personnel engaged in a war with a few hundred al-Qaeda and a few thousand Taliban forces.  Read more... (2925 words, 1 image, estimated 11:42 mins reading time)

“We did purchase a residence for the ambassador,” his assistant said.

RAWA: According to the latest UNDP Human Development Report, Afghanistan is ranked 181 out of 182 countries, based on UNICEF survey more than half of all children under age five suffer from malnutrition, and Afghanistan’s new National Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (NRVA) finding say that average per capita monthly expenditure of nine million Afghans is less than 66 US cents a day, and millions of other Afghans spend only $42 a month.  Read more... (614 words, 1 image, estimated 2:27 mins reading time)

FORT BENNING, Ga. (AP) – Soldiers from the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit at Fort Benning have left for Afghanistan, where they’ll help train Afghan security forces.

The Army says members of the unit will deploy to Afghanistan on a rotational basis. The first group left on Friday.

The unit trains thousands of U.S. soldiers every year. Members of the unit also take part in shooting competitions, including the Olympic Games.

An RAF base could be closed and thousands of defence jobs could go, as the government works out how to cover the cost of extra equipment for troops in Afghanistan.

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth is preparing to outline the cuts he plans to make to balance the books.

Defence Minister Quentin Davies said choices about spending priorities always have to be made.

The council leader in Rutland has said he is ”very concerned” about the possibility that RAF Cottesmore may close down to free up funds for the government‘s mission in Afghanistan.

The RAF base is the largest local employer, with 3,000 people working in and around the area.

To pay for 22 new Chinook helicopters, the government is expected to announce the closure of the Rutland airbase, a reduction in fighter jets, and the loss of civilian MoD jobs.

Jeremy Ball reports from RAF Cottesmore.