Discover Yahoo! With Your Friends

Explore news, videos, and much more based on what your friends are reading and watching. Publish your own activity and retain full control.

To get started, first

YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    Petraeus marks July 4 with troops in Afghanistan

    KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) — A member of the NATO-led international force fighting in Afghanistan went missing in the country's restive south and a search is under way, the NATO command said Monday.

    The command did not identify the nationality of the missing service member.

    Only one soldier from the NATO-led force is believed in captivity. Bowe Bergdahl, a 25-year-old Army sergeant from Hailey, Idaho, was taken prisoner June 30, 2009, in Afghanistan. He is believed held in Pakistan.

    Also Monday, the outgoing U.S. commander in Afghanistan marked his last Fourth of July in uniform by speaking to American troops during a re-enlistment ceremony in the south of the country.

    Gen. David Petraeus, who was recently confirmed as the next director of the CIA, told the 235 troops re-enlisting in Kandahar province that they have achieved progress on the battlefield but that "much work remains" to be done in Afghanistan.

    "You raised your right hand and said 'Send me,' and today you raised your right hand again and said 'Send me again, if needed,'" he told the soldiers on America's 235th birthday.

    "I cannot say how impressive your action is," he said. "It is the most meaningful display of patriotism possible."

    Petraeus will be replaced by U.S. Marine Lt. Gen. John Allen even as 33,000 U.S. troops begin to withdraw from Afghanistan, the start of President Barack Obama's promised withdrawal of all combat troops by 2014.

    Later Monday, Petraeus is to speak at another re-enlistment ceremony at Bagram Air Field, just north of Kabul.

    Meanwhile, NATO said a service member was killed Monday in a bomb attack in eastern Afghanistan. The death brings the number of NATO fatalities in Afghanistan this year to 271, three of them this month.

    On Sunday, three U.S. Senators visiting Afghanistan criticized the pace of withdrawal and expressed concerns that it may leave NATO with too few troops to deal a decisive blow to the insurgency.

    "I believe that the planned drawdown is an unnecessary risk," John McCain, a Republican from Arizona, said Sunday. McCain arrived in Afghanistan with Sens. Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham. McCain lost to Obama in the 2008 presidential race.

    Also on Sunday, five Afghan police officers were killed in a four-hour gun battle between Afghan security forces and NATO troops, and insurgents in the Bala Buluk district of Farah province in western Afghanistan.

     

    787 comments

    • Ralph L  •  10 mths ago
      Red White and Blue.
      Red from sun burn. White because I AM Caucasian and Blue because every thing I did this weekend was taxed. Happy 4th of U--lie.
    • Kw  •  10 mths ago
      let this be the last 4th spent in Afghanistan or Iraq by American troops.
    • Ripple2803  •  10 mths ago
      Get out of Afghanistan! Enough with the "keep us safe" talk. We all know that is not why we are there. Terrorists are in every country in the world. No more blood for oil.
      • Richard 10 mths ago
        afganistan does have oil retard try checking your facts
      • Richard 10 mths ago
        doesnt have oil i mean which is why people grow and sell drugs
      • Silversurfer8016 10 mths ago
        Terrorists- Coming soon to a neighborhood near you
    • Back home, for now.  •  10 mths ago
      Dems, Obama has the U.S. involved in seven conflicts. Sending drones to kill our enemies count; Iraq, Afganistan, Pakistan, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Lybia. You used to be the party that made the term, '-make love, not war,' popular. Today, thousands die and you don't complain. This clearly demonstrates that your attitude is, PARTY FIRST, forget reason.
      • Dave 10 mths ago
        I voted for Obama and i now hate him with passion.

        Ron Paul is the only answer.
    • Soulassssns  •  10 mths ago
      Something tell me that many of you posting do not know what its like to be away from your loved ones while deployed for your country.
    • Mkabir  •  10 mths ago
      Well! Heavy 4th of July Image going on at nine pm next to me "Dhurum-Dharam, Hurush-Harash, Putush-patash, potash- Photos, Dhum-dham of a fireworks. The demographic area I am living, this area for an Italian, Irish, Japanese, and Germany’s patriotisms.
    • Big  •  10 mths ago
      The enemy will certainly respect us when they see how orderly we retreat.
    • T  •  10 mths ago
      we have 2 chances of winning the war in afghanistan - dog's chance and no chance. we will cut and run like we did in vietnam.
    • joseph  •  10 mths ago
      Our troops should be sent back home immediately and completely. The people we are fighting for do not appreciate us. They hate us and we should allow them to maintain and govern their own Countries. Billions of tax payers dollars are spent to help those that want us dead. With Osama bin laden gone , alqeda and taliban weakened, we should come home and protect our Country within our boarders. These wars(Afghanistan & Iraq) are bankrupting us. Our econmy has become very fragile because of these wars which they don't appreciate our sacrifice. They hate us and call us infidels, devils and invaders, etc. We should come back home and wait until they ask for our help or weapons and they pay for it. Ahmed Karzai is talking nonsence and thinks that it is his right to receive help and rebuild his country and maintain him in power like a king with his corrupttion and dishonesty; No we are not fools. The war is messing up our economy and billions of tax payers money are wasted. We are suffering and shading blood to those that want us dead at an instant anytime anyday in the name of religion or hatred. Please bring our troops back now ! The republicans are talking about deficit without the wars that are milking us daily. They should talk about the wars first before anything and urge the president to bring back our troops now !! There will be no deficit if these battles are over and our troops back. Those billions are enough to rebuild, reshape, research and put Americans back to work.We are building and they are destroying with bombs daily.Let our troops be back period !! Happy 4th of July and Long lives to Americans.
    • AutumnLeaf_IceCreamSubZer ...  •  10 mths ago
      Living Poverty in America with my Mom = in a Shack converted, what is the Difference of a HOME to Garage? Simple' the HOME is for decent life. While Garage is for Car closet and Tools' but God Bless better than Sleeping in the Corner! No Heat No Cooling. but thank God we got a Fan only 1 T.V. works, all is junks, Our Place is Cool looks like a Junkyard a Lot of Stuff broken Appliances, due to No Budget, No way to Fix it. the Owner is a junk lover Guy Not a Hater but at Least not a Heartless, and Friendly let's Me Use His Old PC Now that i'm typing. but i'm Proud why? because We are in a Country which is Most Hated by the Haters like YOU, but they Can't Kick themselves Outta Here and Still Here and Loving it. My family relatives are Proud not of a Hardship but 3 of my Cousins serves the USarmy' 1 is probably discharged, but 2 are still on Duty now. we are proud of them. and Not that All we are Proud of Because we start here,established, now in Hardship, but still their life and Feeling Stays Here' and who knows maybe Tommorow or next year goodluck might comes right'' I wish God reward the Patience of the People who will stay trust in Him.
    • xbcnh  •  10 mths ago
      What weirdness this life truly is its funny though how history ALWAYS repeats itself through violence.
    • A Yahoo User  •  10 mths ago
      LOL! We are simply living in the shadow of what used to be the greatest nation on the planet.
      • Strangelove 10 mths ago
        And people are too blind to see how much things have changed. Freedoms and liberty are slipping away more and more with each passing day. Nope, most just don't notice or care.
    • Don W  •  10 mths ago
      Visible puffs and flashes down the Twin Towers equal proof of implosion......plus, NO building of that magnitude falls that fast from a hit at the tip. Buildings fell that weren't even hit. No airplane parts at the Pentagon, and the hole was too small for jet liner hit. No airplane parts, or body parts, in the Pennsylvania crash.....plus, gouge in earth is far too small. So. 9-11? A scam of huge proportions and a following invasion of Iraq and Afganistan because of it. Big percentage of the terroists(?) were Saudi. Lots of unanswered questions for me to believe this is anything but a scam.
      • Wilhelm 10 mths ago
        I hold a masters degree in physics and I am 100% certain that was a professionally wired demolition. I would bet my house on it. Bush kept a real investigation from ever getting off the ground. What a POS.
    • Mkabir  •  10 mths ago
      "Happy Birthday America and 4th of July" I would like to say Jefferson is father of the 4th of July as an author of the Declaration of Independence; the America is born by him on his written documents. Why not for this day celebrate for him on his name?
    • Stephen C  •  10 mths ago
      I am so angry about a random non related Democrat/ and or Republican. I think my opinon is right and all others are wrong. I also am racist at that other race and just overall very angry. Arggh. Ohh Happy 4th of July
      • Buckley's angel 10 mths ago
        Speaking of politics and racism, enjoy your Independence day before the liberals try to ban it because it might offend muslims and mexicans.
      • Buckley's angel 10 mths ago
        Silly liberals don't have 45's. He'd have to hit himself over the head with a protest sign.
    • Big  •  10 mths ago
      "Thank you Mr. Petreaus for all the innocent people you accidentally murdered, and the billions of war dollars stolen from citizens." - R B

      Every general in history could be praised similarly. Sorry if you expected a bloodless war at a discount price.
    • CountryBoy  •  10 mths ago
      And where is Obama ??? Hard at work on the deficet or unemployment?? No

      Obama was on yet another vacation.

      Obama cares for nothing other than himself.
    • Obummer  •  10 mths ago
      obummer's spending the day hiding under his girls skirts!!!!
    • Don  •  10 mths ago
      today is also malia obamas birthday. on another note i took my wife to the flea mkt this morning and several mexican men approached us to ask if we were the coyote that was there to move them. then to add insult to injury, a police officer pulled us over to ask if we had bought illegal fireworks from the mkt! we are floored...
    • freedom47  •  10 mths ago
      America been a killing Military machine for so long it don't know when to stop.....
    [ [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 2]], 'http://yhoo.it/KeQd0p', '[Slideshow: See photos taken on the way down]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 7]], ' http://yhoo.it/KpUoHO', '[Slideshow: Death-defying daredevils]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['know that we have confidence in', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/LqYjAX ', '[Related: The Secret Service guide to Cartagena]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['We picked up this other dog and', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JUSxvi', '[Related: 8 common dog fears, how to calm them]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 5]], 'http://bit.ly/JnoJYN', '[Related: Did WH share raid details with filmmakers?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 3]], 'http://bit.ly/KoKiqJ', '[Factbox: AQAP, al-Qaeda in Yemen]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have my contacts on or glasses', 3]], 'http://abcn.ws/KTE5AZ', '[Related: Should the murder charge be dropped?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JD7nlD', '[Related: Bristol Palin reality show debuts June 19]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 1]], 'http://bit.ly/JRPFRO', '[Related: McCain adviser who vetted Palin weighs in on VP race]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['A JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GV9zpj', '[Related: View photos of the JetBlue plane in Amarillo]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 15]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/white-house-stays-out-of-teen-s-killing-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120411/martinzimmermen.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['Titanic', 7]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/titanic-anniversary/', ' ', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/b/4e/b4e5ad9f00b5dfeeec2226d53e173569.jpeg', '550', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['He was in shock and still strapped to his seat', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/navy-jet-crashes-in-virginia-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120406/jet_ap.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]
    [ [ [['did not go as far his colleague', 8]], '29438204', '0' ], [ [[' the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 4]], '28924649', '0' ], [ [['because I know God protects me', 14], ['Brian Snow was at a nearby credit union', 5]], '28811216', '0' ], [ [['The state news agency RIA-Novosti quoted Rosaviatsiya', 6]], '28805461', '0' ], [ [['measure all but certain to fail in the face of bipartisan', 4]], '28771014', '0' ], [ [['matter what you do in this case', 5]], '28759848', '0' ], [ [['presume laws are constitutional', 7]], '28747556', '0' ], [ [['has destroyed 15 to 25 houses', 7]], '28744868', '0' ], [ [['short answer is yes', 7]], '28746030', '0' ], [ [['opportunity to tell the real story', 7]], '28731764', '0' ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 7]], '28723797', '0' ], [ [['point of my campaign is that big ideas matter', 9]], '28712293', '0' ], [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]